Official Number:                     143379

Class:                                     WAR CLASS Freighting Tanker – 5 cargo tanks

Pennant No:                           Y7.333 / X86

Signal Letters:                         KCFP / GTWO / GLDR

Laid down:
Builder:                                    Lithgows, Port Glasgow
Launched:                               28 June 1919

Into Service:                            21 August 1919
Out of service:                        16 December 1944

Fate:                                        Mined and sunk

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:  To combat the alarming losses of British merchant ships during WW1, the New Ministries and Secretaries Act was passed in December 1916, which provided for the appointment of a Shipping Controller with very wide powers “to take such steps as he thinks best for providing and maintaining an efficient supply of shipping”. On 20 December 1916, the first meeting of the Merchant Shipbuilding Advisory Committee took place where it was decided that an extensive shipbuilding programme should be started, the ships to be of a simple design and as far as possible to be of a standard type as regards hulls and engines. These new vessels for the Government were given a standard nomenclature, the prefix to their names being WAR. Eight hundred and twenty one vessels were ordered from U.K. yards and abroad and four hundred and sixteen were completed to Government order, two hundred and seventy nine were sold and transferred to private owners before completion and the remainder were cancelled. Of the four hundred and sixteen completed to Government order, fifteen were transferred to Admiralty service as oilers. They were all modified versions of the A and B Class standard dry cargo ships, known as the Z Class. All had two large dry cargo holds, six of them had five cargo tanks and the remaining nine had seven cargo tanks, specially designed for the carriage of heavy fuel oil. Most of them were initially under commercial management.

21 August 1919 ran trials

22 August 1919  completed and placed under initial management of C.T. Bowring & Co Ltd,  Liverpool

11 October 1919 arrived at Suez from Abadan

11 December 1919 arrived at Suez from Abadan

3 February 1920 arrived at Suez from Abadan

21 February 1920 Greaser Thomas McKenna discharged dead – drowned – location of Greaser McKenna’s death is not shown in the BMD register

29 March 1920 arrived Suez from Abadan

3 June 1920 arrived at Suez from Abadan

19 June 1920 arrived at Gibraltar from Malta in ballast while on passage to Texas

10 July 1920 arrived Port Arthur, Texas

2 August 1920 at Killingholm

9 August 1920 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard

1 September 1920 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for the UK

21 September 1920 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard and arrived at Plymouth from Port Arthur

12 October 1920 sailed from Southampton for Tampico

16 November 1920 arrived at Liverpool from Brunswick

21 November 1920 sailed Greenock for Gulf of Mexico

21 January 1921 sailed Queenstown for a Texan port

7 February 1921 berthed at Galveston, Texas from Queenstown

9 March 1921 arrived at Greenock from Galveston

17 March 1921 sailed Old Kilpatrick, River Clyde

3 April 1921 arrived at Port Arthur from the Clyde

26 April 1921 berthed at Devonport from Port Arthur

28 April 1921 sailed Devonport

11 May 1921 arrived at Port Said when on passage from Devonport

2 June 1921 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound

3 June 1921 berthed Devonport from Trinidad

28 August 1921 arrived at Port Arthur, Texas

31 August 1921 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for British Ports

4 December 1921 arrived Port Said from Plymouth for Abadan

5 December 1921 sailed Suez for Aden

11 December 1921 at Aden from Suez and sailed the same day for Abadan

23 December 1921 was at anchor at the Outer Bar at the Shatt-Al-Arab in the Persian Gulf. At about 7.20pm the ss British Holly (ex RFA Hollyleaf) made fast alongside the War Diwan on her starboard side to complete her loading. The wind increased and the tide turned ebb. The ships rolled together, a heavy strain was putting on the moorings and the starboard side after fairlead on the War Diwan was carried away. A verbal request by the RFA Captain to the Master of the British Holly to cast off was refused. A written request was made and at about 10.15pm the British Holly eventually cast off. The War Diwan, in addition to the damage above also suffered her hull plates to be started and sea water was admitted causing damage to her oil cargo.

1921 transferred to Admiralty management and manning as an RFA

1 April 1922 arrived at Suez from Abadan

29 April 1922 sailed Devonport for Gibraltar

3 July 1922 the Western Morning News reported –

Able Seaman Thomas P McGugan

31 August 1922 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour from Abadan

2 September 1922 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

5 September 1922 berthed at Devonport

14 October 1922 sailed from Malta

26 October 1922 arrived at Port Said sailing the same day

27 October 1922 sailed from from Suez for Abadan

9 November 1922 arrived at Abadan

30 November 1922 arrived at Suez from Abadan

27 December 1922 arrived at Port Said from Mudros

28 December 1922 sailed Suez for Abadan

1 February 1923 arrived at Suez from Abadan

1 March 1923 arrived at Port Said from Gibraltar when on passage to Abadan

6 April 1923 to 13 April 1923 berthed on the oil wharf, Keppel Harbour, Singapore

21 May 1923 to 24 May 1923 berthed on the oil wharf, Keppel Harbour, Singapore and then moved to the Main Wharf on 25 May 1923

24 June 1923 at 8°47N 76°11E Donkeyman George Saunders discharged dead from natural causes

3 July 1923 berthed at the oil wharf Singapore from Abadan to discharge. She sailed for Abadan on 8 July 1923

15 August 1923 arrived at Singapore from Abadan and berthed on the oil wharf, Keppel Harbour. 

21 August 1923 entered dry dock at Keppel Harbour, Singapore

28 August 1923 sailed Singapore for Abadan

12 September 1923 at Abadan

28 September 1923 Captain John C Hawick RFA appointed as Master

Captain John C Hawick RFA

30 September 1923 arrived Suez from Abadan

13 October 1923 arrived at Port Said from Malta

20 October 1923 arrived at Aden sailing the same day

28 October 1923 berthed at Abadan

29 October 1923 sailed Abadan

17 November 1923 to 21 November 1923 berthed on the oil wharf, Keppel Harbour, Singapore

21 November 1923 the Admiralty Fuel & Stores Officer, Singapore had published in the local press –

23 November 1923 sailed Singapore for Abadan

21 January 1924 arrived at Port Said from Gibraltar

8 March 1924 sailed Abadan

18 March 1924 at 19°20N 39°10E Sailor Ting Ah Tay discharged dead – having suffered from beri beri

22 March 1924 arrived at Suez from Abadan

23 March 1924 sailed Port Said for Gibraltar

9 April 1924 at Gibraltar

30 April 1924 arrived at Barbados from Gibraltar

15 May 1924 Mr John Atchison RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

19 May 1924 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

2 June 1924 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

25 June 1924 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

26 June 1924 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

18 August 1924 sailed the River Tees for Port Chalmette via Antwerp

21 August 1924 passing 26 miles south of Land End

15 September 1924 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for Devonport

17 October 1924 Mr Frederick L Angus DSM RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

Chief Engineer Officer Frederick L Angus DSM RFA

18 October 1924 at Portland

28 December 1924 sailed Port Said for Gibraltar

7 March 1925 Captain Frederick W Rae RFA appointed as Master

10 March 1925 took on charge a Dent Marine Chronometer No 58905 which had been purchased by the Admiralty in September 1918. Off charge on 12 February 1931 at Bermuda

14 March 1925 took on charge a Dent Marine Chronometer No 58898 which had been purchased by the Admiralty in October 1918. Off charge on 23 April 1929 at Gibraltar

14 May 1925 arrived at Old Kilpatrick, River Clyde from Trinidad

15 May 1925 Mr John Atchinson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

20 August 1925 arrived at Readhead’s Dock,  River Tyne from Rosyth

27 November 1925 arrived at Old Kilpatrick, River Clyde from Houston

4 March 1926 at Port Arthur, Texas

22 March 1926 in North Atlantic rescued the crew of schooner Cecil Junior sailing from Newfoundland to Seville, Spain when the schooners rudder was smashed. Six of the crew of the War Diwan were subsequently awarded  the Sea Gallantry Medal for their actions

1 May 1926 at Cristobal, Republic of Panama

3 May 1926 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for Naples

23 August 1926 Captain William C Meikle RFA appointed as Master

12 January 1927 arrived Las Palmas from Trinidad

22 March 1927 H.M. the King awarded the Board of Trade Bronze Medal for Gallantry – the Sea Gallantry Medal – to the former 2nd Officer and five crew members of RFA War Diwan for their actions in saving life at sea

Sea Gallantry Medal in Bronze

Details of those honoured are shown in the RFA Awards section. The schooner Cecil Junior of St. John’s Newfoundland while on a voyage from Seville, Spain to Newfoundland encountered a succession of gales with heavy seas. It’s rudder was carried away and the vessel began to leak. The schooners life boat was carried away. The RFA crew using their own boat, at great risk to themselves, saved the lives of the schooners crew. The Newfoundland Government presented the former 2nd Officer with a set of binocular glasses and £3 was paid to each of the five members of the crew

15 May 1927 arrived at Las Palmas from Curaçao

19 May 1927 sailed from Tampico

22 September 1927 Mr George C Dunning RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer 

Chief Engineer Officer George C Dunning RFA

27 December 1927 passed Gibraltar

14 January 1928 passed Perim sailing east bound

14 February 1928 Captain J Reid RFA appointed as Master

18 April 1928 sailed Abadan 

8 June 1928 sailed Beaumont, Texas for Portsmouth

29 June 1928 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east

26 July 1928 Captain John Gow RFA appointed as Master

Captain John Gow RFA

30 July 1928 Mr Malcolm N Carlyle RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

8 August 1928 at Tilbury

11 August 1928 a stowaway was discovered onboard shortly after the ship sailed from Devonport –

Press Cutting from Western Morning News of 14 August 1928

26 August 1928 arrived at New York

2 October 1928 berthed at Avonmouth from Curaçao

4 October 1928 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound later berthing at Falmouth

13 October 1928 was 30 miles SE from Lands End when on passage to Fayal

14 December 1928 sailed from Thameshaven for Fayal for orders

1 January 1929 sailed from Curaçao for Lisbon 

1 April 1929 sailed from Curaçao

26 June 1929 sailed Eastham, Merseyside for Curaçao

9 July 1929 passed St Kitts

22 August 1929 sailed from Curaçao for LEFO

13 September 1929 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

2 October 1929 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

10 October 1929 sailed from Sheerness

15 November 1929 sailed from Abadan for Port Said

6 December 1929 at Sheerness

9 December 1929 Mr Albert Nicholls appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

Chief Engineer Officer Albert Nicholls RFA

18 January 1930 sailed from the River Tyne for Abadan

25 January 1930 was in Wireless contact when on passage to Abadan at 100 miles south east of Lands End

24 May 1930 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

28 May 1930 Captain Cecil R Rosen RFA appointed as Master

Captain Cecil R Rosen RFA

30 May 1930 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

12 June 1930 arrived at Port Said from Portsmouth when on passage to Abadan

25 June 1930 arrived at Abadan

24 July 1930 at Abadan Chief Steward David Chalmers Anderson discharged dead from heat stroke

Chief Steward David C Anderson RFA

6 August 1930 the Aberdeen Press reported the death of Chief Steward Anderson thus –

9 August 1930 arrived at Suez from Abadan

6 September 1930 sailed Abadan

22 September 1930 arrived at Suez while on passage from Abadan to Devonport

2 Octrober 1930 passed Gibraltar while on passage to Devonport

6 October 1930 reported she was 130 miles south of Lands End

7 October 1930 berthed at Portland from Abadan

29 December 1930 arrived at Port Said when on passage to Abadan

17 January 1931 arrived at Abadan from Chatham

5 February 1931 arrived at Suez while on passage to Devonport

3 March 1931 at Chatham

13 March 1931 Mr Frederick C Pavitt RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

21 April 1931 Captain John P Tugwood DSC RD RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master

Captain John P Tugwood DSC RD RFA

12 May 1931 sailed Port Said

14 May 1931 sailed Suez for Abadan

31 May 1931 sailed Abadan for Sheerness

17 June 1931 arrived at Suez sailing the same day for Sheerness

7 July 1931 arrived Port Victoria, Sheerness from Abadan

1 August 1931 sailed Sheerness for Abadan

8 August 1931 sailed from Gibraltar east bound

19 August 1931 sailed from Suez for Abadan

7 September 1931 sailed Abadan for Malta

2 October 1931 at Malta

30 October 1931 sailed from Suez for Abadan

20 November 1931 sailed from Abadan

30 November 1931 passed Perim

9 December 1931 sailed Port Said for Portsmouth

19 December 1931 passed Gibraltar sailing westbound

28 December 1931 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

15 February 1932 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

4 March 1932 sailed Malta for Abadan

9 March 1932 sailed from Port Said

28 March 1932 sailed Abadan for Malta

14 April 1932 at Suez

4 May 1932 sailed from Suez for Abadan

9 May 1932 Mr Graham W Martin RFA appointed as Acting Chief Engineer Officer

Acting Chief Engineer Officer Graham W Martin RFA

1 June 1932 arrived at Aden from Abadan. Mr Frederick C Pavitt RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

27 June 1932 sailed from Malta for Abadan

21 July 1932 sailed from Abadan for Malta

12 August 1932 arrived at Suez

27 August 1932 sailed Malta for Abadan

24 September 1932 sailed Abadan for Singapore

18 October 1932 sailed Singapore for Abadan

16 January 1933 sailed Abadan

3 February 1933 sailed Port Said for Portsmouth

22 February 1933 berthed on the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty at Portsmouth Harbour

24 February 1933 berthed on the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty at Portsmouth Harbour

25 February 1933 berthed on the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty at Portsmouth Harbour

26 February 1933 sailed from Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty at Portsmouth Harbour

27 February 1933 berthed at Devonport

5 March 1933 Mr Percy E C Ogden RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

15 March 1933 Captain Stanley G Kent RFA appointed as Master

4 April 1933 at Devonport Dockyard refit ending

7 April 1933 sailed Devonport for Trinidad

29 April 1933 sailed Trinidad for Killingholme

29 May 1933 at Killingholme

10 June 1933 sailed from Killingholme

12 June 1933 when on passage to Trinidad reported she was 50 miles off Lands End

18 July 1933 arrived Glasgow from Trinidad

25 July 1933 sailed from Tail of the Bank

28 July 1933 sailed from Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde for Abadan

7 August 1933 passed Malta while on passage to Abadan

9 August 1933 arrived at Port Said

12 August 1933 sailed from Suez for Abadan

26 August 1933 sailed from Abadan for Malta

5 October 1933 sailed Port Said

3 November 1933 arrived at Suez from Abadan

4 November 1933 sailed Port Said for Portsmouth

13 November 1933 passed Gibraltar

20 November 1933 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour

25 November 1933 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

15 January 1934 Captain William B Browne RFA appointed as Master

24 January 1934 sailed from Devonport for Abadan

7 February 1934 arrived at Port Said, transitted the Suez Canal and then sailed from Suez when on passage to Abadan from Devonport

22 February 1934 sailed Abadan for Gibraltar

8 March 1934 arrived at Suez from Abadan

20 March 1934 at Gibraltar with HMS ORION alongside being refuelled with 687 tons of FFO

HMS ORION

17 April 1934 sailed from Port Said for Abadan

18 June 1934 arrived at Aden

21 June 1934 sailed from Aden

30 June 1934 sailed Abadan for Port Said

25 July 1934 sailed Port Said for Abadan

9 August 1934 sailed from Abadan

19 August 1934 arrived at Aden

25 August 1934 arrived at Suez from Abadan

11 October 1934 from Abadan arrived Suez

22 October 1934 arrived Port Said from Malta

7 December 1934 sailed Abadan for Devonport

21 December 1934 arrived Suez, transitted the Suez Canal and sailed from Port Said

1 January 1935 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound

7 January 1935 arrived at Plymouth

17 January 1935 Mr Charles M Morgan RFA (Engineer Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as acting Chief Engineer Officer

8 February 1935 sailed Plymouth for Constanza

12 February 1935 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound for Constanza

5 March 1935 sailed Port Said for Abadan

20 March 1935 sailed Abadan for Malta

3 April 1935 arrived at Suez

4 April 1935 sailed from Port Said for Malta

14 April 1935 sailed from Malta

18 April 1935 sailed Port Said for Abadan

3 May 1935 sailed Abadan for Singapore

29 May 1935 sailed from Singapore for Abadan

16 June 1935 sailed Abadan for Malta

10 July 1935 sailed from Malta

14 July 1935 sailed from Port Said for Abadan

28 July 1935 arrived at Abadan from Malta

18 August 1935 arrived Suez from Abadan

23 August 1935 at Malta

12 September 1935 sailed from Alexandria for Malta

23 September 1935 at Malta

7 December 1935 sailed from Abadan for Devonport

5 May 1936 arrived at Port Said

19 July 1936 arrived Port Said

29 July 1936 sailed Malta for Haifa

24 August 1936 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

27 August 1936 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

10 October 1936 sailed from Rosyth for Abadan

12 December 1936 sailed from Singapore for Abadan

29 December 1936 sailed Abadan for a UK port

13 January 1937 sailed from Suez for a UK port

31 January 1937 at Port Victoria, Kent

9 February 1937 at Port Victoria, Kent

12 February 1937 arrived at Devonport

15 March 1937 in the River Tamar Fireman Wang Lang discharged dead – drowned

Press Report from Western Morning News 13 April 1937

7 December 1937 at Plymouth

1938 – 1939 in reserve at Devonport

19 January 1939 in refit at a ship yard on the River Tyne

13 April 1939 arrived at Falmouth from Devonport in the tow of the tug Salvonia

17 August 1939 from Devonport she was towed to Falmouth for docking

3 September 1939 arrived at Rosyth from Falmouth

12 September 1939 at 1650hrs at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOOD refuelling her – cast off 13 September 1939 at 0625hrs

11 October 1939 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS MATABELE to refuel her

HMS MATABELE

14 October 1939 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS MATABELE to refuel her

28 October 1939 at Sullom Voe, Shetlands alongside HMS MATABELE to refuel her

31 October 1939 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS’s BEDOWIN and MATABELE to refuel them

17 November 1939 at Sullom Voe, Shetlands alongside HMS COVENTRY to refuel her – 425 tons of FFO supplied

HMS COVENTRY

26 November 1939 at Sullom Voe, Shetlands alongside HMS COVENTRY to refuel her

1 December 1939 at Sullom Voe, Shetlands alongside HMS COVENTRY to refuel her – 700 tons of FFO supplied

9 December 1939 Captain Walter L Holtam RFA appointed as Master

23 December 1939 at Sullom Voe, Shetlands alongside HMS COVENTRY to refuel her

27 December 1939 at Sullom Voe, Shetlands alongside HMS COVENTRY to refuel her

30 December 1939 at Sullom Voe, Shetlands alongside HMS NUBIAN and HMS lLEX to refuel them

1 January 1940 was in port at Sullom Voe with RN units when subjected to an air raid by German aircraft. The ship suffered no damage

30 January 1940 Chief Officer Percival H Brooke RFA appointed as temporary Master

25 April 1940 Captain William H Green RFA appointed as Master

Captain William H Green RFA

30 July 1940 Mr G A Calvert RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

2 November 1940 at Scapa Flow

19 November 1940 Captain John M Humphrey RFA appointed as Master

22 November 1940 sailed from Kirkwall

2 December 1940 berthed at Leith

18 January 1941 sailed Leith for Grangemouth arriving the next day

21 January 1941 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth

23 January 1941 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth

26 January 1941 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth

28 January 1941 berthed at Leith from Rosyth for repairs

2 February 1941 arrived at Grangemouth

6 February 1941 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth

9 February 1941 sailed Rosyth for Scapa Flow in escorted convoy EN69/1

13 February 1941 arrived at Scapa Flow

20 February 1941 at Scapa Flow

2 March 1941 at Scapa Flow with HMAS NESTOR alongside being refuelled

HMAS NESTOR

12 March 1941 at Scapa Flow with HMAS NESTOR alongside being refuelled

25 March 1941 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS PRINCE OF WALES refuelling her

5 April 1941 Mr Charles Morgan Morgan RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer 

5 May 1941 sailed Scapa Flow for Skaalefjord, Faroes escorted by the destroyer HMS BROCKLESBY and the anti-submarine trawler HMS HAMLET arriving the next day

28 June 1941 sailed the Faroe Islands with a commercial tanker QUENTIN ROOSEVELT under escort of HMIS JUMNA to Scapa Flow arriving on 30 June 1941

29 June 1941 at 59.15N 3.25W missed by a torpedo (source Admiralty War Diary of this date)

8 August 1941 undertook RAS trials at Scapa Flow with the cruiser HMS GALATEA using a  modified stirrup method with a metallic 5 inch hose

16 August 1941 Captain Frederick S Harvey RFA appointed as Master

Captain Frederick S Harvey RFA as an Apprentice

8 September 1941 suffered damage caused by the British Railway Steamer HMS ST JULIEN

21 September 1941 Mr Wilfred C Shortland RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

25 September 1941 at Scapa Flow

14 November 1941 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS DUKE of  YORK refuelling her. RFA PETRONEL was supplying fresh water at the same time

18 November 1941 Mr Leonard T Tomlinson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

3 March 1942 at Scapa Flow

7 March 1942 sailed Lyness in escorted convoy EN55 to Oban arriving 10 March 1942

11 March 1942 arrived at the River Mersey

16 March 1942 Captain John H Jones RFA appointed as Master

Captain John H Jones RFA

24 June 1942 berthed at Liverpool. Mr Charles A Smith DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

31 August 1943 damaged by  the escort sloop HMS WILD GOOSE coming alongside

1944 Captain Stanley C Kernick RFA appointed as Master

24 February 1944 Mr G A Calvert RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

21 April 1944 Mr Thomas McGregor RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

7 June 1944 sailed Lisahally (details from Naval Officer Londonderry’s war diary)

12 June 1944 sailed Barry in escorted convoy EBC10 to Falmouth arriving 13 June 1944

30 June 1944 sailed Barry in escorted convoy EBC27 arriving Portsmouth 2 July 1944

14 July 1944 sailed Barry in escorted convoy EBC41 to Devonport arriving the next day

20 July 1944 sailed Plymouth in convoy FAC31 to Milford Haven arriving the next day

26 July 1944 sailed Barry in escorted convoy EBC53 to  Devonport arriving 27 July 1944

5 August 1944 Mr Lowrie Cowell RFA (Engineer Lieutenant RNR (retd) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

15 August 1944 sailed Barry in escorted convoy EBC73 to Portsmouth arriving 17 August 1944

20 August 1944 sailed Portsmouth Harbour

21 August 1944 sailed the Solent in unescorted convoy FBC60 to Milford Haven arriving 22 August 1944 and onward to the Clyde. RFA WAR NIZAM also sailed in this convoy

28 August 1944 sailed Barry in escorted convoy EBC86 to Portsmouth arriving 30 August 1944

7 September 1944 sailed Southampton in escorted convoy EPM57 arrived at Seine Bay the same day

3 October 1944 at Cherbourg, France with USS Maloy (DE791) alongside being refuelled – details from US ships War Diary

USS Maloy (DE791)

8 October 1944 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

10 October 1944 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

12 October 1944 Mr James Hall RFA appointed Chief Engineer Officer

28 October 1944 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

31 October 1944 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

3 December 1944 arrived at Antwerp

4 December 1944 sailed from Antwerp

13 December 1944 Captain Walter L Holtam RFA appointed as Master

16 December 1944 while on passage from Southend to Antwerp in escorted convoy TAM19 between buoy NF15 and buoy NF17 was  mined and split in two. Both parts grounded. Survivors were taken aboard the minesweeping sloop HMS FRANKLIN and  were landed at Ostend before returning to Tilbury 2 days later Donkeyman Albert Edward Cheeseman, Third Engineer Officer Richard Robert Eden Cox RFA, Sailor John Kenneth Kendall, Fireman George Weeks were all killed. They have no known grave and are all remembered with pride on the Tower Hill Memorial.

The Tower Hill Memorial

In addition Able Seaman James Turner Hooper C/JX312708 was also killed and has no known grave, he is remembered with pride on the Chatham Royal Naval Memorial

The bow section of RFA War Diwan

20 December 1944 declared unsalvagable and a total loss

4 May 1952 the forward part of the wreck was refloated and was towed to Flushing for  breaking up