Subsequent name: Basinghall
Official Number: 142691
Class: WAR CLASS Freighting Tanker – 5 cargo tanks
Pennant No: Y7.303 / X81
Signal Letters: JVHW / GTQJ / GLDP
Laid down:
Builder: Palmers, Jarrow
Launched: 5 September 1918
Into Service: October 1918
Out of service:
Fate: 1949 Scrapped
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.
28 October 1918 completed and placed under initial management of British Tanker Co Ltd, London
7 December 1918 sailed Grangemouth for Texas
31 December 1918 arrived at Port Arthur from Grangemouth
3 January 1919 sailed Port Arthur, Texas to Lough Swilly
23 January 1919 arrived at Greenock from Port Arthur
18 February 1919 sailed the Clyde for Port Arthur
7 March 1919 arrived at Port Arthur from the Clyde
10 March 1919 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for Gibraltar
13 April 1919 arrived at Port Said from Gibraltar
16 July 1919 arrived at Suez
9 August 1919 arrived at Port Said from Gibraltar
14 November 1919 arrived at Suez from Abadan
6 December 1919 arrived Port Said
7 March 1920 arrived at Suez from Abadan
27 April 1920 arrived at Colombo from Suez
29 April 1920 and 30 April 1920 at Colombo alongside HMS CICALA to refuel her and HMS MOTH to refuel her also with 51½ tons of FFO
8 May 1920 at Trincomalee with HMS CAROLINE alongside to be refuelled – issued to her 550 tons of FFO
23 June 1920 at Colombo moored alongside RFA RAPIDOL to load fuel and stores to her
29 October 1920 berthed at Singapore from Constantinople, Turkey
30 October 1920 sailed Singapore for Aden
31 December 1920 alongside HMS MALAYA at Aden refuelling her
HMS MALAYA
1921 transferred to Admiralty ownership but remained under commercial management
18 January 1921 sailed Abadan for Gibraltar
1 February 1921 arrived at Suez
12 February 1921 berthed at Gibraltar from Port Said to discharge cargo
18 February 1921 sailed Gibraltar for Port Arthur, Texas
12 March 1921 berthed at Port Arthur, Texas from Gibraltar
17 March 1921 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for the River Clyde
13 April 1921 arrived at Glasgow from Texas
15 April 1921 sailed Glasgow for Port Arthur, Texas
6 June 1921 arrived at Greenock from Port Arthur, Texas
13 June 1921 sailed Glasgow for Port Arthur, Texas
25 June 1921 arrived at Port Said while on passage from the Clyde for Abadan
17 August 1921 sailed Malta for Port Arthur, Texas
1 September 1921 arrived at Port Arthur, Texas from Malta
3 September 1921 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for Devonport
18 September 1921 while on passage to Devonport radioed she was 730 n.mile west of Valentia
23 November 1921 sailed Port Victoria, Sheerness for Abadan
28 November 1921 berthed at Gibraltar from Port Victoria, Sheerness
16 December 1921 arrived at Aden sailing the same day for Abadan
25 December 1921 arrived at Abadan
12 January 1922 arrived at Suez when on passage from Abadan to Malta
8 February 1922 sailed Gibraltar for Trinidad
25 February 1922 sailed Trinidad for Devonport
15 March 1922 arrived at Portland from Trinidad
7 April 1922 sailed Plymouth for Abadan
18 May 1922 sailed from Port Said
3 June 1922 arrived at Portland from Abadan
10 June 1922 sailed from Portland
2 July 1922 arrived at Port Arthur
6 July 1922 sailed Port Arthur
19 July 1922 sailed the Clyde
31 July 1922 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
2 August 1922 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
13 August 1922 passed Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
14 August 1922 arrived at Plymouth from Glasgow
13 September 1922 at Plymouth
26 September 1922 sailed Plymouth to Gibraltar
1 October 1922 berthed at Gibraltar
12 October 1922 arrived at Port Said
17 October 1922 passed Perim when on passage from Plymouth to Abadan
26 October 1922 at Abadan
9 November 1922 passed Perim
15 November 1922 arrived at Suez from Abadan when on passage to Mudros sailing from Port Said later the same day
4 December 1922 Fireman Walter James Pyne discharged dead. He is buried in Shell Green Cemetery, Turkey in Plot KL Row A Grave 2
Fireman Walter J Pyne
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
9 December 1922 arrived at Port Said from Contantinople
14 December 1922 passed Perim when on passage to Abadan
31 December 1922 sailed Abadan for Port Said
5 January 1923 passed Perim when on passage from Abadan to Port Said
10 January 1923 arrived Suez from Abadan when on passage to Port Said and Mudros
25 January 1923 sailed from Suez when on passage from Mudros to Abadan
30 January 1923 passed Perim
18 February 1923 passed Perim
26 February 1923 sailed Port Said for Gibraltar
7 March 1923 at Gibraltar
17 March 1923 sailed Gibraltar for Trinidad
3 April 1923 sailed Trinidad
1 July 1923 at Gibraltar Greaser William Jenking discharged dead – death shown as ‘accidental’
2 August 1923 sailed Trinidad for Devonport
24 August 1923 at Antwerp
30 August 1923 passed Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
21 September 1923 at New Orleans
27 September 1923 sailed Tampico for Devonport
14 October 1923 while on passage to Devonport radioed she was 1,450 nmiles west of Land End
18 October 1923 arrived at Glasgow having sailed from Devonport
27 October 1923 at Plymouth
19 November 1923 Captain Percy Daniel RFA was Master
30 November 1923 sailed from Hull
1 December 1923 grounded off Hull on the Outer Dowsing Shoal. The ship’s Master held to blame owing to negligence. The Master and Chief Officer deemed not to be re-employed on Admiralty vessels
6 December 1923 Shields Daily News newspaper reported –
2 January 1924 when on passage to New Orleans was in contact with Lands End Radio
24 January 1924 at New Orleans
25 January 1924 Captain Robert O Putt RFA was Master
Captain Robert O Putt RFA
30 January 1924 at Hull
31 January 1924 sailed Killingholme for New Orleans
1 February 1924 pass Dungeness from Hull for New Orleans
24 February 1924 arrived New Orleans
29 February 1924 berthed at Port Arthur to load
3 March 1924 sailed Port Arthur
24 March 1924 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour to discharge
31 March 1924 sailed Portsmouth for Galveston
13 May 1924 berthed at Gibraltar – sailed the same day for Brindia
30 May 1924 berthed Gibraltar
1 June 1924 sailed Gibraltar for Port Arthur arriving 21 June 1924
22 June 1924 sailed Port Arthur to New York arriving 26 June 1924
12 July 1924 berthed at Gibraltar from Port Arthur sailing the same day for Spezia
24 July 1924 at Gibraltar
15 August 1924 berthed at Houston, Texas
18 August 1924 sailed Houston, Texas to New York
1 September 1924 passed Perim
8 September 1924 berthed at Gibraltar – sailed the same day
12 September 1924 at Spezzia
25 September 1924 at Port Said
8 October 1924 berthed at Abadan to load
13 October 1924 sailed Abadan to Port Said arriving on 27 October 1924
6 November 1924 berthed at Gibraltar
23 November 1924 sailed Gibraltar to Trinidad arriving 7 December 1924
9 December 1924 sailed Trinidad
28 December 1924 radioed Lands End (LEFO)
31 December 1924 at Glasgow
4 January 1925 sailed the Clyde
27 January 1925 at Colon, Republic of Panama when on passage to Los Angles, CA
10 February 1925 sailed from Los Angles, CA
23 February 1925 at Panama
12 March 1925 sailed from San Pedro
13 April 1925 at Yokohama
20 May 1925 sailed from Panama
7 June 1925 sailed from New York
19 June 1925 at Curaçao
15 July 1925 at Falmouth
13 August 1925 sailed Trinidad
18 September 1925 at Portland
23 September 1925 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
26 September 1925 berthed on the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty in Portsmouth Harbour together with RFA KIMMEROL
28 September 1925 berthed at Devonport Dockyard
11 November 1925 passed Fayal
10 December 1925 at Rotterdam
18 December 1925 in W/T contact with Lands End Radio
16 August 1926 sailed from Hull for Rio Janerio in ballast
26 December 1926 passed Fayal
8 January 1927 at Curaçao
27 January 1927 at Port Houston
29 January 1927 sailed from Baytown, Texas for Lisbon, Portugal
24 February 1927 sailed Lisbon, Portugal
14 March 1927 sailed Curaçao for Gibraltar
9 April 1927 sailed from Gibraltar
25 April 1927 at Curaçao
16 May 1927 for Rotterdam 45 Miles W of Niton
8 June 1927 at Curaçao
11 June 1927 sailed from Curaçao for St Nazaire
8 July 1927 when on passage to the Azores was 95 miles SE of Lands End
17 July 1927 passed Fayal when on passage to Curaçao
27 July 1927 sailed from Curaçao for LEFO
15 August 1927 at Shellhaven
17 August 1927 at Shellhaven
24 August 1927 sailed Hamburg for Chatham
30 September 1927 arrived St Vincent, Cape Verde Islands from Shellhaven
3 October 1927 sailed St Vincent, Cape Verde Islands for Barbados
12 October 1927 at Trinidad
6 November 1927 when on passage to the Azores was 100 miles ESE of Lands End
12 November 1927 one crew member admitted to the Seamans Hospital at Tilbury suffering from Enteric Fever
22 November 1927 arrived at Trinidad
25 November 1927 sailed Trinidad for St Nazaire
16 December 1927 passed Cape La Hague
27 December 1927 sailed Trinidad for St Nazaire
15 March 1928 arrived Avonmouth berthing on the Pil Jetty in the Royal Edward Dock to discharge cargo
17 March 1928 sailed Avonmouth
24 May 1928 sailed Curaçao for LEFO
22 November 1928 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
4 December 1928 sailed Devonport for Manchester
6 December 1928 arrived at Liverpool
13 January 1929 sailed from Galveston, Texas
1 April 1929 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
2 April 1929 made fast to No: 4 buoy at Portsmouth Harbour
9 April 1929 in No: 12 Dock, Portsmouth Harbour
20 April 1929 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
29 May 1929 berthed at Thameshaven
11 July 1929 having sailed from Eastham for St. Kitts was 100 miles NW of Lands End
1 September 1929 sailed from Curaçao for Lisbon, Portugal
14 December 1929 in refit in Devonport
23 December 1929 included in a published list of RFA’s at Devonport together with RFA’s ELDEROL, ORANGELEAF (1), LIMOL and WAR HINDOO
30 December 1929 berthed at No: 2 & 3 Jettys, Devonport Dockyard
31 December 1929 sailed from No: 2 & 3 Jettys, Devonport Dockyard having completed her refit passing the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
6 February 1930 before Plymouth Magistrates’ Court Fireman William John Hennessey appeared summoned for failing to join War Nizam on 31 December 1929 and receiving and cashing an advance note. Fireman Hennessey pleaded Not Guilty to willfully missing his ship. The evidence produced showed that he had signed on the ship which was at the time in Devonport Dockyard. He further received an advance note for £4 10sh which was repayable four days after the ship had sailed. The advance note had then been chased ashore. After giving evidence in his own defence the Court dismissed the charge
21 March 1930 arrived Ardrossan from Curaçao with a cargo of crude oil
31 March 1930 at 47°30N 22°22W Carpenter William Murray Bain discharged dead – missing at sea
16 April 1930 sailed from Curaçao
4 May 1930 arrived at Ardrossan
8 May 1930 sailed Ardrossan for St Kitts & Nevis
16 June 1930 sailed Las Palmas for Barbados
24 June 1930 arrived at Curaçao from Las Palmas
25 July 1930 passed Perim when on passage to Malta
28 August 1930 sailed from Abadan
28 September 1930 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
3 October 1930 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
4 October 1930 berthed at Chatham
23 December 1930 at Sheerness
1 April 1931 at Sheerness
11 April 1931 at Chatham
17 April 1931 in contact with Gibraltar by wireless while on passage to Abadan
23 April 1931 sailed Malta for Abadan
9 May 1931 passed Perim on passage to Abadan
20 May 1931 sailed Abadan
2 June 1931 passed Perim on passage to Malta
24 June 1931 sailed from Suez for Abadan
10 July 1931 at Abadan Ships Cook William John Keys discharged dead having drowned while on shore leave. He had previous sailed on RFA WAR SEPOY
12 July 1931 sailed from Abadan for Malta
25 July 1931 passed Perim
6 August 1931 sailed Suez
12 August 1931 at the British Hospital, Port Said Greaser William Randall discharged dead – natural causes
21 August 1931 sailed Aden for Abadan
31 August 1931 arrived at Abadan
2 September 1931 sailed from Abadan for Devonport
20 September 1931 sailed from Port Said for Devonport
14 October 1931 at Chatham Dockyard
14 November 1931 was 25 miles south west of Ushant when on passage to Abadan
6 December 1931 sailed Suez for Abadan
25 December 1931 sailed from Abadan for Malta
19 January 1932 arrived at Malta
15 February 1932 arrived at Port Said from Malta
16 February 1932 sailed Suez for Abadan
19 March 1932 sailed from Aden for Abadan
20 April 1932 sailed Suez for Abadan
9 May 1932 sailed Abadan for Singapore
2 June 1932 sailed Singapore for Abadan
26 June 1932 sailed Abadan for Devonport
9 July 1932 passed Perim while on passage to Devonport
31 July 1932 230 miles west of Lands End when on passage to Devonport
1 August 1932 at Devonport
15 August 1932 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
13 September 1932 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
19 September 1932 passed Gibraltar for Abadan
30 September 1932 sailed from Suez
3 January 1933 sailed Port Said for Gibraltar
11 January 1933 at Gibraltar
21 January 1933 sailed Gibraltar
26 Jauary 1933 sailed Port Said
29 January 1933 sailed Suez for Abadan
8 March 1933 at Palma, Majorca
10 March 1933 at Palma, Majorca
29 March 1933 sailed from Suez for Abadam
16 April 1933 at Abadan preparing to sail for Port Said
6 May 1933 sailed from Port Said
10 May 1933 at Constantza
21 May 1933 sailed Suez for Bombay
3 July 1933 sailed from Aden for Abadan
13 July 1933 sailed Abadan for Singapore
30 July 1933 berthed at Singapore from Abadan
3 August 1933 sailed Singapore for Abadan
8 September 1933 arrived at Suez
20 September 1933 reported she was 320 miles SSW of Lands End when on passage to Devonport
22 September 1933 at Plymouth
23 November 1933 sailed Malta for Port Said and Abadan
29 November 1933 sailed Suez for Abadan
4 December 1933 passed Perim when on passage to Abadan
13 December 1933 arrived at Abadan from Devonport
15 December 1933 sailed Abadan for Malta
29 December 1933 arrived at Suez
7 January 1934 passed Gibraltar sailing west for Portsmouth
13 January 1934 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
16 January 1934 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
30 January 1934 arrived at Port Said when on passage to Abadan
15 February 1934 at Gibraltar
6 March 1934 sailed Port Said for Gibraltar
19 May 1934 passed Perim when on passage to Malta
24 May 1934 arrived Suez from Abadan
25 May 1934 sailed from Port Said for Malta
29 May 1934 arrived at Malta
8 June 1934 sailed Suez for Abadan
24 June 1934 sailed Abadan for Malta
11 July 1934 sailed from Port Said for Malta
17 July 1934 sailed from Malta
31 July 1934 arrived Port Said from Constantza
5 August 1934 sailed Port Said
6 August 1934 sailed Suez for Abadan
26 August 1934 sailed from Abadan for Malta
30 August 1934 passed Perim
9 September 1934 at Malta
20 October 1934 sailed Port Said for Devonport
5 December 1934 arrived at Port Said
17 December 1934 sailed Port Said
18 December 1934 sailed from Suez for Abadan
1 January 1935 at Abadan for Singapore
21 January 1935 sailed Singapore for Abadan
22 February 1935 sailed Port Said for Malta
9 March 1935 sailed Port Said for Abadan
25 March 1935 sailed Abadan
23 April 1935 on passage to Trinidad wirelessed Gibraltar
28 May 1935 berthed at Invergordon
7 June 1935 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
21 June 1935 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
11 July 1935 arrived at Port Said and sailed the same day
12 July 1935 sailed from Suez for Abadan
17 August 1935 at Malta
24 August 1935 arrived Port Said from Malta
26 August 1935 sailed Suez for Abadan
9 September 1935 sailed Abadan for Port Said
13 September 1935 passed Perim
25 September 1935 arrived at Port Said
13 October 1935 passed Perim for Abadan
24 October 1935 sailed from Abadan for Aden
14 November 1935 sailed from Abadan for Devonport
27 November 1935 arrived at Suez from Abadan
28 November 1935 sailed Port Said
19 December 1935 passed Perim
28 December 1935 arrived at Abadan from Malta
13 January 1936 arrived at Suez when on passage to Port Said
25 February 1936 sailed Falmouth for Trinidad
30 March 1936 berthed at Gibraltar from Trinidad to discharge cargo
6 May 1936 berthed at Gibraltar from Trinidad to discharge cargo
12 June 1936 berthed at Gibraltar from Trinidad to discharge cargo
31 July 1936 sailed Portland
24 August 1936 sailed Trinidad
9 September 1936 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
12 September 1936 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
21 October 1936 arrived Kings Dock, Swansea from Trinidad
6 November 1936 sailed Swansea for Trinidad
16 December 1936 arrived at Swansea from Trinidad
21 December 1936 sailed Swansea for Trinidad
22 December 1936 reported by radio her position was 80 miles SW of Lands End
10 January 1937 sailed Trinidad for Swansea
30 January 1937 arrived at Swansea from Trinidad
31 January 1937 transferred to Admiralty management and manning as an RFA at Swansea
1 February 1937 Captain W J Shipton RFA appointed as Master and Mr Arthur L Barr RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Arthur L Barr RFA
12 February 1937 sailed Swansea for Trinidad
25 March 1937 arrived at Plymouth from Trinidad
28 March 1937 sailed Plymouth for Trinidad
5 May 1937 arrived at Swansea
5 June 1937 at the British Hospital at Port Said Fireman John Herbert Morgan discharged dead from TB. He had been discharged to the hospital from the ship on 22 May 1937
19 June 1937 sailed Aden for Abadan
6 December 1937 sailed Alexandria for Abadan
6 January 1938 sailed Alexandria for Abadan
15 February 1938 sailed Alexandria for Malta
27 March 1938 sailed Aden for Abadan
25 April 1938 berthed at Malta from Port Said – reported in The Times of Malta of 26 April 1938
27 May 1938 sailed Aden for Abadan
10 July 1938 sailed Aden
18 July 1938 at Haifa
25 July 1938 berthed at Malta from Haifa – reported in The Times of Malta of 26 July 1938
14 September 1938 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
30 September 1938 arrived at Immigham light
19 October 1938 sailed Immingham for Rosyth in ballast
6 December 1938 sailed from Alexandria for Abadan
2 February 1939 at Leith Docks later sailing to Rosyth
3 March 1939 Mr William W Ridgway RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
9 June 1939 Captain Bertram Tunnard RFA appointed as Master
Captain Bernard Tunnard RFA
3 August 1939 Captain Frederick M Harvey RFA appointed as Master
Captain Frederick M Harvey RFA
September 1939 withdrawn from seagoing service at Rosyth and was laid up partly-manned
6 September 1939 at Rosyth alongside HMS GLASGOW refuelling her
21 September 1939 at Rosyth alongside HMS GLASGOW refuelling her
24 September 1939 at Rosyth alongside HMS GLASGOW refuelling her
27 September 1939 at Rosyth alongside HMS GLASGOW refuelling her
28 September 1939 at Rosyth alongside HMS GLASGOW refuelling her
6 November 1939 at Rosyth alongside HMS GLASGOW refuelling her
3 December 1939 at Rosyth alongside HMS GLASGOW refuelling her
22 December 1939 at Rosyth alongside HMS GLASGOW refuelling her
10 January 1940 at Rosyth alongside HMS NORFOLK refuelling her
24 January 1940 Captain John M Humphrey RFA appointed as Temporary Master
13 March 1940 at Rosyth alongside HMS’s BERWICK and NORFOLK to refuel them
18 April 1940 HMS HASTY and destroyer HMS WHITLEY arrived at Scapa Flow escorting RFA WAR NIZAM
23 April 1940 sailed Scapa Flow under the escort of HMS VANOC for Sullom Voe to discharge and return to Scapa Flow under the same RN escort
5 May 1940 sailed Scapa Flow escorted by anti-submarine trawlers HMS WHITETHORN and HMS LE TIGER to Sullom Voe
25 May 1940 Captain Ernest V Blyth RFA appointed as Master
18 May 1940 escorted by anti-submarine trawlers HMS JUNIPER and HMS HAZEL, arrived at Scapa Flowfrom Sullom Voe.
16 September 1940 sailed in convoy FS 283 from Methil to Sheerness arriving on 19 September 1940
25 September 1940 sailed Sheerness as a ‘Fire Ship’ to attack Calais Harbour. Operation Lucid. Operation called off returned to harbour due to the MTB’s being unable to cope with the bad weather and another one of the ‘fire ships’ breaking down.
3 October 1940 sailed again from Sheerness as a ‘Fire Ship’ to attach Calais Harbour. Operation called off returned to harbour due to bad weather
4 October 1940 sailed again from Sheerness as a ‘Fire Ship’ to attach Calais Harbour. Operation called off returned to harbour due to RAF diversionary flights being unable to take off due to bad weather
7 October 1940 sailed again from Sheerness as a ‘Fire Ship’ to attach Calais Harbour. Operation cancelled. A destroyer hit a mine and War Nizam broke down
28 November 1940 Mr William W Ridgway RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
29 November 1940 sailed in convoy FN 346 from Southend to Sunderland arriving 1 December 1940
12 December 1940 Captain William H Green RFA appointed as Master
Captain William H Green RFA
21 May 1941 Mr James Paton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 July 1941 in port at Chatham under going boiler repairs
14 August 1941 while in convoy EC60 was bombed by two aircraft dropping five 500/1000lbs bombs. Two bombs fell very near the port bow. Three fell on the starboard quarter. Damage was caused – the forehold was leaking, No 4 main tank was holed. Discharge pump and the windlass were knocked out of action. There was other minor damage – around 100 hits were suffered from gun fire from the aircraft.. The DEMS gunners shot back at the aircraft and one aircraft was believed to be shot down.
21 August 1941 under repair at Grimsby
15 September 1941 berthed at Hull
11 November 1941 attacked by enemy aircraft off Aldeburgh and was damaged in position 52.19 N 01.59 E during which she used her defensive armament.
12 November 1941 berthed Killingholme
4 December 1941 Captain Robert D Almond RFA appointed as Master. He remained in command until 29 January 1942
Captain Robert D Almond RFA
11 December 1941 berthed at Hull
23 January 1942 berthed at the River Tyne
8 February 1942 involved in a collision with the Polish ss KATOWICE and was found to be unseaworthy with a twisted stem. Repairs were carried out by Mesrs Russell & Co, Victoria Docks, London
21 February 1942 berthed at Victoria Docks, London
9 March 1942 Captain Thomas Elder RFA appointed as Master
14 March 1942 sailed London to Grangemouth arriving 19 March 1941
21 March 1942 sailed Grangemouth to Sheerness
29 March 1942 sailed Sheerness to Grangemouth arriving 31 March 1942
2 April 1942 sailed Grangemouth to Rosyth Dockyard arrived the same day
22 May 1942 Mr Edward B Morton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Edward B Morton RFA
9 September 1942 sailed in convoy EN 135 from Methil to at Hollyhead 11 September 1942
28 September 1942 in collision with HMS TYNEDALE
HMS TYNEDALE
20 November 1942 Captain J H Phillips RFA appointed as Master
2 January 1943 Mr Harold R Bullimore RFA (Engineer Lieutenant Commander, Royal Navy (retd)) appointed Chief Engineer Officer
13 February 1943 arrived at Methil in convoy WN 394
25 February 1943 Captain Bertram Tunnard RFA appointed as Master
3 October 1943 rescued all the crew of HMT MEROR which was mined and sunk 1 mile south of H5 buoy – 12 miles east of Spurn Point – source Admiralty War Diary
10 November 1943 Mr Frederick O Brims RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer until 1 January 1944
8 January 1944 Mr Wilfred C Shortland RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
13 February 1944 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
16 February 1944 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
22 February 1944 suffered an air attack near Southend-on-Sea when the ship was bombed – Able Seaman Ernest Eric Dalton was killed. He is buried at Haltemprice (Hessle) Cemetery Comp. 52. Plot 6. Grave 6. A second seaman was injured
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
24 February 1944 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
25 February 1944 Captain Bertram Tunnard RFA appointed as Master
28 February 1944 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
7 March 1944 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
10 March 1944 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
20 March 1944 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
24 March 1944 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
5 April 1944 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
12 April 1944 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
21 April 1944 Captain Frederick L Finch RFA appointed Master
Captain Frederick L Finch RFA
kindly donated by Richard Finch
21 August 1944 sailed the Solent in convoy FBC60 to Barry Docks arriving the next day
24 February 1945 the then Master Captain R Holden RFA wrote to the Editor of the Driffield Times, Yorkshire –
22 May 1945 Mr Graham W Martin RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
30 June 1945 arrived at Grangemouth in ballast
7 July 1945 sailed Grangemouth having loaded cargo
10 July 1945 berthed at Grangemouth in ballast
12 July 1945 sailed Grangemouth having loaded cargo
26 August 1945 Captain William H Green RFA appointed as Master
29 December 1945 Mr James Paton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
12 January 1946 Captain Herbert A Shacklock RFA appointed as Master
Captain Herbert A Shacklock RFA
18 April 1946 sailed Granemouth to Crombie
24 April 1946 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth sailing later the same day after loading cargo for the River Tyne
7 June 1946 Chief Engineer Officer James Paton RFA appointed as an Additional Officer of the Military Division of the most excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) vide the London Gazette of this date – page 2882
10 June 1946 at Dover to discharge cargo
21 August 1946 Mr Charles J Falconer RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
2 October 1947 sailed Curacao for LEFO
21 October 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
25 October 1947 from Falmouth arrived at Swansea
1947 purchased by Basinghall Steamship Co Ltd (P. Bauer, Manager) London ship renamed Basinghall
July 1949 after a period of lay-up on the Tyne, arrived Antwerp in tow for breaking up