RFA Isleford

NAV Isleford

Previous name:
Subsequent name:               

Official Number:                                    133101

Class:                                                     Armament Stores Carrier

Pennant No:                           

Laid down:
Builder:                                                  Ardrossan Drydock & Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Ardrossan
Launched:                                             6 December 1912
Into Service:                                          26 March 1913
Out of service:                                      25 January 1942

Fate:                                                       Sunk - reason unknown

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:  One of a group of nine coasters which were not normally classed as RFA’s although some, on making deep sea passages, had a proportion of RFA Officers among their complement. They are included here as the ancestors of the more modern ammunition ships

6 December 1912 launched by  Ardrossan Drydock & Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Ardrossan as Yard Nr 241   named ISLEFORD for Messrs Mann, MacNeil & Co, Glasgow

20 February 1913 to 21 February 1913 ran exhaustive trials

28 February 1913 completed for her owners’ coasting trade

26 March 1913 purchased by the Admiralty for service as an Armaments Stores Carrier, name unchanged

1918 Captain C Harrison was Master

24 March 1919 alongside RFA Ruthenia at Longhope, Scapa Flow

1922 Captain W G Williams appointed as Master

1929 re-engined with a steam triple expansion engine by Ferguson & Co,

31 December 1929 Captain William E Truscott appointed as Master

16 August 1933 Captain Sydney C Moyse appointed as Master

5 June 1937 Captain A H Paice appointed as Master

July 1939 Captain E G L Geary appointed as Master

25 January 1942 lost near Wick when she ran aground in snow and heavy weather, striking rocks and sinking while on passage from Lyness to Invergordon fourteen of the crew and one DEMS gunner were killed - their details appear in the Roll of Honour for that year. Gunner John Frederick Clark is remembered with pride on the Chatham Naval Memorial, 2nd Engineer Officer William A Cleghorn, AB Cyril S Cook, Boy SIdney G Davis, Captain David A K Foalle, Chief Engineer Officer Horace D Gumbrell, Chief Officer William A Hall, AB Victor D Kingdom, Fireman Harry J Lawrence, OS Roy C J McGrane, Fireman Frank Rawlins, Boy Harry Rowe, OS George W Smith, and AB William G Witham are remembered with pride on the Tower Hill Memorial (Panel 130). Fireman and Trimmer Hector MacNichol is remembered in Perth (Wellshill) Cemetery, in Section K,  Jeanfield Div, , Grave 211

Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project

24 November 1953. The wreck was located at 58 26 29.5N, 003 03 47.5W, or on a bearing of 074 degrees and 880 metres from the Wick south pier light

9 July 1992. Clearance operations are being carried out by a Royal Naval clearance diving unit commencing on 30 June 1992. It is expected to last 2 weeks

5 August 1992. Clearance operations were conducted between 30 June 1992 and 4 July 1992, during which a number of 4.7" cartridge cases, .303 rounds, .50 calibre ammunition and a depth charge were removed. A 1000lb solid shot projectile was located but left in situ. They recommend that the legend remain unchanged on charts because further ordnance may be uncovered in the future

4 September 2011 a memorial was erected at Wick Harbour by the Merchant Navy Association - the RFA was represented by Captain Duncan Lamb RFA