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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
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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.
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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 Olna 2

RFA_Olna_2
RFA Olna 2

 

Previous name:                      Hyalina, HMS Olna

Subsequent name:

Class:

Pennant No:                           X116  /  A216

Laid down:
Builder:                                  Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend. 
Launched:                              28 December 1944
Into Service:                           27 April 1945
Out of service:                        November 1966 
Fate:                                        Scrapped

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

April 1945 As HMS Olna sailed from the UK to join the British Pacific Fleet

13 August 1945 as HMS Olna and with RFA Wave Emperor provided last RAS during War time to the British Pacific Fleet to HMS Ruler, Phesant, Findhorn, Usk, Barle and Crane plus units of the Australian and US Navies

1 February 1946 Mr M J Lawrence DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

20 March 1946 became RFA Olna.

1 April 1946 Captain S G Kent OBE RFA appointed as Master

13 May 1946 caused damaged to The Commission Quay, River Tyne, North Shields while berthing.

29 August 1946 ran aground in the Abadan River. Refloated 2 September 1946

9 June 1947 Captain H M Sinclair RFA appointed as Master

22 June 1947 Mr H M Pearson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

6 September 1948 Mr A B McIntyre RD RFA (Commander (E) RNR (ret)) RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

26 July 1949 Captain T H Card OBE RFA appointed as Master

16 March 1950 Mr D C Leathley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

2 May 1952 Captain C F Cunningham RFA appointed as Master

September 1952 took part in Operation Mainbrace involving US and RN units in a major NATO naval exercise in the Northern North Sea and the Artic.

15 June 1953 took part in Coronation Fleet review.

21 July 1953 Mr H C A Brain RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

23 June 1954 Captain W W Peddle RFA appointed as Master

4 January 1955 Mr G J Mathews RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

29 July 1955 Captain F A Shaw RD RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR (Ret) appointed as Master

1956 Took part in Operation Grapple (H Bomb test) in the Pacific

October 1956 took part in Operation Musketeer (Suez Crisis)

23 July 1957 Mr D C Leathley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

28 October 1957 Captain G O W Evans DSC RFA appointed as Master

23 January 1959 arrived Auckland, New Zealand

24 June 1959 Mr K Jones RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

13 July 1959 Captain R H Venning RFA appointed as Master

7 September 1960 Captain F G Edwards RFA appointed as Master

29 August 1961 Captain C Alexander DSC RFA appointed as Master

1 January 1962 Mr A C Hawk RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

23 May 1962 Captain A Jackson OBE RFA appointed as Master

1 March 1963 rescued eight Indonesian fishermen in the Straits of Malacca whose boats engine had broken down and who had been without food and water for five days

1 May 1963 Mr I M MacFarlane RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

21 October 1963 Captain J Ditchburn RFA appointed as Master

November 1966 laid up

19 January 1967 arrived Castellon, Spain for breaking up.

 

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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