RFA Isla

RFA Isla

 

Previous name:                     Thistle  
Subsequent names:             Pass of Brander,  Nordsee, Ludwig Friederich

Official Number:                     113134                                               

Class:                                      Collier / Spirit Carrier

Pennant No:                           P93, X29, X33

Laid down:                            

Builder:                                   Garston Graving Dock, Garston
Launched:                              14 February 1903
Into Service:                           6 March 1907
Out of service:                       9 September 1921 Sold to commercial interests and renamed
Fate:                                        14 May 1959 Broken up at Bremerhaven

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

 

Background Data:  Soon after the turn of the 20th Century, the Admiralty acquired a number of small tankers and store ships and from the experiments conducted with these tankers was obtained  the experience which resulted in the building of a large number of tankers of various sizes which were especially designed for their task of refuelling warships. None of these early ships were sister ships, and they became the first Admiralty vessels to fall into the new RFA category on its inception in 1905

 

14 February 1903 launched by Garston Graving Dock & Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Garston as Yard Nr 23  named THISTLE for John Brewster & Son Ltd,  Whitehaven

March 1903 completed

29 December 1906 To be purchased by the Admiralty and to be converted to a tanker to carry petrol for submarines

6 March 1907 purchased by the Admiralty for £8,925 through C.W. Kellock  & Co, London (the Admiralty Shipping Agent) and renamed ISLA. Over the next 3 years £16,277 was to be spent on her converting her into a petrol carrier 

July 1907 proceeded to Sheerness for conversion

9 April 1908 approval was given for her temporary use as a collier

31 October 1910 conducted inclination tests at Sheerness

12 May 1912 registered under the Merchant Shipping Act

April 1913 Captain R N Smardon RFA was Master

1914 rerated as an oiler

10 January 1914 Mr Ernest K Horsley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer. 

3 May 1915 Lieutenant Ernest G Enright RNR appointed in command

 

Lieutenant Ernest G Enright RNR

 

4 August 1915 Lieutenant  Arthur D Davies RNR appointed in command and Engineer Lieutenant Ernest K Horsley RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

19 November 1915 Able Seaman John McKean discharged dead. Buried in Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery, Kent in the Royal Naval Section. 

 

Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project

1 January 1916 Engineer Lieutenant Lewis T Stribling RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

5 April 1917 Second Officer John A Wells RFA appeared before a court martial charge with (a) being found drunk on board and (b) improperly leaving his ship. First charge was adjudged not to be proved. The second charge was adjudged to be proved and he was sentenced to be severely reprimanded and to be dismissed his ship.

9 October 1917 Lieutenant F W Baron RNR appointed in command.  He remained in command until 20 January 1919

8 February 1919 Mess Boy Harry L Bartlett was logged as deserting the ship. He had signed on the ship on the 6 February 1919 

7 March 1919 Lieutenant James P Downie RNR appointed in command

18 April 1919 Lieutenant Graham G A Deuchar DSC RNR appointed in command

20 March 1919 in collision with the British steamer ss LINHOPE

14 August 1919 Engineer Lieutenant David E Morgan RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer. He signed off the ship on the 8 October 1919 when he was appointed to RFA Slavol

9 October 1919 Mr C W Gilbert RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

9 September 1921 sold to Bulk Oil SS Co Ltd (Sea Nav Co Ltd, Managers) as their first tanker and was renamed PASS OF BRANDER

12 July 1927 ran aground in the vicinity of Cross Sand Lightship in the North Sea. The tug Yare, built in 1883, in attempting to render assistance struck a submerged object, believed to be a wreck, and sank.  The ship was eventually refloated with the assistance of a steam drifter Torbay II, a steam tug George Jewson and some lifeboats.

3 December 1927 the salavage of the PASS OF BRANDER after she ran aground was the subject of litigation in the Admiralty Division of the High Court this day before Mt Justice Hill and Elder Brethren of Trinity House. The Court awarded the George Jewson £500, the Torbay II £500 and the Lifeboat crews £150

1928 managers now J.W. Cook & Co Ltd

1934 purchased by John T. Essberger GmbH, Hamburg and renamed NORDSEE and registered at Hamburg

1939 sold to Reederei Eugen Friederich and renamed Ludwig Friederich, Bremen and renamed LUDWIG  FRIEDERICH and was increased in size from 518 to 654 tons.

14 May 1959 broken up at Bremerhaven by Eisen u.Metall KG Lehr & Co