Attendant in August 1953 when under the ownership of Hemsley Bell taken by P A Vicary

Previous name:
Subsequent name:                

Official Number:                     136700  

Class:                                       FIRST 1000t ATTENDANT CLASS Coastal Oiler

Pennant No:                             N97 / X15 / X02

Laid down:                                7 October 1912
Builder:                                     Chatham Dockyard
Launched:                                5 July 1913 - No. 8 slip
Into Service:                             August 1914

Out of service:                          Sold 1935
Fate:                                          Chartered back during World War 2

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:  On the outbreak of WW1, the Admiralty embarked on a programme of tanker construction for the fledgling RFA Service and there were 4 ships in this Class, all of which were little more than powered barges. The early Swedish diesel engines in 2 of them gave endless trouble  and ultimately, 3 of the Class were sold off at the end of the War as part of the Government Disposal Scheme. In April 1940, approval was given to build six 1500 ton Fleet Attendant  Tankers, of which two were intended to replace two of this Class and the rest to replace larger Fleet Attendant Tankers for freighting duties, but eventually to replace the other 1000 tonners. As designed they were to have been 3200tons full load displacement, 263 ft (o.a.) x 38.5 ft x 16 ft, with steam engines developing 1200 ihp giving a speed of 10 knots with 2000 miles endurance. Cargo was to have been 1500 tons of fuel oil, 100 tons of diesel oil and 50 tons of petrol. There were no slips available in the U.K. for building and building capacity was sought in Canada but shipyards there could not cope either. In May 1940 the idea was abandoned

5 July 1913 launched by H.M. Dockyard, Chatham as Yard Nr N/A named ATTENDANT

April 1914 Lieutenant William Gregory RNR appointed as Master

9 July 1914 when just 10 minutes into her trials, she was rammed by the Fleet Coaling Service collier FRANCIS DUNCAN

28 August 1914 completed and registered in Admiralty ownership

1914 to 1919  on Dockyard fuelling service

4 August 1915 Engineer Lieutenant Archibald R Hindle RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer. Was transferred to RFA Rapidol on 4 June 1917

23 August 1915 Lieutenant  William E Rousell RNR appointed in command

1 September 1916 Lieutenant Edward Gattey RNR appointed in command

2 June 1917 Engineer Lieutenant William G Wiltshire RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

8 August 1917 Stoker Ed Downs logged as deserted. He had signed on on 3 September 1916

11 May 1918 Lieutenant  Lockhart D McKirdy RNR appointed in command

3 June 1918 2nd Officeer Alfred J Malvish RFA  appeared before a court martial charged with being absent without leave. Pleaded guilty to the charge and was adjudged to be severely reprimanded

10 August 1918 2nd Officer P H Warrall released to join the Royal Air Force. He had signed on on 24 June 1918

27 August 1918 Stoker John W Harding logged as deserted. He had signed on on 11 March 1918

5 September 1918 Leading Stoker J F Smith logged as deserted. He had signed on on 3 September 1916

13 March 1919 at Rosyth Dockyard alongside HMS Cambrian refuelling her - supplied 630 tons FFO

8 April 1919 Trimmer A Waterman MMR 877915 logged as deserted. He had signed on on 1 January 1919

18 April 1919 Captain John P Ballard RFA appointed as Master

16 May 1919 Scullion E Byrne MMR 927483 logged as deserted. He had signed on on 1 April 1919

21 August 1919 Mr G Alderson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

9 October 1919  Aalesund, Norway  HM Monitor M33 came alongside to be refueled - received 33 tons of FFO

26 February 1920 at Charlestown, Fife moored alongside RFA Celerol providing 90 tons FFO as bunkers

1920 in reserve at Chatham

January 1921 on fuelling service at Sheerness

1921 - 1923 was on a Yard Craft Agreement at Rosyth Dockayrd

1929 - 1934 in reserve at Rosyth

21 May 1935 offered for sale by tender by the Admiralty in the Times of this day

28 June 1935 sold as lies at Rosyth, by competitive tender, to P & W McClellan Ltd, Bo’ness for demolition, but was resold by them to Hemsley, Bell & Co Ltd (H.L.R.Bell, Manager) Southampton for further trading under the same name. She was mainly used on the Thames and on the South Coast as a bunkering ship

1 August 1935 removed from Rosyth

1939 chartered by the Admiralty and based mainly at Scapa Flow.

1 January 1941 mined off Sheerness but made port for repairs

13 February 1942 sailed Methil in convoy EN 46/2 to Oban arriving 16 February 1942

30 January 1943 at Scapa Flow Fireman H Forsyth and Sailor G Geddes abscent without leave for 2 days - both logged and find £1.00 each

12 February 1943 at West Weddell Sound, Scapa Flow in collision with ss Beltoy and suffered damage

31 March 1943 at Lyness Cook/Steward R Boag logged as deserting the ship

24 May 1943 at Lyness Fireman/Greaser J Rose logged for being absent without leave - fined 10/- and one days pay

9 July 1943 at Leith Fireman/Greaser J Rose logged for desertion

10 July 1943 at Leith Fireman F J Duncan logged for desertion

27 July 1945 returned to her owners

1948 chartered by British Mexican Petroleum Co Ltd, London

8 October 1964 arrived Queensborough for breaking up by Lacmots Ltd

19 November 1964 register closed