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Official Number: 146698
Class: Tanker Depot Ship
Pennant Number:
Builder: Sir J L Thomson, Sunderland
Launched: 19 October 1922
Into Service: 31 July 1939
Out of service: 28 March 1946
Fate: Broken Up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background Data: Around the outbreak of WW2, the Admiralty purchased 3 old tankers for depot ship and escort oiler work which were manned and managed by their former commercial owners although some RFA personnel were based on-board. None served in the post-War Fleet
19 October 1922 Launched by Sir J.L. Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland as Yard Nr 548 named BRITISH LADY for British Tanker Co Ltd, London
9 February 1923 completed
13 March 1924 berthed at Swansa after voyage from Abadan
12 October 1925 Captain H B George as Master
28 December 1925 at Abadan
18 January 1926 at Suez to transit the Suez Canal
20 January 1926 at Port Said
28 January 1926 at Gibraltar
1 February 1926 Lands End
2 February 1926 berthed at Swansea after voyage from Abadan
17 February 1926 suffering engine trouble - at Swansea
23 February 1926 at Thames Haven
3 March 1926 passing Gibraltar
12 March 1926 at Port Said
1 April 1926 at Abadan
14 April 1926 at Suez for transit of the Suez Canal
15 April 1926 at Port Said
23 April 1926 passing Gibraltar
27 April 1926 passing Lands End
28 April 1926 berthed at Swansea after voyage from Abadan
7 May 1926 Captain G L Perry as Master
9 May 1926 sailed Swansea
13 May 1926 passing Gibraltar
21 May 1926 at Port Said
3 June 1926 at Abadan
23 June 1926 at Suez and transit of Suez Canal to Port Said
1 July 1926 passing Gibraltar
6 July 1926 berthed at Swansea after voyage from Abadan
20 July 1926 at Thames Haven
30 July 1926 at Swansea
10 August 1926 passing Dover
23 August 1926 passing Gibraltar
31 August 1926 at Port Said
14 September 1926 at Abadan
21 September 1926 sailed Abadan with Captain J R Borthwick as Master
4 October 1926 at Suez
11 October 1926 arrived Trieste sailing the following day
25 October 1926 at Port Said
12 November 1926 at Abadan sailing 14 November 1926
28 November 1926 at Suez for transit of the Suez Canal
29 November 1926 at Port Said
9 December 1926 passed Gibraltar
13 December 1926 passing Lundy Island
14 December 1926 berthed at Swansea for dry docking and refit
29 December 1926 passed North Foreland
18 Jun 1927 berthed at Swansea after voyage from Abadan
6 January 1928 berthed at Swansea after voyage from Abadan
28 November 1929 berthed at Shell Haven after voyage from Abadan
13 July 1932 prevented from entering Sydney Harbour due to storm force weather. Delayed by 24 hours before she could pass the Heads on passage from Abadan
31 July 1939 Purchased by the Admiralty for service mainly as a Depot Ship, spending most of her time in Northern Waters and at Scapa Flow but also for some escort work. Name unchanged
1 November 1939 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 30 to Southend arriving on 3 November 1939
8 November 1939 sailed Southend in Convoy OA 32G which formed Convoy OG 6 at sea to Gibraltar.
17 November 1939 passed Gibraltar this day sailing independently to Port Said arriving 24 November 1939 for Suez Canal transit.
24 November 1939 sailed Suez independently to Abadan arriving 8 December 1939
10 December 1939 sailed Abadan independently to Suez arriving 24 December 1939
24 December 1939 transited the Suez Canal to Port Said arriving 25 December 1939
25 December 1939 sailed Port Said independently to Gibraltar arriving 4 January 1940
5 January 1940 sailed Gibraltar in Convoy HG 14F with a cargo of FFO to the Clyde having detached from the Convoy arriving on 15 January 1940
11 March 1940 sailed the Clyde with RFA Bacchus and RFA Prestol and escorted by HMS HASTY and HMS HOTSPUR to Scapa Flow arriving 14 March 1940
8 April 1940 Escorted by RN Units from the Clyde to Skelfjord, Norway to supply fuel to ships deployed off Norway in support of Allied Landings during Operation Rupert/R.4
20 April 1940 Sailed Skjelfjord for Scapa Flow escorted by HM destroyers HOTSPUR, JUPITER and PUNJABI
10 May 1940 at Scapa Flow through to 13 June 1940
14 June 1940 0300hrs sailed Scapa Flow under escort of HMS ENCOUNTER to Leith arriving the next day
20 June 1940 Leith - undergoing repairs.
3 July 1940 sailed Leith to Rosyth
8 July 1940 sailed Methil to join Convoy FS 217 to Southend arriving 10 July 1940
28 August 1940 sailed Southend in Convoy FN 265 to Methil arriving 30 August 1940
2 September 1940 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 270 to Sheerness arriving 4 September 1940
9 September 1940 sailed Southend in Convoy FN 277A to Methil arriving 11 September 1940
18 September 1940 sailed Grangemouth to Rosyth
7 October 1940 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth
16 October 1940 sailed Grangemouth to Rosyth
30 October 1940 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 323 to Sheeness arriving 1 November 1940
4 November 1940 sailed Southend in Convoy FN 327 to Methil arriving 6 November 1940 and at Grangemouth the next day
11 November 1940 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 333 to South Shields arriving 12 November 1940
16 November 1940 sailed Southshields joining Convoy FN 335 to Grangemouth arriving 17 November 1940
26 November 1940 sailed Grangemouth to Rosyth
3 December 1940 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 351 to Southend arriving 7 December 1940 then to Sheerness
12 December 1940 sailed Southend in Convoy FN 358 to Grangemouth arriving 14 December 1940
24 December 1940 sailed Grangemouth to Rosyth arriving the same day
25 December 1940 sailed Rosyth
26 December 1940 Sailed Methil in Convoy EN 47/1 to Scapa Flow having been detached from the convoy arriving on 30 December 1940 then to Invergordon
1 January 1941 sailed from Invergordon to Scapa Flow arriving the same day
In port at Scapa Flow until 25 March 1941
23 March 1941 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS Hood from 0850 to 1610. At the same time RFA Petronel alongside HMS Hood from 1100 to 1410. HMS Hood sunk 2 months later in Denmark Strait
26 March 1941 sailed Scapa Flow to join Convoy WN 104 to Invergordon having been detached from the convoy arriving the next day
29 March 1941 sailed Invergordon to Scapa Flow
1 April 1941 sailed Scapa Flow to Invergordon arriving the same day
3 April 1940 sailed Invergordon to Scapa Flow arriving the next day
9 April 1941 arrived at Invergordon from Scapa Flow
11 April 1941 arrived at Scapa Flow from Invergordon remaining there until 21 May 1941
21 May 1941 sailed Scapa Flow to Invergordon arriving the same day
24 May 1941 sailed Invergordon to Scapa Flow remaining in that port until 24 June 1941
26 June 1941 sailed Lyness to join Convoy WN 145 which also contained RFA BEDENHAM to Methil arriving the next day
28 June 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 528 to the Tyne having been detached from the convoy arriving the next day
1 July 1941 Newcastle on Tyne - undergoing repairs. Completed 2 August 1941
2 August 1941sailed from the Tyne to join Convoy FN 500 to Methil arriving the next day
6 August 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 561to the Tyne having been detached from the convoy and arrived the next day
11 August 1941 sailed from the Tyne to join Convoy FN 504 to Methil arriving on 13 August 1941
16 August 1941 sailed from Grangemouth to Rosyth and returned to Grangemouth the next day
18 August 1941 sailed Grangemouth
28 August 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 580 to Southend arriving 30 August 1941
6 September 1941 sailed Southend in Convoy EC 70 to Methil having detached from the Convoy arriving 8 September 1941
11 September 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 592 to Hull having detached from the Convoy arriving 13 September 1941
15 September 1941 sailed Hull to join Convoy FN 519 to Methil arriving 17 September 1941
24 September 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 603 to the Tyne having detached from the Convoy arriving the next day
27 September 1941 sailed from the Tyne to join Convoy FN 524 to Methil arriving 29 September 1941
3 October 1941 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth
5 October 1941 sailed Grangemouth to Rosyth returning to Grangemouth on 8 October 1941
9 October 1941 sailed Grangemouth via to Rosyth and arrived at Methil Roads on 10 October 1941
10 October 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 617 to Spurn having detached from the Convoy on 12 October 1941
17 October 1941 Sailed Spurn to join Convoy EC 86 to the Tyne having detached from the Convoy arriving the same day
20 October 1941 sailed Grangemouth
23 October 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 628
30 October 1941 arrived back in Methil having transferred to Convoy FN 538
2 November 1941 berthed at Grangemouth
4 November 1941 sailed Grangemouth to Killingholme arriving 8 November 1941
11 November 1941 sailed Killingholme to Grangemouth arriving 14 November 1941
17 November 1941 sailed Grangemouth to Immingham arriving 21 November 1941
24 November 1941 sailed Immingham to Methil Roads arriving on 26 November 1941 and then onto Grangemouth arriving 27 November 1941
29 November 1941 sailed Grangemouth to Harwich arriving 2 December 1941
7 December 1941 sailed Harwich to Grangemouth arriving 10 December 1941
17 December 1941 sailed Grangemouth to Immingham arriving on 23 December 1941and then onto Killingholme arriving the same day
26 December 1941 sailed Killingholme via Immingham to Grangemouth arriving 31 December 1941
3 January 1942 sailed Grangemouth to Killingholme arriving 7 January 1942
9 January 1942 sailed Killingholme via Immingham to Grangemouth arriving 13 January 1942
17 January 1942 Sailed Grangemouth to Ipswich.
21 January 1942 ran aground near Harwich. Tugs sent to assist. Refloated 23 January 1942 and then to Hartlepool
27 January 1942 sailed Harwich and joined convoy FN615 to Methil arriving 29 January 1942
5 February 1942 sailed Methil in convoy FS718 arriving Southend on 7 February 1942
11 February 1942 sailed Southend in convoy FN629 to Methil arriving 13 February 1942
19 February 1942 sailed Methil in convoy FS730 and detached to Harwich arriving 21 February 1942
30 March 1942 sailed Methil in convoy EN 65 to Scapa Flow arriving the next day
12 April 1942 sailed Methil in convoy EN70 to Belfast arriving the 14 April 1942
15 April 1942 sailed Belfast Lough and joined convoy BB162 to Milford Haven arriving the next day
24 April 1942 sailed Holyhead and joined convoy BB166 from Belfast Lough to Milford Haven arriving the next day
3 May 1942 sailed Holyhead and joined convoy BB170 from Belfast Lough to Milford Haven arriving the next day
6 June 1942 In collision with the destroyer HNMS MANSFIELD at Tobermory - damage to the destroyer required immediate docking at Liverpool for repairs
HNMS Mansfield
14 July 1942 sailed Loch Ewe in convoy WN309 to Scapa Flow arriving the next day
14 August 1942 sailed Scapa Flow in convoy WN322 to Methil arriving the next day
27 September 1942 sailed Methil in convoy EN143 to Scapa Flow arriving on 30 September 1942
1 November 1942 sailed the Clyde in convoy KMF2 to Algiers arriving 12 November 1942
21 November 1942 sailed Algiers in convoy MKS002 to Gibraltar
21 November 1942 Able Seaman Edgar Larsen discharged dead - he is remembered with pride on the Tower Hill Memorial - having apparently fallen in dock from the mole during air attack
Tower Hill Memorial from Brian Watson with thanks
24 November 1942 arrived and sailed Gibraltar
27 November 1942 sailed Gibraltar in convoy MKS2A to the Clyde arriving 7 December 1942
11 December 1942 sailed the Clyde in convoy ON153 arrived New York 31 December 1942 as escort oiler
4 January 1943 sailed New York City in convoy SC116 as escort oiler to Liverpool arriving 29 January 1943
18 February 1943 sailed Liverpool independently to Londonderry arriving the next day
23 February 1943 sailed Londonderry to join convoy ON(S)169 from Liverpool arrived New York City 21 March 1943 as escort oiler
25 March 1943 sailed New York independently to Boston arriving 27 March 1943
27 March 1943 sailed Boston in convoy BX39 to Halifax arriving 29 March 1943
31 March 1943 sailed Halifax in convoy SC125 arrived Londonderry 14 April 1943
22 April 1943 sailed Londonderry to join convoy ONS5 which had sailed Liverpool and arrived St Johns NF 9 May 1943 as escort oiler - one of the original escorts on sailing to this convoy was HMS PC74 - the former 'RFA' Chatsgrove
15 May 1943 sailed St Johns NF in convoy CF64 to Sydney CB arriving 18 May 1943
18 May 1943 sailed Sydney CB in convoy SH81 to Halifax arriving 20 May 1943
22 May 1943 sailed Halifax in convoy XB54 to Cape Cod Canal arriving 24 May 1943
30 May 1943 sailed New York independently to Boston arriving 1 June 1943
1 June 1943 sailed Boston in convoy BX55 to Halifax arriving 3 June 1943
5 June 1943 sailed Halifax in convoy SC133 arrived Loch Ewe 18 June 1943 with a cargo of FFO and eight passengers
19 June 1943 sailed Loch Ewe in convoy WN443 to Invergordon arriving the next day
26 June 1943 sailed Invergordon in convoy FS1152 detached to the Tyne arriving 26 June 1943
30 July 1943 sailed the Tyne to join convoy FN1086 to Methil arriving 31 July 1943. In this convoy was ss Botlea which, while acting as a 'Q' ship in 1941 purported to be RFA Lambridge
1 August 1943 sailed Methil in convoy EN263 detached to Scapa Flow arriving 2 August 1943
2 August 1943 acted as base oiler at Scapa Flow until 3 June 1945
2 April 1944 Captain Alexander Hennley appointed as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) and Chief Officer John Runciman Robinson appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the London Gazette of this day
3 June 1945 sailed Scapa Flow to the Tyne arriving 5 June 1945
19 June 1945 sailed the Tyne to the Humber and then the Downs arriving at the Clyde anchorage on 24 June 1945 and into Glasgow on 26 June 1945
28 June 1945 sailed Clyde anchorage passing Southend on 2 July 1945 returning to the Clyde anchorage on 8 July 1945 and Glasgow on the 11 July 1945
13 July 1945 sailed Glasgow to the Clyde anchorage
17 July 1945 sailed the Clyde anchorage to the Southend arriving 26 July 1945
30 August 1945 sailed Bowling to Thames Haven arriving 4 September 1945
10 September 1945 arrived at Milford Haven
11 September 1945 at Pembroke Dock
13 September 1945 sailed Milford Haven to Sheerness arriving 17 September 1945
19 September 1945 sailed Sheerness to Torbay arriving 20 September 1945
21 September 1945 sailed Torbay to Swansea arriving 24 September 1945
26 September 1945 sailed Swansea to Seine East arriving 28 September 1945
2 October 1945 sailed Seine East to Milford Haven arriving 4 October 1945
6 October 1945 sailed Milford Haven to Sheerness arriving 8 October 1945
14 October 1945 arrived at Grangemouth from Sheerness
19 October 1945 sailed Grangemouth to Rosyth
22 October 1945 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth
29 October 1945 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth
30 October 1945 sailed Grangemouth
7 November 1945 arrived at Grangemouth
8 November 1945 sailed Grangemouth to Rosyth
21 November 1945 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth
22 November 1945 sailed Grangemouth to Rosyth
4 December 1945 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth
5 December 1945 sailed Grangemouth to Rosyth
28 December 1945 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth
29 December 1945 sailed Grangemouth to Rosyth
25 January 1946 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth
26 January 1946 sailed Grangemouth to Rosyth
8 February 1946 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth
11 February 1946 sailed Grangemouth to Rosyth
11 March 1946 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth
13 March 1946 sailed Grangemouth to Rosyth
28 March 1946 Arrived at the River Tyne from Rosyth to be laid up
18 June 1946 Chief Engineer Officer Victor Hadland appointed as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) Civil Division and Engine Room Storekeeper Arthur Barclay awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) Civil Division
6 March 1947 left the Tyne under tow to Sunderland.
6 March 1947 arrived Sunderland to be broken up.
Notes
1. This vessel was an MFA owned by the Admiralty but managed and manned by British Tanker Co Ltd., she was not at any time part of the RFA Fleet
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