RFA Birchleaf - after RFA service as British Birch

Previous name:                  Oldbury
Subsequent name:            British Birch

Official Number                  139174

Class:                                   Emergency Wartime Construction LEAF  Group Freighting Tanker

Pennant No:                        Y7.155

Laid down:
Builder:                                 Short Bros., Pallion, Sunderland
Launched:                           19 August 1916
Into Service:                         December 1916
Out of service:                     1920
Fate:                                      Broken up

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:   During WW1, 18 vessels of varying types were acquired second hand and converted or purchased and converted while on the stocks, or in a few cases building as tankers. Some were converted after serving with the Dummy Battleship Squadron by the insertion of cylindrical tanks in their holds. All were originally intended to operate as RFA’s, however owing to reasons of international law and the operation of the US Neutrality Act, these oilers became Mercantile Fleet Auxiliaries being renamed with the LEAF nomenclature and placed under civilian management although operationally they remained under Admiralty control

19 August 1916 - launched by Short Bros Ltd, Sunderland as Yard Nr 391 named RFA OLDBURY

December 1916 completed and placed under management of Lane & MacAndrew  Ltd, London as an oiler transport and renamed BIRCHLEAF. Base port Devonport

29 October 1917 berthed at New York having sailed from Bo'ness, Firth of Forth. Captain Ellis Moris Roberts as Master with 42 crew

23 February 1918 attached and damaged by a German Submarine U91 while enroute in ballast from Milford Haven to Oran and was beached she was later refloated and sent  for repairs.The submarine fired a torpedo and with gunfire hit the submarine. Two killed and the Master was taken prisoner. The attack to place 20 miles from The Skerries. Able Seaman John Winchester Long and Fireman George Paterson both discharged dead - both drowned. They are both remembered with pride on the Tower Hill Memorial as they have no known grave but the sea.

11 May 1918 re-entered service after repairs were completed

3 February 1919 Fireman E Ellis discharged dead having died in the British Hospital, Port Said suffering from cancer of the stomach. He is buried in Port Said War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt

Image from British War Graves.co.uk - used with permission

15 July 1919 arrived Suez from Aden

8 September 1919 sold to the British Tanker Company

12 October 1919 renamed British Birch

31 October 1920 sailed Shields to New Orleans

16 December 1920 arrived Avonmouth from New Orleans and Plymouth then to Manchester arriving on the 19 December 1920

1921 to 1925 used as a lightering tanker at Abadan in Iran

9 April 1923 berthed at Swansea after a voyage from Abadan

23 February 1927 attended on tanker British Merchant reported she had lost her propeller at 45 21N 8 17W in heavy seas, blowing a gale after she sent mayday call requesting assistance

3 May 1929 sailed Grangemouth to Port Said arriving on 19 May 1929

20 May 1919 sailed Port Said to Suez arriving the next day

21 May 1929 sailded Suez to Abadan arriving 6 June 1929

11 June 1929 sailed Abadan to Suez arriving 29 June 1929

29 June 1929 sailed Suez to Port Said arriving the next day

29 June 1929 at Suez - Able Seaman Charles Thomson discharged dead from smallpox

30 June 1929 sailed Port Said to Swansea arriving 16 July 1929

17 December 1931 sold for demolition to Hugh Douglas & Bryce Ramsay, Glasgow

23 December 1931 arrived to be broken up at Port Glasgow