Previous name:                       THAMES CONSERVANCY HOPPER No.4, Port of London Authority Hopper No 4                                                                       
Subsequent name:                 James No 59 

Official No:                                110039

Class:                                        ex-PLA HOPPER

Pennant No:                             X 05

Laid down:
Builder:                                      Simons, Renfrew
Launched:                                14 October 1898
Into Service:                              1916
Out of service:                          1920
Fate:                                           Returned to Port of London Authority

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:  As WW1 progressed, the demand for fuelling ships became more acute and the 6 vessels in this Class were all formerly PLA Hoppers, used for working with the dredgers in London. They lent themselves to rapid conversion into tankers by plating over the bottom sludge door joints and by installing a pipeline and a pump. They were all coal burners that had been built on the River Clyde and after acquisition by the Admiralty, they were renamed after salient features of the River Thames and their new names used the leading parts of the names of London boroughs. In 1920 they were all returned to the PLA and they resumed their previous names. They are all recorded in official records as Royal Fleet Auxiliaries

14 October 1898 launched by Wm Simons & Co, Renfrew as Yard Nr 357 named THAMES CONSERVANCY HOPPER No 4 for the Conservators of the River Thames, London

October 1898 completed

26 May 1904 in collision with steamer Kelvinside of Lowerstoft near to the Oven's Buoy. Steamer Kelvinside reported as suffering damage to her stem and bows. Damage to THAMES CONSERVANCY HOPPER No.4 unknown. Reported in the Times of 27 May 1904  

1909 taken over by the London Port Authority. and renamed PORT OF LONDON AUTHORITY HOPPER No.4

16 November 1916 chartered by the Admiralty, converted into a tanker and renamed RFA BATTERSOL

25 November 1916 Engineer Lieutenant Edward G Fey RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

19 January 1917 Lieutenant  Fred Livermore RNR appointed in command.  On 4 August 1919 he was appointed to RFA Sunhill

24 September 1918 at Portsmouth with RFA PALMOL alongside loading cargo

3 June 1919 Engineer Lieutenant WIlliam Thomas RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

30 June 1919 at Portsmouth alongside HMS BIRMINGHAM refuelling her with 202 tons of FFO

5 August 1919 at Portsmouth alongside HMS HAWKINS refuelling her

18 July 1919 Lieutenant Frederick P Atkins RNR appointed in command

1 November 1919 Engineer Lieutenant Edward G Fey RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1920 returned to the Port of London Authority and resumed her previous name

1927 sold to James Dredging Towage & Transport Co Ltd, London and renamed James No 59

11 May 1930 dredger Foremost 49 and Hopper no 59 involved in an incident off the Smalls when the dredger originallt in tow of the hopper broke adrift. An attempt to re-establish connection - the Hopper's propeller fouled by the tow rope. The hopper and the dredger bumpred together. They were seperated and towedto Milford Haven. There was a possibility of them drifting ashore.

3 December 1930 the Master and crew were litigants in the Admiralty Division of the High Court in a case involving the Hopper and a dredger Foremost 49 and with assistance and salvage provided by a trawler Ardent.. Ardent and her owners awarded damages and costs - stated case (1930) 38 Ll.L.Rep. 172 - 

1937 purchased by F. Rijsdijk Industries for demolition at Hendrik Ido Ambacht in the first quarter of that year