RFA Bacchus (1)
Previous name:
Subsequent name: Bacchus11
Official Number: 139059
Class: Distilling Ship / Stores Ship
Pennant No:
Laid down:
Builder: William Hamilton, Port Glasgow
Launched: 10 May 1915
Into Service: July 1915
Out of service: 1937
Fate: Sunk as a target
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background Data: She was originally being built for commercial owners but was purchased by the Admiralty whilst still on the stocks and was originally classed as a Repair Ship. From 1923 until the outbreak of the Italo-Abyssinian Conflict she was on the Chatham-Gibraltar-Malta run with naval stores and a few Service Passengers as she had limited passenger accommodation. In 1935 when she was again required for service as a distilling ship , she was temporarily relieved on the Malta run by the chartered Currie Line ship ss RUTLAND. When BACCHUS (2) entered service, BACCHUS (1) was used as a bombing target before finally being sunk by gunfire
22 March 1915 purchased while building for intended service in Chinese Waters for Indo-China Steam Navigation Co Ltd, Hong Kong by the Admiralty for use as a stores freighter and distilling ship
10 May 1915 launched by Wm Hamilton & Co Ltd, Glen Yard, Port Glasgow as Yard Nr 229 named BACCHUS (1). Named after the Cup Bearer to the Gods
17 June 1915 Lieutenant John E Edwards RNR appointed in command
July 1915 completed. Served in the Mediterranean as a Water Carrier
4 August 1915 Engineer Lieutenant Charles E Wrate RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Eng. Lieutenant Charles E Wrate RNR
Chief Engineer Officer
19 April 1916 commissioned as a tender to the Depot Ship HMS BLENHEIM
21 April 1916 at Mudros - Wardroom Steward to HMS BLENHEIM charged with stealing and having spirits in his possession
22 April 1916 at Mudros Signalman F Dent logged for being drunk - sentenced to cell punishment on HMS BLENHEIM
23 April 1916 at Mudros Steward P Zampa absent from ship for 48 hours - logged as a deserter
26 April 1916 at Mudos HMS Arno alongside for 12 tons of water
3 May 1916 sailed Mudros for Malta
6 May 1916 anchored at Marsa Sirocco, Malta entering Grand Harbour the next day to discharge
10 May 1916 entered dry dock for refit
15 May 1916 moved from dry dock to alongside for the refit to continue
18 May 1916 RNRT H Hogan arrested by Marine Escort for being drunk and disorderly
19 May 1916 at Malta loaded 200 tons of bunker coal
22 May 1916 sailed Malta for Mudros
25 May 1916 anchorded in Mudros harbour
30 May 1916 Commander John E Edwards RD RNR was 'mentioned' for good services whilst employed on Transport duties at the Dardanelles
13 June 1916 to 15 June 1916 loaded 86 tons of bunker coal
16 June 1916 at Mudros - dragged her anchor and struck HMS STAUNCH causing damage
26 June 1916 sailed Mudros to Malta
2 July 1916 at Malta Leading Seaman Robinson broke out of ship at 13.00hrs returned to the ship at 22.00hrs drunk
3 July 1916 at Malta RNRT W Glowman found drunk onboard
4 July 1916 at Malta Robinson and Glowman sent to HMS Egmont for punishment - Robinson disrated to Able Seaman. Glowman sentenced to 10 days cells. Engineer Sub Lieutenant Combe RNR absent from the ship without leave from 0700hrs 3 July1 1916 to 0500hrs 4 July 1916 - logged
7 July 1916 at Malta loaded 200 tons of bunker coal
13 July 1916 sailed Malta to Mudros
16 July 1916 entered Mudros Harbour
25 July 1916 at Mudros - Stoker Petty Officer May found drunk and in a state of collapse. Put off duty. Later placed under arrest
26 July 1916 at Mudros - Stoker Petty Officer May found drunk again
5 August 1916 RFA Overton alongside to load naval stores
8 August 1916 sailed Mudros to Malta
11 August 1916 entered Grand Harbour, Malta
24 August 1916 at Malta loaded 170 tons of bunker coal
25 August 1916 sailed Grand Harbour Malta - anchored at Marsa Sirocco
26 August 1916 sailed Marsa Sirocco for Mudros arriving on 29 August 1916
23 September 1916 at Mudros loaded 200 tons of bunker coal
2 October 1916 sailed Mudros for Malta with HMS Basilisk in tow
3 October 1916 towing hawser carried away. New hawser made fast. Lieutenant John Ross Gorrie RNR appointed in command
7 October 1916 arrived at Malta - HMS Basilisk taken in tow by tug - entered and berthed in Grand Harbour
9 October 1916 Leading Seaman Norcliffe returned onboard from leave 15 hours late. Disrated to Able Seaman on 18 October 1916
17 October 1916 loaded 225 tons of bunker coal
22 October 1916 sailed Malta for Mudros arriving 25 October 1916
7 November 1916 Lieutenant John Ross Gorrie RNR arrived on board and took command
Lieutenant John Ross Gorrie RNR
22 November 1916 loaded 200 tons of bunker coal
30 November 1916 ordered to proceed to Port Said for Army service at Razegh as a distilling ship. Sailed Mudros to Suda Bay, Crete arriving on 2 December 1916
4 December 1916 sailed Sunda Bay to Malta arriving on 7 December 1916
12 December 1916 at Malta loaded 274 tons of bunker coal
13 December 1916 entered dry dock
14 December 1916 out of dry dock - sailed Malta to Port Said arriving on 19 December 1916
20 December 1916 at Port Said loaded 594 tons of coal into No 2 hold - then transit the Canal to Suez
24 December 1916 moored at Sherm Rabigh, Saudi Arabia
2 January 1917 RFA Race Fisher alongside and loaded 33 tons of water
12 February 1917 sailed to Suez arriving on 15 February 1917
15 February 1917 transit Suez Canal northbound to Port Said arriving the next day - moored alongside
17 February 1917 sailed Port Said to Suda Bay, Crete arriving 19 February 1917
17 March 1917 and 18 March 1917 loaded 250 tons of bunker coal
26 March 1917 at Suda Bay, Crete HM Submarine E25 alongside for water
31 March 1917 at Suda Bay, Crete HM Submarine E25 alongside for water
26 April 1917 to 28 April 1917 at Souda Bay, Crete loaded 256 tons of bunker coal from the collier ss Clan Macpherson
28 June 1917 HM Submarine E21 alongside loading water
18 July 1917 and 19 July 1917 loaded 280 tons of bunker coal
20 August 1917 HM Submarine E21 alongside loading water
25 October 1917 dragged her anchor. Starboard anchor let go.
9 November 1917 at Suda Bay loaded 260 tons of bunker coal from the collier Kinwood
14 November 1917 sailed Suda Bay arriving at Milo the next day
24 November 1917 Stoker S White to HMS Theseus to serve 7 days cell punishment
8 December 1917 Engineer Lieutenant Brown RD RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
4 December 1917 to 6 December 1917 loaded a total of 440 tons of bunker coal
15 January 1918 to 17 January 1918 loaded 470 tons of bunker coal
21 January 1918 at Milo HMS Colne alongside for stores
11 January 1918 in high winds HMS Folkstone came alongside with stores during which she dented plates on the starboard side abreast of the fore rigging
14 January 1918 in high winds HMS Folkstone while coming alongside dented plates port side forward
14 January 1918 to 17 January 1918 loaded 470 tons of bunker coal
5 March 1918 at Milo Collier Sterndale alongside
6 March 1918 at Milo loaded 54 tons of bunker coal - collier Sterndale cast off
7 March 1918 sailed Milo in convoy to Malta
10 March 1918 arrived at Malta and berthed in Grand Harbour alongside ss Regent
11 March 1918 at Malta preparing to enter dry dock
13 March 1918 entered dry dock at Malta for repairs
18 March 1918 at Malta 3rd Officer H Morris logged for being absent from duty without leave
19 March 1918 dry dock flooded down - ship moved to a mooring alongside by tugs
21 March 1918 at Malta - loaded 616 tons of bunker coal
24 March 1918 sailed Malta to Corfu
8 April 1918 Engineer Lieutenant Charles E Wrate RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 June 1918 at Corfu ship placed into quarantine due to outbreak of influenza onboard
25 June 1918 at Corfu - loaded with 102 tons of bunker coal from the collier Hillhouse
29 June 1918 at Corfu ship taken out of quarantine
1 July 1918 at Corfu loaded with 115 tons of bunker coal from the collier Hillhouse
2 July 1918 at Corfu loaded with 108 tons of bunker coal from the collier Hillhouse
3 July 1918 at Corfu loaded with 127 tons of bunker coal from the collier Hillhouse
4 July 1918 at Corfu loaded with 75 tons of bunker coal from the collier Hillhouse
8 July 1918 at Corfu MMR Stokers John Mozpalao, William Thomas Kite and Salvadore Greich each sentenced to 21 days detention for refusing duty
25 July 1918 at Corfu loaded with 100 tons of bunker coal from the collier Hillhouse
26 July 1918 at Corfu loaded with 125 tons of bunker coal from the collier Hillhouse
27 July 1918 at Corfu loaded with 155 tons of bunker coal from the collier Hillhouse
28 July 1918 at Corfu loaded with 62 tons of bunker coal from the collier Hillhouse
31 July 1918 Stoker Petty Officer Lewis Joseph Gulley discharged dead - he died with dysentry in the civil hospital on Corfu. He was buried in Corfu British Cemetery in Grave 25 on 2 August 1918
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
16 August 1918 at Corfu loaded 146 tons of bunker coal from the collier Northumbria
17 August 1918 at Corfu loaded 120 tons of bunker coal from the collier Northumbria
18 August 1918 at Corfu loaded 60 tons of bunker coal from the collier Northumbria
19 August 1918 at Corfu loaded 95 tons of bunker coal from the collier Northumbria
9 September 1918 at Corfu loaded 84 tons of bunker coal from the collier Northumbria
10 September 1918 at Corfu loaded 104 tons of bunkering coal from the collier Northumbria
11 September 1918 at Corfu RFA Overton alongside delivering naval stores. Also loaded with 133 tons of bunker coal from the collier Northumbria
12 September 1918 at Corfu loaded 134 tons of bunker coal from the collier Northumbria
7 October 1918 at Corfu loaded 115 tons of bunkering coal from the collier War Duck
8 October 1918 at Corfu loaded 120 tons of bunkering coal from the collier War Duck
9 October 1918 at Corfu loaded 92 tons of bunkering coal from the collier War Duck
10 October 1918 off Corfu HM Trawler Pearl was in collision as she was coming alongside in a heavy swell causing damage to the ships stern
11 October 1918 off Corfu in a heavy swell as HM Trawler Princess Mary was casting off from the Bacchus she carried away the cleet on the forward davit of the starboard cutter
14 October 1918 off Corfu Stoker J Holmes sent to HMS Latona under arrest
18 October 1918 berthed alongside HMS Latona - discharging naval stores to her. Stoker Holmes returned onboard from HMS Latona under open arrest. Ship moved to anchorage
20 October 1918 Stoker J Homes discharged for passage to Malta under escort. Ship moved alongside French Battleship Honneur to load 2 picket boats. Sailed Corfu
21 October 1918 anchored in Patras Roads
22 October 1918 anchored in Corinth Bay - dragged her anchor
23 October 1918 passed through the Corinth Canal
24 October 1918 anchored at Tribulic Bay (?)
25 October 1918 moored alongside HMS Blenheim at Mudros - issued 85 tons of water to HMS Blenheim
26 October 1918 loading naval stores from HMS Blenheim
27 October 1918 off loaded 2 picket boats and cast off from HMS Blenheim - anchored off
31 October 1918 and 1 November 1918 at Mudros RFA Overton alongside delivering naval stores
3 November 1918 at Mudos HMS Hope alongside to load depth charges. Water Boat Phiclo alongside to load 99 tons of water
4 November 1918 at Mudros HMS Fury alongside to load naval stores. Carmelo Debora MMR sentenced to 7 days cells and Franceso Gelai, Storer, MRNR sentenced to be deprived of a good conduct badge and 5 days cells. Water Boat Phillis alongside to load 109 tons of water
5 November 1918 at Mudros moved alongside collier Tregothnan and loaded 95 tons of bunker coal. HMS Hope alongside and loaded depth charges
6 November 1918 at Mudros loaded 106 tons of bunkering coal from the collier Tegothnan
7 November 1918 at Mudros loaded 110 tons of bunkering coal from the collier Tegothnan. HMS Hornet alongside to discharge depth charges. Water Boat Phillis alongside to load 118 tons of water
8 November 1918 at Mudros loaded 97 tons of bunkering coal from the collier Tegothnan
10 November 1918 sailed Mudros
11 November 1918 ship rolling bady - deck cargo carried away damaging rails on port fore deck
12 November 1918 passed through Dardenelles to Ismit - moored alongside HMS Blenheim
14 November 1918 moved to the anchorage. HMS Prince Edward alongside for 27 tons of fresh water. HMS Hornet alongside for naval stores
17 November 1918 at Ismit water boat Phido alongside and collected 114 tons of fresh water
18 November 1918 at Ismit water boat Phido alongside and collected 97 tons of fresh water
26 November 1918 at Ismit loaded 245 tons of bunkering coal from the collier Teasbridge
27 November 1918 at Ismit loaded 250 tons of bunkering coal from the collier Teasbridge
6 December 1918 at Ismit - HMS's RIFLEMAN, HOPE and FURY alongside for stores
8 December 1918 at Ismit - HMS's Hornet and Forrester alongside for stores
11 December 1918 sailed Ismit for Constantinople - anchored off Constantinople overnight
12 December 1918 berthed at Constantinople alongside HM Hospital Ship Valdivia
13 December 1918 at Constantinople - moved to anchorage - various vessels alongside for water during the day - 53 tons of water issued
24 December 1918 at Constantinople the Chief Engineer Officer reported that the port engine condenser shell casing was fractured
30 December 1918 at Constantinople ships boat secured alongside Water Boat Phido was taken away by two officers (?)
31 December 1918 at Constantinople a general signal sent by the Flagship relative to the missing ships boat to trace same
2 January 1919 at Constantinople Junior Engineer Donald MacCallum logged for being ashore without permission for 36 hours
4 January 1919 at Constantinople while at anchor struck by ss Argenfels on the starboard quarter
10 January 1919 at Constantinople the collier Carisbrooke supplied 105 tons of bunker coal
11 January 1919 sailed Constantinople for Ismid arriving the same day. Anchored off the port
12 January 1919 at Ismid moored alongside the former Russian Battleship Volya loading her with a work party from HMS Blenheim with naval stores. The Battleship had been turned over to the Royal Navy by the German Navy on 24 November 1918 in accordance with the Armistice
14 January 1919 sailed Ismid to Constantinople and anchored
17 January 1919 sailed Constantinople to Mudros arriving on 19 January 1919
28 January 1919 at Mudros moved alongside the collier Huntsgulf and loaded 93 tons of bunker coal
29 January 1919 at Mudros alongside the collier Huntsgulf and loaded 47 tons of bunker coal. Sailed Muros to Malta arriving 2 February 1919
5 February 1919 at Malta loaded with 225 tons of bunker coal
15 February 1919 sailed Malta for Gibraltar arriving on 22 February 1919
22 February 1919 berthed on the South Mole. Loaded 190 tons of bunker coal
23 February 1919 loaded spare gear from HM Submarine E35
24 February 1919 sailed Gibraltar to Portsmouth arriving 2 March 1919 - anchored off discharging stores into a Drifter
4 March 1919 sailed Portsmouth for Plymouth
5 March 1919 arrived at Devonport moored alongside at No 1 wharf
14 March 1919 at Devonport - crew discharged to Naval Barracks or sent on long leave, ship placed in Dockyard hands for refit
17 March 1919 at Devonport entered dry dock
8 April 1919 at Devonport moved out of dry dock
15 April 1919 at Devonport loaded 966 tons of fresh water
24 April 1919 allocated to the North Russian Expedition as a tender to the Depot Ship HMS CYCLOPS
25 April 1919 at Devonport loaded 350 tons of bunker coal
27 April 1919 at Devonport - Major W C Hammond RM, Lieutenant D H Fleet RNVR, Lieutenant W Burke RM, 2nd Lieutenant E A Moreton RM, 2nd Lieutenant W E Alford RM and 2nd Lieutenant S Simpson RM boarded for duties as Naval Stores Officers
29 April 1919 sailed Devonport for Murmansk arriving on 7 May 1919
8 May 1919 at Murmansk alongside the collier War Sky
9 May 1919 at Murmansk loaded 92 tons of bunker coal from the the collier War Sky
10 May 1919 at Murmansk loaded 30 tons of bunker coal from the the collier War Sky - then sailed to Dvina River with HMS CYCLOPS and the Ice Breaker SVIATOGOR - on 11 May 1919 all three were stuck hard and fast by ice estimated 12 ft thick and 183 miles from Archangel & 20 miles out from the nearest land. Two ice breakers were wirelessed for from Archangel to assist the "Sviatogor" in getting the three of them through the ice field
17 May 1919 while on passage from Murmansk to Archangel the ship suffered damage from ice - details in the ships log showed: -
The entry has been signed by Lieutenant John Ross Gorrie RNR, the Commanding Officer
12 June 1919 at Archangel HM Monitor M33 came alongside to receive stores
10 July 1919 at Archangel HM Monitor M24 came alongside to receive distilled water and lubricating oil
26 July 1919 at Archangel HM Monitor M24 came alongside to receive 810 gallons of water
4 August 1919 at Archangel HM Monitor M24 came alongside to receive 3,050 gallons of water
10 August 1919 at Archangel HM Monitor M24 came alongside to receive fresh water
16 August 1919 at Archangel HM Monitor M24 came alongside to receive 2,200 gallons of water
2 September 1919 at anchor midstream off Archangel with alongside HMS Monitor M24 to provide her with fresh water
11 September 1919 supplied a further 32 tons of fresh water to HMS Monitor M24 at Archangel
17 September 1919 Greaser Clocker MMR sent to HMS Cyclops under escort. Greasers Donovan, Martin and WIllis and Stoker Biles reported drunk and unfit for duty
19 September 1919 the four crew members above sent for trial by the SNO on HMS Cyclops. Greasers Martin and Clocker reduced to Fireman and dismissed their ship. Greasers Donovan reduced to Fireman. Stoker Biles sentenced to 3 days cells
20 September 1919 Greaser Willis reduced to Fireman and dismissed his ship
2 October 1919 sailed Murmansk for Lerwick
10 October 1919 arrived at Lerwick from Murmansk. Sailed the same day for Devonport
14 October 1919 arrived at Plymouth Sound from Lerwick and berthed at Devonport in Berth No 13
18 October 1919 at Devonport Stoker Frederick Balshan MMR reported onboard under arrest
24 October 1919 at Devonport on Berth No 13. Struck on the starboard quarter by steam hopper DW22 denting plating very badly
1 January 1920 in a report to Their Lord Commissioners of the Admiralty - Read Admiral Sir John F E Green KCMG CB, Senior Naval Officer, White Sea Fleet 'mentioned' Major W C Hammond RM for being in Charge of Naval Stores
June 1920 was at Cork, Ireland unloading Army lorries
1921 served in the Dardanelles Area
30 July 1921 Captain Frank J Delamotte RFA appointed as Master
9 December 1922 sailed Malta
1922 to 1923 served Bombay then Trincomalee on the reactivation of the latter
13 January 1923 at sea a passenger Driller Martin Thomas from HM Dockyard Gibraltar was found missing from the ship - presumed drowned
14 July 1923 Captain R F Shotton RFA appointed as Master
7 October 1923 berthed at Trincomalee
8 to 13 October 1923 and 15 to 20 October 1923 at Trincomalee with stores party onboard from HMS Cairo
12 December 1923 sailed Colombo
17 January 1924 at Arthur Road, Hospital, Bombay Junior Engineer Officer Ronald William Boss discharged dead. He died from smallpox
8 March 1924 Mr F Campbell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
13 April 1925 at River Medway ships boat with 11 of the crew on board was struck by a motor lighter laden with beer. Six of the crew were drowned. For their names etc. see the 'Roll of Honour' for 1925. Inquests were held touching upon the deaths of these crew and verdicts of 'accidental death' were returned in each case by the jury.
23 April 1925 Captain John B Hurst RFA appointed as Master
1 November 1926 Captain M Smith RFA appointed as Master
9 November 1927 Mr J B Russell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
27 December 1927 Captain T Banbury RFA appointed as Master
22 March 1928 Mr L A Sharp RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
28 April 1928 in collision with a Greek ship Ionnas Fafalios in the English Channel 20 miles south of St. Albans Head in thick fog. 12 of the Greek ships crew were killed and the Bacchus nearly foundered - later towed into Portland Harbour stern first by Admiralty tugs. Bacchus on voyage Chatham to Malta. Bacchus adjudged subsequently to blame for the accident in the Admiralty Division of the High Court.
29 June 1928 Captain Reginald C E Neyroud RFA appointed as Master
14 February 1930 Captain W J Shipton RFA appointed as Master
12 March 1930 passed Gibraltar enroute from Malta to the UK
17 March 1930 berthed at Chatham from Malta and Gibraltar
18 March 1930 Mr Edward B Morton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Edward B Morton RFA
27 March 1930 sailed Chatham for Gibraltar
6 April 1930 berthed at Malta
20 July 1930 berthed at Malta from Gibraltar
6 May 1931 sailed Chatham for Gibraltar
17 May 1931 berthed at Malta from Gibraltar
22 May 1931 sailed Malta
23 November 1931 Captain S G Kent RFA appointed as Master
31 December 1931 Mr A H Ireland RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
28 December 1932 Mr L H Taylor RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
25 April 1933 Captain Charles H Noel RFA appointed as Master
Captain Charles H Noel RFA
29 September 1933 Mr T W Robinson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 March 1934 Captain Donald R McCutchan RFA appointed as Master
Captain Donald R McCutchan RFA
1935 to May 1936 was sent to Mersa Matruh to serve as a distilling ship for the Army on the outbreak of the Italo-Abyssinian Conflict.
24 May 1935 Captain W C T Barns RFA appointed as Master
May 1936 re-named as Bacchus II to free the original name for use on another ship (See RFA Bacchus 2 - below)
18 January 1937 berthed at Malta from Gibraltar
1937 laid up and then used as a bombing target for the Royal Air Force
16 October 1938 berthed at Malta from Alexandria, Egypt
November 1938 damaged as a bombing target
15 November 1938 sunk as a target over the Hurd Deep off Alderney. Channel Islands by gun fire from the cruiser HMS Dunedin.
RFA Bacchus (2)
Previous name:
Subsequent name: Pulau Ball
Official Number: 164723
Class: Stores Freighter
Pennant No: X 03 / B 556 / A103
Laid down: 14 February 1936
Builder: Caledon Shipbuilding
Launched: 15 June 1936
Into Service: 20 September 1936
Out of service: 13 April 1962 Laid up at Singapore.
Fate: 14 August 1962 Sold out of service
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background Data: Of Admiralty design, she was built as a Stores Carrier to replace her namesake of 1915 (above), and maintained the regular 5 week run from Chatham - Gibraltar - Malta carrying essential naval, victualling and armament stores and on occasion limited numbers of Service passengers until the outbreak of WW2. During the War she served primarily as a Distilling Ship, reportedly with the distilling plant from HMS RESOLUTION and later served as a Naval Stores Issuing Ship. After the War she was reconverted into a Stores Freighter. In 1946, when the “overseas sea freight service” was recommenced, she began what was to become a regular U.K. - Mediterranean - Far East Run via the Suez Canal and Aden.
1 March 1935 Navy Estimates allow for a new Stores Freighter to be built
17 December 1935 ordered
14 February 1936 laid down
15 July 1936 Launched by Caledon Shipbuilding and Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee as Yard Nr 358 named BACCHUS (2)
20 September 1936 Completed. Replaced RFA BACCHUS (1)
16 February 1938 Mr H R Bullimore RFA (Engineer Lieutenant Commander RN (Ret)) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
22 May 1938 Captain Robert T Duthie RFA appointed as Master
16 October 1938 berthed at Malta from Alexandria
12 December 1938 berthed at Grand Harbour, Malta from Chatham
7 February 1939 Captain R G Edmonds RFA appointed as Master
15 March 1939 Mr T Eggleston RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
3 September 1939 at Chatham on the outbreak of WW2
16 September 1939 while returning home from the Mediterranean, she fought and drove off a U-Boat whose torpedo missed in the Bay of Biscay at 170 miles SW of Fastnet
October 1939 a Distilling Plant was added at Falmouth, reportedly from the battleship HMS RESOLUTION. Served at Scapa Flow and on the Clyde as a Distilling Ship
4 December 1939 alongside HMS Sharpshooter (mine sweeper) at the Clyde
25 January 1940 alongside HMS Sharpshooter (mine sweeper) at Campbeltown
3 February 1940 was damaged while going alongside the AMC CARINTHIA
16 February 1940 Captain Frederick S Harvey RFA appointed as Master
11 March 1940 sailed the Clyde together with RFA PRESTOL and BRITISH LADY to Scapa Flow escorted by HMS HASTY and HMS HOTSPUR arriving on 14 March 1940
From 17 March 1940 until 29 June 1941 and from 13 August 1941 until 17 February 1942 based at Scapa Flow.
From 28 February 1942 until late 1945 based at Liverpool.
18 March 1942 Captain F S Harvey RFA appointed as Master
22 May 1942 sailed Liverpool in Convoy OS29 to Freetown arriving on the 11 June 1942
20 July 1942 sailed Durban in convoy CM30 to Aden arriving on 8 August 1942
13 August 1942 arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez with the R.F.A.s EASEDALE
5 October 1942 arrived Colombo after experiencing engine problems in the Seychelles
9 November 1942 sailed Colombo in convoy MB17 to Bombay arriving 13 November 1942
10 April 1943 sailed Bandar Abbas in convoy PB35 to Bombay arriving 17 April 1943
29 April 1943 sailed Bombay independently to Mombasa arriving 9 May 1943
23 May 1943 sailed Mombasa independently to Durban arriving 2 June 1943
4 July 1943 sailed Durban in convoy DN50A dispersed and arrived at Kilindini on 12 July 1943
8 September 1943 with MC10, consisting of HMS MANELA and HMS RECORDER left Kilindini for Durban
16 November 1943 sailed Seychelles for Durban escorted by HMS Sondra
6 April 1944 sailed Addu Atoll in Convoy XC 18 in company with RFA BELGOL
1944 to 1945 acted as a Distilling Ship in the Persian Gulf, then joined the British Pacific Fleet Train
30 January 1945 sailed Trincomalee, Ceylon to Freemantle, Australia arriving 15 February 1945
14 February 1945 Captain Walter L Holtam RFA appointed as Master
19 February 1945 sailed Freemantle to Sydney NSW arriving 27 February 1945
March 1945 Took part in Operation Iceberg One - the British Pacific Fleet operations against Okinawa and outlying islands
3 March 1945 sailed Sydney NSW to Manus
19 March 1945 sailed Manus to Leyte under escort
28 March 1945 Mr W McKee RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
April 1945 was in Task Force 57 at Leyte, along with RFA BROWN RANGER, where she was used as a Water Carrier
13 May 1945 sailed Leyte to Manus under escort arriving on 21 May 1945
July 1945 in an attempt to remedy the shortage of OAS equipment within the British Pacific Fleet, her and RFA BROWN RANGER were used as a carrier and issuing ship for the replacing of lost and damaged hoses.
9 October 1945 sailed Hong Kong to Manus arriving 18 October 1945
27 October 1945 sailed Manus to Sydney NSW arriving 31 October 1945
16 February 1946 sailed Sydney, Australia to Hong Kong arriving 7 March 1946
1946 converted to a stores freighter at Hong Kong
30 December 1946 Mr A J Daniel RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
14 July 1947 Captain F C Holt RFA appointed as Master
1947 sailed to Mombassa and arrived Durban 14 October 1947.
18 November 1947 sailed to Simonstown.
25 February 1949 sailed from from 41 berth Gibraltar
27 March 1949 Captain Cecil H Grainger RFA appointed as Master
16 January 1950 Mr R Blacklock RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
29 October 1950 Mr E S Fielder RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
23 July 1951 Captain Walter L Holtam RFA appointed as Master
24 May 1952 Mr J Alexander RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
26 May 1953 Captain H R Davies RFA appointed as Master
6 October 1953 Mr F Campbell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
10 June 1954 Mr P Ryan RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
2 May 1955 berthed at Sheerness after voyage from Port Said with two passengers
26 September 1955 Captain R K McKenzie appointed as Master
14 November 1955 Mr Wilfred C Shortland RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 February 1956 berthed at Portsmouth after voyage from Singapore and Malta
14 April 1956 Mr J Alexander RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
29 May 1956 berthed at Portsmouth after voyge from Malta and Gibraltar with 12 passengers
31 October 1956 Was deployed on Operation Musketeer - the Suez Crisis - along with 34 other RFA‘s
20 May 1957 Able Seaman Edward Binnington pleased guilty at a SIngapore court to being asleep at the wheel when the ships course deviated by 104 degrees
22 July 1957 Captain Dan de V Moulds RFA appointed as Master
9 December 1957 Mr J G Yuill RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
10 November 1958 Captain C Alexander DSC RFA appointed as Master
22 April 1959 Mr J P Mair RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
January 1960 Captain Frank S Samson RFA appointed as Master
Captain Frank Samson RFA
26 May 1960 Mr D F Gorrie RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
7 June 1960 Captain P Colfer RFA appointed as Master
3 January 1962 Mr W M Clements RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
February 1962 Captain Sam Dunlop MBE RFA appointed as Master
14 March 1962 sailed Malta for Singapore
13 April 1962 laid up at Singapore
7 June 1962 advertised for sale 'as lying' at HM Dockyard, SIngapore in The Times (London) on this date
14 August 1962 sold out of the Service
14 August 1962 purchased by Chip Hwa Shipping & Trading Co Ltd, Singapore and renamed PULAU BALI
31 January 1964 anchored in the outer roads of Singapore Harbour
12 August 1964 Beached at Singapore prior to breaking up
RFA Bacchus (3)
Previous name:
Subsequent name: Cherry Lanka
Official Number: 304368
Class: HEBE CLASS Stores Freighter
Pennant No: A404
Laid down: 18 April 1961
Builder: Henry Robb, Leith
Launched: 4 June 1962
Into Service: 8 November 1962
Out of Service: 8 September 1981
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background Data: The proposed charter of the 2 Admiralty-designed vessels in this Class was announced in September 1960 and they were built specifically for Admiralty sea freighting duties. They were designed to carry the greater proportion of their bulk cargo of naval stores in specially-designed containers by Chatham Dockyard which were known as chacons, thus setting a pattern of containerisation which was followed in ever-increasing steps in the commercial world. The 2 ships were built on tanker lines, with machinery spaces and superstructures aft, so leaving 3 large holds and tween decks forward, with No 3 tweendeck having 2 refrigerated spaces and facilities for 12 refrigerated containers. They initially maintained a U.K. - Gibraltar - Malta - Aden - Singapore service and after the closure of the Suez Canal in 1967 they went via the Cape of Good Hope, with frequent calls at Simonstown. Neither of them had any replenishment at sea capability and when completed they were bare-boat chartered from their commercial owners for a period of 19 years.
4 June 1962 Launched by Henry Robb Ltd, Leith as Yard Nr 483 named BACCHUS for British India Steam Navigation Co Ltd, London. Named after the God of Wine, son of Jupiter and Semele. The Lady Sponsor was Mrs Osbourne, wife of the Director of Movements.
18 August 1962 Her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her
28 August 1962 Mr A M Henderson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
29 November 1962 Commenced her maiden voyage from Chatham to Singapore
30 May 1963 Captain T H Macrow RFA appointed as Master
10 January 1964 Captain D J Coulthard RFA appointed as Master
23 October 1964 Mr J Brett RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 February 1965 Captain W H Hiorns RFA appointed as Master
19 May 1965 sailed Malta for Singapore
27 July 1965 Mr J A Burt RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 March 1966 Captain R W Wilkinson RFA appointed as Master
17 October 1966 Mr R W Cann RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
6 July 1967 arrived at Singapore with a tandem cycle as part of the cargo donated by the Royal Naval Cycling Club in the UK to the Princess Elizabeth School for the Blind at Johore Bahku.
16 August 1967 Mr J Brett RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
23 September 1967 Captain E G May DSC RFA appointed as Master
24 November 1967 Mr J R Speed RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 June 1968 Captain D R Thompson appointed as Master
1 October 1971 P & O General Cargo Division, London were appointed her owners’ managers
17 January 1973 owners became P & O Steam Navigation Co, London
7 April 1974 to 31 October 1974 Was in Operation Rheostat 1 - the Mine Warfare Task Group which was formed to give assistance to the Egyptian Government for the clearance of war debris from the Suez Canal after the 1967 Arab-Israeli War
12 September 1975 berthed at Grand Harbour, Malta with RN Units and RFA's Lyness, Olna (3), Sir Galahad (1) and Sir Tristram after naval exercises
15 September 1975 sailed Malta for further naval exercises
19 July 1976 Humanitarian aid - she rescued the 9 crew from the Greek motor vessel SEA WAVE which sank off Crete after her cargo had shifted. Then just days later she towed the Swedish tanker THUNTANK 10 from the vicinity of Cape Torinana in NW Spain to Vigo
29 November 1977 Collided with mv FRONTIER whilst sailing from Limassol
30 March 1979 Assisted with the closure of the base at Malta along with the destroyer HMS LONDON and RFA’s SIR LANCELOT, TARBATNESS and OLNA (3)
16 July 1979 to October 1979 In Operation Culex which was conducted following an influx of illegal immigrants in Hong Kong and carried two hovercraft out from the U.K
January 1981 Captain David E Lawrence RFA in command
8 September 1981 Destored at Chatham and withdrawn from RFA service
1 October 1981 Sailed Chatham for the Tyne for drydocking at the end of her charter period and was returned to her owners
27 October 1981 notice given this day in the Straits Times of application to change her name from Bacchus to Cherry Lanka being made to the Registrar of Shipping, Singapore
6 November 1981 Purchased by Lion Shipping Co Pte Ltd (Lian Soon Agencies Pte Ltd. Managers) Singapore, part of the Madame Dolly Seah Group and was renamed Cherry Lanka
11 April 1984 berthed at SIngapore sailed the next day
4 August 1984 berthed at SIngapore sailed 7 August 1984
31 December 1985 arrived for breaking up at Gadani Beach by Goodluck Corporation
Ships of the same name
Bacchus. A Cutter of 111bm, 68 x 20 ft and 10 guns built at Bermuda in 1806, she was captured by the French in 1808 in the West Indies.
Bacchus. A Sloop of 12 guns and 141 bm captured from the Dutch in 1807, she was broken up in 1812.
Battle Honours for this Vessel: MARTINIQUE 1809, GUAPALOUPE 1810.
Bacchus. A Brig-Sloop of the ‘Cruizer’ Class, 384 bm, 18 guns launched by Chatham Dockyard on the 17 April 1813. The ship was towed to Harwich on 13 August 1829 to be used as a breakwater.
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