Ire fortiter quo nemo ante iit.

  
Remembering
A McKinnon 3rd Officer RFA War Brahmin died 16th of March 1948
John Davison 2nd Officer RFA Resurgent died 16th of March 1978
David Smith Seaman 1b RFA Green Rover died 16th of March 1987
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Save The RFA Petition

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Historical Society has always tried to be non political in its reporting of our history. However, in these times when it is reported at length in the media that the Service is under threat your Editors have taken the view we must bring a petition to the Prime Minister to you attention.

Save The RFA

If you feel strongly about saving the service we have all grown to love please sign the petition. Note there are some restrictions on those who are overseas.

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RFA Long Service Medal

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RFA Historical SocietyBringing the History and Honour of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service to a wider audience, recording the deeds of the Service and the people who have served in it.

We hope that you enjoy reading about some of the rich history of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service, its ships and the men and women throughout the 104 years of it’s existence.

We will endeavour to add more for your enjoyment, as and when it becomes available, but would like to ask you, our audience for stories from your time at sea, remember, your story of today’s RFA, is tomorrows history and we would like to record as much as possible, so this site is perpetuated for future generations.
 
The Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal Information

RFA Historical Society

The Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal

In 2005 the Government of Malaysia approached the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office seeking approval to issue a new medal, the Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal to British Veterans and others who had served in operations in Malaya/Malaysia between the 31st August 1957 and the 12th August 1966. At the time the Ministry of Defence considered that this was not a matter for them as the medal was considered to be a commemorative medal, though qualifying veterans could apply for the medal to the Malaysian authorities.

 

After intense lobbying of the Government from a number of veterans groups Her Majesty the Queen gave permission for this medal to be worn on the 8th August 2007.

 

Attachments:
Download this file (PJM Application Form.pdf)PJM Application Form.pdf 22 Kb
Download this file (Postumous PJM Application.pdf)Postumous PJM Application.pdf 159 Kb
Read more...
 
RFA HISTORICAL SOCIETY's THANKS

The RFA Historical Society is very grateful for all the support, information and images it has received from it's members, current and former members of the RFA, relatives of RFA seafarers and veterans and the general public in general for supplying items to include on this web site.

The Society regrets, however, that a very limited number have refused or have ignored direct requests for help. As such, there are some gaps in the data and the Society is therefore unable, at this time, to publish in totality the History of the Service.

The Editors will continue their research and material found will be published as regularly as possible in accordance with the Society's editorial policy.

Should anyone have material or images which they would like to donate to the Society please contact the Editors via the 'Contact Us' link on this page.
 
Operation Algeciras

In 1982, during the Falklands Conflict a plan was hatched in Argentina to destroy British ships in Gibraltar harbour. This plan was approved by Admiral Jorge Anaya, who kept it secret from the Junta.
Read more...
 
A little oil on troubled waters

Back in the 1950’s some of the RFA’s fleet of tankers were hired out to commercial companies on charter. RFA Wave Emperor was one such tanker which was chartered to the Esso Standard Oil Company, and engaged in freighting oil from the Caribbean to various ports on a fixed term contract.
Read more...
 
RFA Reindeer and the loss of the Airship R38

In June, 1918 the Admiralty made plans for an air ship to be built which would "be required to patrol the North Sea for six days without support, as far as 300 miles from a home base." It was to have a combat ceiling of 22,000ft, and was required to carry enough fuel for 65 hours at full speed of 70.6 mph. It was agreed that the air ship would be classed as "Admiralty A Class" and was to be designated as the R38.
Read more...
 
RFA Maine Signals

The following exchange of signals it is reported have taken place: -

From: HMS Cossack To: RFA Maine

RPC Cocktails 1945 tonight =

1400K

 

From: RFA Maine To: HMS Cossack

Your 1400K. MRU. Have just received a case of leprosy =

1406K

 

From: HMS Cossack To: RFA Maine

Your 1405K. Bring it over, we drink anything here =

1415K
 
Wave Boat Engine Rooms

The “Wave” class of 21 ships (20 to be RFA’s) were built to a standard 1943 wartime design with slight variations in layout and complied with the builder’s normal construction plans and details. The designs changed and differed across the three builders and the actual equipment and the amounts of ferrous and non ferrous metals available changed as manufacturing ability and priorities changed during the war.
Read more...
 
Replenishment is a dangerous business

RFA Bishopdale arrived at San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf in the Philippines in the early part of December 1944, to join the British Pacific Fleet Train that was beginning to assemble there, in preparation for the push by the Allies across the Pacific to the Japanese homeland.
Read more...
 
Medal for Suez Canal Zone 1951 to 1954

RFA Personnel who served on ships directly in support of the Suez Canal Conflict may now apply for the Naval General Service Medal 1918-62, with the ‘Canal Zone’ clasp.

 
Read more...
 
Fairy Godmothers

A correspondent of the Glasgow Herald in October 1953 told his readers that Admiral the Earl Mountbatten, the Fourth Sea Lord, had described the ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary as ‘Fairy Godmothers of the Fleet’. The Admiral went onto say – ‘It is, of course, appropriate, for the Fleet could not operate without the faithful RFA’s which work silently and efficiently, and are largely unknown to the public.’

 

 
 

Blast From The Past

Sailor bravely saves colleague

On 31 July 1960 RFA Tideflow was at the quarantine anchorage at Singapore. At around midnight as Messman H M Fury was standing on the stern of the ship watching liberty boats shuttling from the ship to the pilot house steps he saw a man in one of the boats fall overboard.

Realising that the man could not swim Mr Fury dived over the side and rescued him. The saved man was Chief Cook A Ferguson.

Messman Fury’s prompt and brave action was recognised by the C in C Far East Station by a Special Order of the Day.

 

 

 




RFA Brambleleaf

RFA Brambleleaf 1

RFA Brambleleaf entering Grand Harbour, Malta

Brambleleaf

 

Previous name:                            Rumol
Subsequent name:

Class:                                           Fast Leaf Class

Pennant No:

Laid down:     
Builder:                                        Russell, Port Glasgow
Launched:                                    28 December 1916
Into Service:                                April 1917
Out of service:                             15 September 1944
Fate:                                             April 1953 Broken up at Spezia

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

7 February 1918 berthed at New York having sailed from the Firth of Forth via Halifax. Captain P Skone Rees as Master with 28 crew

27 June 1918 berthed at New York having sailed from the Orkney Islands. Captain P Skone Rees as Master with 69 crew

1 January 1925 Captain J R Gorrie RFA appointed as Master

1 January 1925 Mr C Wrate RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

20 February 1928 Captain J H Jones RFA appointed as Master

25 November 1931 2nd Engineer Officer John P S Husband RFA, aged 37 years, discharged dead.  He is buried in Kalkara Royal Naval Cemetery, Malta

 

Husband_JPS

Image courtesy of British War Graves - with thanks

20 February 1935 Mr P E C Ogden RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

22 June 1935 Captain D R McCutchan RFA appoinred as Master

11 March 1937 Mr F W Howell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

21 May 1937 Captain J Gow RFA appointed as Master

7 February 1939 Captain R T Duthie RFA appointed as Master

April 1939 Captain R M Shaw RFA appointed as Master

28 July 1939 Mr P E C Ogden RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

5 December 1940 sailed Alexandria in convoy AN9

7 December 1940 arrived at Suda Bay, Crete

25 December 1940 sailed Suda Bay, Crete to Port Said in convoy AS9/1

April 1941 Captain Herbert A Shacklock RFA appointed as Master

30 May 1941 Mr G A Calvert RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

8 November 1941 Mr R Blacklock RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

9 June 1942 sailed Alexandria in convoy AT49 to Tobruk

10 June 1942 at 05.50am while part of convoy AT49 at 31.12N 28.10E attacked and damaged by a torpedo fired by German U Boat U559 - commanded by Kapitanleutnant Hans Heidtmann.

Brambleleaf_torp

Entry in the War Diary of U559 logging the attack on RFA Brambleleaf.

3rd Engineer Officer Robert J Lubbock, 4th Engineer Officer Francis Sullivan, Donkeyman George Blye, Carpenter Rosario Cauci, Galley Boy A Minamoui, Greaser Joseph Bulhagiar and Fireman Joseph Vella killed. The Master and the rest of the crew were saved and landed at Alexandria by RHS Vasilissa Olga (D15) - a Greek Destroyer. The ship was towed to Alexandria where she was used as an oil hulk.

3rd Engineer Officer Robert J Lubbock, 4th Engineer Officer Francis Sullivan, Donkeyman George Blye, Greaser Joseph Bulhagiar and Fireman Joseph Vella are all buried in Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery while Carpenter Rosario Cauci and Galley Boy A Minamoui are remembered with pride on the Tower Hill Memorial, London


BlyeBuhagiar

Donkeyman George Blye                    Greaser Joseph Buhagiar

LubbockSullivan

3rd Engineer Officer                             4th Engineer Officer

Robert J Lubbock                                  Francis Sullivan

Images courtesy of British War Graves - with thanks

BRAMBLELEAF

RFA Brambleleaf's official log book report on being torpedoed

10 April 1943 Chief Officer J Bottomley RFA appointed as Chief Officer in Command

15 September 1944 while as an oil hulk she suddenly sank at her moorings and was later declared a total loss. She was later salvaged and broken up as above.

The Editors of www.historicalrfa.org and the Committee of the RFA Historical Society wish to make clear that this site is the product of private research and is not affiliated to any other organisation.  Any opinions expressed on this website are those of the individuals concerned and may not necessarily reflect those of the Editors.

Should any person wish to use or copy any part of this site, it's images or articles then written permission must be obtained from the Editors.

 

 

 



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