RFA Maine

RFA Maine

RFA Maine (1)

 

 

 

Previous name:                       Swansea
Subsequent name:

Official Number:                      94303

Class:                                   Hospital Ship

Laid down:
Builder:                                 William Gray & Company, West Hartlepool
Launched:                             8 June 1887

Into Service:                         1905
Out of service:                      17 June 1914

Fate:                                    Ran aground off the Isle of Mull and wrecked.

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

 

 

8 June 1887 launched by Wm Gray & Co, West Hartlepool as Yard Nr 322 named SWANSEA for Baltimore Storage & Lighterage Co Ltd, London

July 1887 completed as a cattle and cargo ship

25 March 1888 berthed at New York

4 August 1888 berthed at New York

17 November 1888 berthed at New York

1888 purchased by Maine Shipping Co (Williams, Torrey & Field Ltd, Managers) London and renamed MAINE

1892 registered owners now Atlantic Transport Co Ltd, London name unchanged

11 October 1899 the Boer War broke out in South Africa and the Mr Barnard N Baker, President of the Atlantic Transport  Co Ltd immediately offered the ship to the British Admiralty for use as a Hospital  Ship, but because of the high costs involved in altering and fitting her out, the offer, although eagerly accepted, was not acted upon promptly

6 November 1899 at Liverpool the American Chamber of Commerce in that city voted to donate £100 towards the fund to equip and run the Maine as a Hospital Ship during the  Boer War

12 November 1899 three doctor and five nurses sailed from New York to London be part of the medical team on the Maine. They sailed on the Atlantic Transport Line ship Mesaba. The Doctors were Dr George E Dodge, Dr Harry H Rodman and Dr Charles H Weber. The nurses were Miss M E Hibbard, Miss Virginia Ludekens, Miss Jennie A Manly, Miss Sarah C McVean and Miss Margaret J McPherson. 

15 November 1899 Dr Julian Mayo Cabell, the Chief Surgeon of the American team sailed from New York for Liverpool on the RMS Oceanic. He had been granted six months leave of absence from the Columbia Hospital, Washington.

19 November 1899 sixteen male nurses, ten orderlies and two apothcaries under the charge of Dr Thomas W Hastings sailed from New York to London to join the crew of the Maine on the Atlantic Transport Line ship Manitou. The nurses were Charles S. Austin, Victor C. Bates, A. H. Chapman, Stephen Crick, George T. Cole, Ralph W. Ellsworth, Furman M. Green, Leon M. Howard,  W. C. Kuder, Charles Nast, John M. McClintock, John J. Reilly, W. B. Rust, Theodore V. Speer, A. Bunner Vallance and Archibald Gillies. The orderlies were Otto Ranstrom, W. D. Ross, Charles C Brien, Charles H Rudgreen, P. M. Rayner, Ernest Wynne, Dudley Vivian, J. H. Kase, Robert Lowndes and Henry Niderer. The two apothcaries were Albert Spotts and Herbert Haigh.

1899 fitted out as a Hospital Ship by Fletcher, Son & Fearnall at Limehouse Reach on the Thames. Her conversion cost more than £41,000. The five wards on the ship were named Columbia, Britannia, Whitelaw Reid, Baker and Committee

4 December 1899 the Officers, Medical Staff and crew were presented to Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle .

 

 

Members of the public were invited to purchase the above medal thus making funds to cover the ships operating costs

16 December 1899 at West India Docks, London HRH the Duke of Connaught presented HM The Queen's flag to Lady Randolph Churchill and the Committee for raising the money to convert the ship into a hospital ship. The flag - a Union Flag with a red cross in it's centre was raised by the Duke who was accompanied by HRH the Dutchess of Connaught and the Princess Louise of Lorne. The ship was blessed by the Bishop of Islington. (Details from the New York Tribune of 17 December 1899)  

17 December 1899 a fund raising banquet was held at Carlton Hotel, Pall Mall,  London in aid of the American Hospital Ship Fund. The Directors of the Hotel gave the banquet and the flowers with which the tables were decorated, and the entire suite of rooms on the ground floor was placed at the disposal of the ladies committee. The entertainment was arrnaged by Mrs Arthur Paget and Mme Von Andre, assisted by Mr Cesar Ritz, the Manager of the Hotel. A central table was reserved for  the HRH's Duke & Duchess of Connaught, and with their Royal Highnesses sat the Marquis of Lorne, Mr Choate (the American Ambassador) and Mrs Choate, Lady Randolph Churchill, Mrs Paget, Mrs Rolands, the Countess of Mar and Kellie, Mr & Mrs Blow, the Russain Ambassador, the Austrian Ambassador, Lord Chales Montague, Lord Algenon Gordon-Lennox, Lord Glenesk, and Mr Montague Guest. The Company which numbered about 300, also included Prince Christrian, Sir Henry Drummond Wolff and Princess Dolgorouki. The banquet realized £2,000 worth the equivalent of over £200,000 to-day (2012).

The banquet's menu -

Donated by & Copyright of UNLV Libraries, Special Collections.

 

24 December 1899 sailed Gravesend for Cape Town, South Africa for service during the Boer War where she was chiefly used a the Base Hospital Ship at Durban

6 January 1900 arrived at Las Palmas on way to the Cape

23 January 1900 arrived at Cape Town

31 January 1900 arrived Durban. Winston Churchill’s mother served as a nurse aboard and at one stage even treated her youngest son Jack Spencer Churchill there

 

 

17 March 1900 sailed from Durban for the UK

4 April 1900 a concert in aid of the finances to run the Maine took place at the Crystal Palace

15 April 1900 arrived at Maderia while on passage to Southampton

23 April 1900 returned to Southampton, via St Helena, with 12 Officers and 151 wounded men on board

3 May 1900 William Benjamin Toulman, a labourer, pleaded Guilty at Southampton Borough Police Court to the larcency of various items valued together at 9sh 8d from the Maine while at Southampton. Toulman was working on the ship at the time.and was stopped at the Dock gate with the items hidden on his person. He was sentenced to two months hard labour.

5 May 1900 sailed Southampton for a second trip to South Africa

29 May 1900 arrived at Table Bay

9 June 1900 sailed Table Bay for Southampton with 11 officers and 149 men

26 June 1900 arrived at Funchal, Maderia and sailed the same day for Southampton

12 July 1900 sailed Southampton for Taku (China) for service during the Boxer Rebellion under the command of Captain F S Stone, passing Gibraltar on 17 July 1900, passing Malta on 21 July 1900, reaching Port Said on 25 July 1900,  arrived at Hong Kong on 25 August 1900 - sailed to Wei-hai-wei on 31 August 1900

13 September 1900 sailed Wei-hai-wei for Taku

10 October 1900 arrived at Wei-hai-wei from Taku with invalids comprising of 8 officers and 28 non commissioned officers and men of the British Forces and 2 officers and 69 non commissioned officers and men of the American Expeditionary Force on board

16 October 1900 was at Nagasaki shortly to sail to Yokohama with invalids from the Taku Forts

21 November 1900 reported by telegram from Wei-hai-wei that a further group of invalids had been received on board comprising 6 officers and 66 non commissioned officers and men of the British Forces and 3 men of the American Expeditionary Force

1 December 1900 sailed Hong Kong for Southampton with 108 sick and wounded onboard

31 December 1900 sailed Port Said for Southampton

13 January 1901 returned to Southampton with 4 officer and 138 others ranks patients all of whom had come Chine with the exception of 34 patients who had been admitted onboard at Malta. The patients were all off loaded and admitted to Netley Hospital.  After her China Station service it was planned that she would be laid up

29 June 1901 formally presented to the Admiralty and renamed HMHS MAINE.

21 March 1902 sailed Malta for the UK with invalids and time expired men onboard

26 June 1902 vide the London Gazette of this date Superintentdent Miss E M Chadwick, Army Nursing Service and Mrs George Cornwallis-West (Lady Randolph Churchill) both shown as serving on the HMHS Maine were awarded the Royal Red Cross

February 1903 nine officers were awarded the Sea Transport Medal with either the South Africa 1899 - 1902 bar,  the China bar or both bars

Sea Transport Medal 

Those who received the medal were -

Captain F Stone  -  both bars. Chief Officer W Johnston  -  both bars. 2nd Officer B W Griffiths  -  both bars. 3rd Officer A P Cooke   -   both bars. Chief Engineer Officer T G Richardson  -  both bars. 2nd Engineer Officer J Barrett  -  both bars, 3rd Engineer Officer J N Cairns  -  both bars, 3rd Engineer Officer J W Anderson  -  South Africa bar only. Purser J G Whyman - both bars

29 April 1903 the China War Medal 1900 was awarded to male American Nurses who had joined the ship prior to her depature to South Africa in 1899 and remained onboard when she deployed to provide medical assistance at the Taku Forts, China during the Boxer Rebellion.  Those who received the medal were  J. J. Reilly, W. B. Ruth, J. F. McClintock, Victor Bates, L M Howard, Charles Austin and Archibald Gillies  (details from the New York Tribune)

30 September 1904 sailed Cephalonia for Malta

11 May 1905 sailed Malta for Gibraltar and Portsmouth with 70 naval and 40 military invalids onboard

20 July 1905 arrived at Plymouth

1905 taken over as an RFA when the service was formed and renamed RFA Maine (1)

8 October 1905 berthed at Gibraltar

15 August 1905 Fleet Surgeon Daniel J P McNabb Royal Navy appointed i/c of Royal Naval detachment onboard

5 October 1906 Staff Surgeon Ernest S Reid MB appointed to the ship

20 October 1906 berthed at Malta from Gibraltar

5 February 1907 Surgeon Charles T Baxter appointed to the ship

October 1907 Fleet Surgeon Frederick J A Dalton Royal Navy appointed i/c of Royal Naval detachment onboard

30 July 1909 Fleet Surgeon Herbert L Penny Royal Navy appointed i/c of Royal Naval detachment onboard

23 March 1910 sailed Sheerness to Malta

6 July 1910 in collision with the wooden topsail schooner Gordon in Portland Harbour. Both ships were damaged. At a subsequent hearing the Master of MAINE was held totally to blame

16 July 1910 received four injured sailors from HMS Sutlej which suffered an on board explosion off Berehaven

25 July 1910 Surgeon Richard Connell MB BA appointed to the ship

27 July 1910 participated in the Torbay Fleet Review by King George V as the Naval Hospital Ship of  the Grand Fleet

1 August 1910 berthed at Portsmouth

17 December 1910 arrived at Spithead from Gibraltar

14 January 1911 sailed Stokes Bay to join the Fleet

11 March 1911 in a hearing before the Admiralty Division of the High Court proceeding were taken against the Captain of the Maine (Commander Alfred C Dunn) by the owners of the schooner Gordon. The Captain of RFA Maine was held to be totally to blame

29 September 1911an explosion in a Portsmouth Dockyard work shed killed two workmen. The explosion was caused by a gas cylinder which came from the Maine which was under a gas pressure test. 

4 October 1911 at an inquest touching on the deaths of the two workmen (see above) held by the Portsmouth Borough Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death

10 October 1911 Staff Surgeon Charles G C Ross MB BA appointed to the ship

13 November 1911 Staff Surgeon Maurice T Male MB appointed to the ship

10 June 1912 Fleet Surgeon Ernest C Lomas MB FRCS Ed. DSO Royal Navy appointed i/c of Royal Naval detachment onboard

27 May 1913 anchored at Lamlash

6 March 1913 arrived at and berthed at Portsmouth

18 April 1913 Staff Surgeon Thomas W Myles appointed to the ship

1 August 1913 berthed at Portsmouth

September 1913  Captain A M Tarver RFA was Master

14 January 1914 Staff Surgeon Arthur R Thomas FRCS Ed appointed to the ship

17 June 1914 grounded in thick fog and was wrecked on the east of coast of the Isle of Mull on a small island named Eilean Straide Eun (Frank Lockwood's Island) about two miles north of the entrance to Loch Buie with serious damage forward. No casualties (From the Oban Times 20 June 1914)

20 June 1914 salvage attempts were abandoned due to her age and potential salvage bill

RFA Maine (1) aground with her lifeboats lowered

6 July 1914 wreck sold locally for scrap.

23 September 1969 vessel found in deep water broken up and spread over a wide area. Of interest to the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland

3 June 2012 the ships steam cutter - RN Steam Cutter No 438 - sailed as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee pageant on the River Thames with her crew dressed in the uniforms of the time

Notes:

 

1. Members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade served as orderlies on the  MAINE. After being used on the run from England to South Africa, the ship was used on a single journey to China to bring home wounded from the campaign against the “Boxers”. This qualified the crew for the China War Medal 1900 without clasp.

2. Only 11 members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade served on the MAINE as orderlies and received the China War Medal.  All had previously qualified for the Queen’s South Africa Medal, whether aboard MAINE or elsewhere.

 

RFA Maine (2)

 

 

 

Previous name:                     Heliopolis, Mediator

Subsequent name:                Heliopolis, Methven, Borden, Perseus

Official Number:                    120650

Class:                                    Hospital Ship

Pennant No:

Laid down:
Builder:                                  D & W Hendersen Ltd (Meadowside)
Launched:                             1 December 1905
Into Service:                         17 February 1913

Out of service:                      1 March 1916
Fate:                                      Broken Up

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

 

1 December 1905 Launched by D & W Henderson & Co Ltd, Partick as Yard Nr 448 named  HELIOPOLIS for Alliance Steamship Co Ltd ( Harris & Dixon Ltd, Managers)   London

January 1906 completed

4 March 1908 registered owners now Century Shipping Co Ltd ( Harris & Dixon Ltd, Managers) London name unchanged

1911 / 1912 Navy Estimates made provision for an additional naval hospital ship to be registered under the Merchant Shipping Act 1906, Section 80 at an estimated cost of £68,838 and to be named MEDIATOR

17 February 1913 purchased by the Admiralty for £60,000 for conversion into a Hospital Ship  To be taken in hand at Pembroke Dock for the necessary  work to be carried out at a cost of about  £48,000

18 February 1913 to 19 February 1913 inspected by RN Fleet Surgeon and Naval Construction and Engineering Staff for her suitability for conversion into a Hospital  Ship

15 May 1913 Admiralty records indicated that she should be renamed MEDIATOR

6 July 1914 the Admiralty decided that she should be renamed MAINE (2)

14 July 1914 was renamed MAINE (2) after the loss of MAINE (1)

7 March 1916 conversion never fully completed and ship was considered by some as totally unsuitable for this conversion and for service as a Hospital Ship. The Admiralty, auctioneers Fuller, Horsey, Sons and Casell offered her for sale by auction at the Baltic & Shipping Exchange, London on 01 March and she was resold to her former owners for £105,000. The cost of reconverting her to a cargo carrying steamer was £40,000 on completion of which her name reverted to HELIOPOLIS

15 May 1917 purchased by Canadian Pacific Railway Co, Liverpool name unchanged

24 June 1917 sailed Barry on her first sailing for Canadian Pacific

20 August 1917 renamed METHVEN by her owners

3 December 1917 berthed at London from Montreal

30 December 1918 sailed Liverpool for Vancouver via the Panama Canal for service in the Pacific

22 April 1919 arrived Hong Kong to commence her owners service from that port

20 November 1919 arrived Shanghai from Vancouver

8 December 1919 berthed at the Main Wharf, Tanjong Pagar, Singapore

29 March 1920 arrived at Singapore from Vancouver

12 July 1920 berthed at Singapore

21 August 1921 berthed at Empire Dock, Singapore

March 1922 sailed Hong Kong via the Suez Canal to return to North Atlantic service

22 March 1922 renamed BORDEN by her owners

8 September 1923 arrived Barbados

3 October 1923 sailed Quebec for the West Indies

16 December 1923 sailed Barbados for St. Johns NB

30 December 1923 sailed St John NB for the West Indies

7 March 1924 arrived St. Johns NB from Demerara

15 March 1924 sailed St. Johns NB for Bermuda

26 October 1926 purchased by G.E. Kulukundis, Piraeus and renamed PERSEUS

1928 purchased by Culicids & Costomeni, Syra, Greece name unchanged

1930 purchased by Atlanticos Steamship Co, Syra, Greece name unchanged

24 August 1932 arrived for breaking up by F. Bertorelli, Genoa

 

Notes:

 

1.    The image above is as she was as the s.s. Heliopolis

 

 

 

RFA Maine (3)

 

 

 

 

Previous name:                        Panama
Subsequent name:

Official Number:                       115276

Class:                                       Hospital Ship

Pennant No:                             X24

Laid down:           
Builder:                                    Fairfield, Govan
Launched:                               8 March 1902

Into Service:                            August 1920

Out of service:                        21 February 1947

Fate:                                        Broken up

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

 

Background Data:  See explanatory notes.

 

8 March 1902 Launched by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Govan as Yard Nr 419 named PANAMA for Pacific Steam Navigation Co, Liverpool

May 1902 Completed. Carried 130 x 1^st Class passengers. Maiden voyage Liverpool - Montevideo - Valparaiso

29 May 1902 sailed Liverpool to Spain, Portugal, Brazil and the Falkland Islands

18 August 1902 sailed Vigo for Liverpool

4 September 1902 sailed Liverpool to Spain, Portugal, Brazil and the Falkland Islands

9 September 1902 sailed Vigo

27 December 1902 sailed Pernambuco for Valparaiso

19 March 1903 sailed Liverpool to Spain, Portugal, Brazil and the Falkland Islands

27 May 1903 sailed Liverpool for Lisbon, Tangier, Palma, Algiers, Gibraltar, Oporto and Vigo

9 June 1903 sailed Vigo for Liverpool

28 June 1903 sailed La Pallice for Valparaiso

13 September 1903 sailed Vigo to Liverpool

1 October 1903 sailed Liverpool to Spain, Portugal, Brazil and the Falkland Islands

25 October 1903 sailed Montevideo

17 December 1903 sailed Lisbon for Liverpool

22 December 1903 berthed at Liverpool

7 January 1904 sailed Liverpool to Spain, Portugal and South America

14 January 1904 sailed Lison

1 February 1904 berthed at Montevideo

24 February 1904 sailed Coronel

28 March 1904 sailed La Pallice for Liverpool

14 April 1904 sailed Liverpool to Spain, Portugal and South America

4 May 1904 sailed Valparaiso

8 May 1904 berthed at Montevideo

7 June 1904 sailed Punta Arenas

19 June 1904 sailed Pernambuco

30 June 1904 sailed Lisbon for Liverpool

4 July 1904 berthed at Liverpool

23 July 1904 sailed Liverpool to Spain, Portugal, South America and the Falkland Islands

27 July 1904 sailed Lisbon for South America

7 September 1904 sailed Coronel for Liverpool

27 October 1904 Liverpool to France, Spain, Portugal, South America and the Falkland Islands

30 October 1904 sailed La Pallice, France for La Coruna, Spain

14 November 1904 in collision with the Italian ss Orinone off Bahia. Struck on the port quarter. No apparent damage to the Panama, both vessels continued with their respective voyages

16 November 1904 sailed Rio de Janeiro for Valparaiso

11 January 1905 sailed Lisbon for Liverpool

2 February 1905 sailed Liverpool to France, Spain, Portugal and South America

11 May 1905 sailed Liverpool to France, Spain, Portugal and South America

1 March 1906 sailed Liverpool for ports on the west coast of South America

4 April 1906 arrived at Coronel

18 April 1906 sailed Coronel for Liverpool

1915 chartered by the Admiralty for service as a Hospital Ship name unchanged.

 

HMHS Panama before she was renamed RFA Maine (3)

16 October 1915 sailed the Dardenelles to Malta with wounded from Gallipoli

31 October 1915 sailed Malta to the UK 

27 January 1916 sailed Malta to Naples

4 February 1916 arrived at Naples and transfered 319 wounded to HMHS Britannic

1 November 1916 sailed Le Havre to Southampton with wounded

 

Christmas Day Menu 1916

 

31 May 1917 berthed at Le Harve from Southampton with American 'Base Hospital No 2, Columbia University - - Presbytarian Hospital' onboard. This unit had been loaned to the British Government for service in the British Hospitals at Etretat. The Unit was under the command of Major L L Hopwood USR and was composed of 252 persons - 26 officers, 155 enlisted men, 65 female nurses and 6 clerks. Source - Message from the US Consul at Le Harve to the US Secretary of State at Washington.

7 September 1918 Private W J Ball, Royal Army Medical Corp discharged dead. He is buried at Ste. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre in grave Div.62 V D 3

Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project

 

3 October 1918 sailed Southampton

9 May 1919 berthed at Southampton

January 1920 arrived at Malta from the Black Sea with refugees onboard - as some of the passengers were infected with typhus all the refugees were not permitted to land and the ship returned to the Black Sea

15 April 1920 Lance Corporal 393035 J G Robinson, Royal Army Medical Corp discharged dead. He is buried in West Pelton (St. Pauls) Churchyard, Durham

Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project

 

October 1920 purchased by the Admiralty and renamed MAINE (3). Taken in hand for conversion by Portsmouth Dockyard. Estimated cost of purchase and conversion was £225,435

14 February 1921 Mr Cecil E Harland RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

9 March 1921 underwent inclining experiments at Portsmouth Dockyard

1 May 1921 Captain Richard Narramore Smardon RFA appointed as Master

30 March 1922 sailed Portsmouth Harbour to Stokes Bay

31 March 1922 conversion work completed. Actual expenditure was £276,453

15 May 1922 sailed Portsmouth for service in the Mediterranean

24 May 1922 arrived Malta and took over the Hospital Ship duties from RFA BERBICE.  Her routine duties  were that of Base Hospital Ship for flotilla of submarines and destroyers at Marsamuscetto and accompanying the Fleet on routine cruises

1922 to 1924 was mainly in Turkish waters based on Constantinople

15 September 1922 arrived Grand Harbour, Malta carrying 407 refugees from Smyrna who had fled to escape the atrocities being committed by the Young Turks against all European races there after the outbreak of war between the Greeks and the Turks

23 April 1923 Assistant Steward Arthur Randel Harding discharged dead from natural causes

23 October 1923 berthed at Portsmouth Dockyard

29 December 1923 sailed from Portsmouth Dockyard

8 March 1924 involved in Fleet Manoeuvers off the Balearic Islands

7 February 1925 entered Fleet service after refit at Malta

25 March 1925 went to the rescue of British registered steam trawler Roche Castle which radioed she was sinking at 40.45N 9.5W. She was 36 miles SW by W from the trawler when she received the radio message

28 March 1925 berthed at Portsmouth Dockyard

17 April 1925 sailed from Portsmouth Dockyard

20 June 1925 Lieutenant Ean Charles Colville Greenlees Royal Navy from HMS Lucia died of enteric fever on board while the ship was involved in the Mediterrean Fleet's summer manoeuvers at Rosas Bay

13 August 1925 Surgeon Captain William Wallace Keir CMG MB KHS MiD Chevalier de Legion d'Honour Royal Navy appointed to lead the medical team onboard

8 December 1925 when in Chatham Dockyard broke her mooring in very rough weather and was blown into HMS Whirlwind, a destroyer, causing damage to both vessels

31 August 1926 the canteen fund onboard made a donation of  £3.0.0d to the National Memorial to Queen Alexandria

19 January 1927 sailed Malta in the company of the First Cruiser Squadron bound for Singapore

4 February 1927 in transit of the Suez Canal 

21 February 1927 arrived at Singapore bound for China - sailed 23 February 1927

4 March 1927 berthed at Hong Kong

15 November 1927 arrived at Singapore from Hong Kong, anchored in the roads and sailed the same day for Colombo

19 November 1927 at Colombo

21 November 1927 sailed Colombo

3 December 1927 at Port Said

17 December 1927 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour sailing the next day to sea

20 February 1928 during a storm broke her mooring in Grand Harbour, Malta and ran aground

25 April 1928 under orders to sail Malta with RFA Perthshire, HMS EAGLE and other RN ships to provide medical assistance to those injured in the Greek Earthquake of the 23 April 1928

7 September 1928 sailed Malta to Messina with the Mediterranean Fleet as part of it's summer cruise arriving on 8 September 1928 where she remained until 17 September 1928

29 October 1928 arrived back at Malta

1 April 1929 at Gibraltar one rating from HMS ROYAL OAK admiitted for treatment to an injury

2 April 1929 at Gibraltar one Midshipman and the ships Padre from HMS ROYAL OAK admitted for treatment

26 July 1929 was involved in the treatment of several of the crew of HMS DEVONSHIRE when she suffered a turret explosion in the Aegean. Seventeen of the crew of HMS Devonshire were killed as a result of the explosion Most are buried in the Naval Reservation of the cemetery on the island of Volos

7 December 1929 at Chatham in refit broke away from her moorings dragged across the basin and hit HMS WHIRLWIND, a destroyer, causing damage to both ships

24 June 1930 Mr Charles A Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

 

Chief Engineer Officer Charles A  Smith RFA 

15 July 1930 Surgeon Captain Alexander McCloy Royal Navy appointed in command of the Royal Naval medical team onboard. For the previous three years he had been at Haslar Naval Hospital

7 January 1932 sailed Malta with the Mediterranean Fleet on it's Winter cruise

26 May 1932 Mr T Perrett RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

13 August 1932 at Corfu one rating admitted for treatment from HMS ROYAL OAK

15 August 1932 off Corfu was inspected by HRHs The Prince of Wales and Prince George who also inspected RFA Perthshire

17 March 1934 a patient, Commissioned Shipwright Louis A Thomas from HMS ROYAL OAK discharged dead - he is buried in North Front Cemetery, Gibraltar

17 June 1935 sailed Malta on passage to Portsmouth Harbour

27 June 1935 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

16 July 1935 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour to participate in the King George V Silver Jubilee Fleet Review at Spithead as the Host Ship for Government guests. Her Hospital Ship colours were removed for the occasion with the permission of the ICRC. She carried approximately 500  Government - invited guests including Winston Churchill. Returning to Portsmouth Harbour to berth at the end of the day

22 July 1935 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

18 October 1935 at Alexandria, Egypt as the Italian liner Ausonia entered port after a voyage from Haifa when two boilers explosioned and an outbreak of fire occurred on board her killed three and injured twenty three of the crew. The injured were taken to the Maine where a further three died on her

7 December 1935 Surgeon Lieutenant J L S Coulter Royal Navy part of the medical team onboard awarded Parkes Memorial Prize for 1935 with his essay 'Preparation for Tropical Service in the Royal Navy'

31 December 1935 with RN ships attended the site of the crash of an Imperial Airways Short S8 Calcutta flying boat G-AASJ off Alexandria. Three crew members and nine passengers were killed, Captain V G Wilson, the flying boats pilot was saved and was transfered to RFA Maine.

March 1936 stationed at Alexandria engaged on duties as Fleet Hospital Ship to ships working in connection with the Abyssinian Troubles

30 April 1936 Captain William Whiteley RFA appointed as Master

24 June 1936 the Patients Welfare fund received a donation of £10/0/0d from HMS Queen Elizabeth's Canteen Welfare Fund on the occasion of the Battleship paying off

July 1936 to July 1938 was mainly employed on duties dealing with the care and evacuation of refugees as a result of the Spanish Civil War. During this time she steamed 20,996 miles and carried 6,574 refugees of 41 different nationalities

5 August 1936 sailed Valencia with 150 refugees

September 1936 on loan to the War Office during the Palestinian Troubles and was based at Haifa

28 January 1937 at Corfu with HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Aberdeen

30 March 1937 three hundred refugees, mostly from the Chilean Embassy at Madrid, were evacuated from Valencia to Marseilles

12 May 1937 berthed at Gibraltar from Valencia

14 May 1937 sailed Gibraltar for Almeria

16 May 1937 arrived at Gibraltar with fourteen injured crew members from HMS Hunter

25 May 1937 sailed Gibraltar with 450 loyalist refugees who had been ordered to leave the colony by the authorities. They were taken to Valencia, the loyalist war time capital

10 June 1937 Mr F C Reynolds RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

Chief Engineer Officer Frederick C Reynolds RFA

 

15 June 1937 arrived at Malta from Valencia

21 July 1937 arrived at Marseilles from Spain with 345 refugees 

27 July 1937 sailed from Valencia, Spain for  Marseilles with 400 Spanish refugees of the Civil War. Prior to sailing was bombed by rebel aircraft - the bombs missed

8 August 1937 at Grand Harbour, Malta during the RFA Aquatic Sports RFA Cherryleaf (1) won the Valenzia Cup for the boat race, a trophy that the crew of RFA Maine (3) had held for the previous two years

15 September 1937 arrived Malta from Patras

20 September 1937 humanitarian aid - sailed from Malta to Valencia to evacuate refugees during the  Spanish Civil War. She embarked 2016 persons of 11 different nationalities and took  them to safety in Marseilles

29 September 1937 Surgeon Captain F C Wright Royal Navy took over command of the Royal Naval medical team on the ship

20 October 1937 arrived Marseilles after a fire had occurred on her upper bridge which caused considerable damage

24 November 1937 the outline of requirements for a new Naval Hospital Ship were submitted to the Third Sea Lord

 

RFA Maine's Christmas Card for 1937

March 1938 during a storm in Malta broke her moorings and ran aground - no damage was caused and no danger to the crew existed. Tugs quick managed to get lines on board

29 January 1938 at Malta a Royal Naval patient, Able Seaman Anthony Taylor from HMS ST. ANGELO discharged dead - natural causes

21 July 1938 sailed Navarin for Split

26 February 1939 sailed Malta for Gibraltar arriving 2 March 1939

March 1939 a replacement for RFA Maine (3) was provided for in the Naval Estimates as it was considered that Maine (3) was past her economical life - as reported in the Glasgow Herald of 1 March 1939 - page 8

22 March 1939 sailed Gibraltar for Bordighera arriving 26 March 1939

1 April 1939 sailed Bordighera to Malta arriving 3 April 1939

3 May 1939 sailed from Malta and 31 RN warships of the Mediterranean Fleet for the East Mediterranean cruise 

15 July 1939 Surgeon Captain M S Moore Royal Navy took over command of the Royal Naval medical team on the ship

5 August 1939 arrived at Alexandria

1 July 1940 a patient, Officers Cook Joseph Taylor from HMS MEDWAY discharged dead

27 July 1940 a patient, Able Seaman Walter Bromley from HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN discharged dead

21 July 1941 Fireman Samuel Farrugia discharged dead. He is buried in Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery.

The grave of Samuel Farrugia

Image courtesy of British War Graves - with thanks

 

3 September 1941 Assistant Steward E Sammut discharged dead. He is buried in the Alexandra (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery

 

 

 

The grave of E Sammut

Image courtesy of British War Graves - with thanks

 

6 September 1941 bombed while in Alexandria Harbour - Able Seaman Emanuel Mamo, Steward Antonio Soldato,  Assistant Steward George Montebello and Surgeon Commander Robert W Nesbitt Royal Navy were all discharged dead. All are buried in Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery. 15 were injured by a near miss.

 

The grave of George Montebello                             The grave of Emanuel Mamo

 

7 December 1941 Sick Berth Attendant Edward L Folkes D/MX 65400 discharged dead. He is buried in Alexandra (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery in grave 2 H 4

10 February 1942 Surgeon Captain R A W Ford LRCP Royal Navy appointed in command of the medical staff

1 July 1942 having sailed from Alexandria arrived at Ismalia

2 September 1942 sailed from Ismalia to Port Said for bunkering and stores, on completion retruned to her formed anchorage 

12 September 1942 her Chief Engineer, whilst being repatriated to the U.K. on the Cunard liner  LACONIA  was killed when the latter was torpedoed and sunk by U-156 in the South Atlantic approx 360 miles NE of Ascension Island in position 05.10 S 11.25 W whilst sailing independently from Suez to the U.K

25 October 1942 at Ismalia placed into quarantine after a patient on board who had been admitted from the Greek Destroyer Queen Olga was found to have plague

November 1942 berthed at Alexandria

December 1942 to early January 1943 dry docked and fitted with a de-gaussing coil

13 January 1943 sailed Alexandria to Benghasi 

19 January 1943 sailed Benghasi to Alexandria carrying 300 casualties

10 February 1943 sailed Alexandria to Benghasi

17 February 1943 sailed Benghasi to Alexandria carrying 302 casualties

27 February 1943 sailed Alexandria to Benghasi

4 March 1943 sailed Benghasi to Alexandria carrying 299 casualties

9 March 1943 sailed Alexandria to Benghasi

12 March 1943 sailed Benghasi to Alexandria carrying 301 casualties

23 March 1943 sailed Alexandria to Tripoli (L) 

27 March 1943 sailed Tripoli (L) to Benghasi carrying 300 casualties

29 March 1943 sailed Benghasi to Tripoli (L)

31 March 1943 sailed Tripoli (L) to Alexandria carrying 300 casualties

11 April 1943 sailed Alexandria to Tripoli (L)

15 April 1943 sailed Tripoli (L) to Benghasi carrying 300 casualties

17 April 1943 sailed Benghasi to Tripoli (L)

19 April 1943 sailed Tripoli (L) to Alexandria carrying 300 casualties

25 April 1943 sailed Alexandria to Tripoli (L)

29 April 1943 sailed Tripoli (L) to Alexandria carrying 300 casualties

21 May 1943 sailed Alexandria to Tripoli (L)

25 May 1943 sailed Tripoli (L) to Alexandria carrying 300 casualties

11 June 1943 sailed Alexandria to Malta

30 June 1943 sailed Malta to Alexandria carrying 300 casualties

6 July 1943 sailed Alexandria to Tripoli (L)

4 August 1943 sailed Tripoli (L) to Syracuse

6 August 1943 sailed Syracuse to Tripoli (L) carrying 300 casualties

9 August 1943 sailed Tripoli (L) to Syracuse

11 August 1943 sailed Syracuse to Tripoli (L) carrying 307 casualties

14 August 1943 sailed Tripoli (L) to Alexandria carrying 295 casualties

29 August 1943 sailed Alexandria to Tripoli (L)

3 September 1943 sailed Tripoli (L) to Augusta

5 September 1943 sailed Augusta-Syracuse to Philippeville carrying 300 casualties

10 September 1943 sailed Philippevile to Augusta

15 September 1943 sailed Augusta to Vibo Valentia

19 September 1943 sailed Vibo Valentia to Reggio

19 September 1943 sailed Reggio to Catania

20 September 1943 sailed Catania to Algiers carrying 300 casualties

1 October 1943 sailed Algiers to Catania

5 October 1943 sailed Catania to Tripoli (L) carrying 309 casualties

8 October 1943 sailed Tripoli (L) to Alexandria carrying 300 casualties

During the period 13 January 1943 to 12 October 1943 sailed a total of 23,009 nm and carried 5,413 casualties. The Master commended the following officers to the Admiralty - Chief Officer Maddock RFA, 2nd Officer Townsend RFA, Radio Officer Fremaux RFA, Chief Engineer Officer Blacklock RFA, 2nd Engineer Officer Bright RFA, Acting 3rd Engineer Officer McVey RFA and Electrical Officer Paul RFA

27 July 1944 Surgeon Captain N A H Barlow MRCS LRCP Royal Navy appointed in Command of the medical staff

Between October 1944 to February 1945 served in Greek waters

15 November 1945 Captain G F Cunningham RFA appointed as Master

22 October 1946 grounded and damage when attending to support HMS Saumarez and HMS Volage when the two RN ships were mined in the Corfu Channel. She sustained extensive damage to her keel. Returned home to the River Forth

21 February 1947 paid off at Malta

6 June 1947 sailed for the last time from Malta to Rosyth for destoring. The ship had to return having found a stowaway who was landed and arrested by the Police. She sailed again reaching some 17 miles off land when a second stowaway was found in the galley asking the cook for food. Maine returned to Grand Harbour and landed this second stowaway who also was also arrested by the Police. 

8 July 1948 arrived at Bo'ness for breaking up by P & W McClellan  & Sons

 

Notes:

During WW2, carrying the international identification number 1, she was the oldest hospital ship afloat. In spite of this she carried out valuable work in the Mediterranean, handling some 13,514 patients. She evacuated Army wounded from Crete and served at Alexandria assisting with 8th Army casualties where she was extensively damaged although none of her patients was harmed. At the end of the War she was at Piraeus tending Army casualties from the Greek Civil War.

 

 

 

RFA Maine (4)

 

 

Previous names:                      Leonardo da Vinci, Ship 289, Empire Clyde, Hospital Ship 54

Subsequent name:

Official Number:                      159356   

Class:                                     Hospital Ship

Pennant No:                           B394

Laid down:
Builder:                                  Ansaldo San Giorgio - Muggiano

Launched:                              28 December 1924
Into Service:                           1945
Out of service:                        25 May 1954

Fate:                                     Broken up

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

 

1919 ordered as one of six sister ships, originally designed as cargo steamers but completed with extensive passenger accommodation

28 December 1924 launched by Ansalso San Giorgio, La Spezia as Yard Nr 192 named LEONARDO DA VINCI for Transatlantica Italiana Societe Anonima di Navigazione, Genoa.

May 1925 completed for her owners‘ South American service

24 May 1925 maiden voyage Naples - Palermo - Boston - New York as there was little or no immediate demand for her services to the South Atlantic. Completed two round voyages, the results of the second one being extremely disappointing

September 1925 the Ansaldo Group’s bankers  went bankrupt, resulting in the collapse of the whole Group, of which the owners were a part

 

November 1925 her first South American sailing took place

22 December 1925 shares were taken over by Credito Italiano and a new Company was formed - Compagnia Italiana Transatlantica (CITRA) which took over ownership

1926 - 1929 laid up

1934 the Company was again in financial difficulties and the ship was sold to Tirrenia Line, another CITRA company, after having been on charter to them for some time  previously. Her name remained unchanged

28 February 1935 at Messina in collision with Italian ship Viminale which had dragged her anchor in a gale. Suffered slight damage - details from Lloyds Casualty reports published in the Times Newspaper dated 2 March 1935

23 October 1935 at Naples in very bad weather bumped continually into the steamer Maria C. Details of damage not noted but reported in the Lloyds Casualty reports published in the Times Newspaper dated 24 October 1935

1936 suffered a serious fire and had to be reconstructed

17 December 1936 the structure of Italian Government subsidised lines was reorganised on a regional basis and resulted in the 4 remaining sister ships ( 2 having been previously sold off ) being transferred to the ownerships of Lloyd Triestino, names unchanged. This ship was employed on carrying Italian art treasures to the USA and UK and as a troopship.  She carried the Viceroy of Abbysinia and his Staff

18 May 1940 sailed Genoa independently

24 May 1940 arrived Port Said for Suez Canal transit

25 May 1940 sailed Suez independently

31 May 1940 arrived Aden

31 May 1940 sailed Aden

11 February 1941 captured by the cruiser HMS HAWKINS at Kismayu during the Somaliland Campaign. She had put to sea but was intercepted and put back to port where her crew sabotaged her engines

14 February 1941 handed over to Ellerman Lines, London for management and sailed for temporary repairs at Mombasa

21 April 1941 at Mombasa 

7 October 1941 temporary repairs completed - sailed Mombasa to Bombay arriving 22 October 1941

Between 22 October 1941 and 21 September 1942 undergoing further repairs at Bombay

1942 Captain William J Merchant (of Ellerman Lines) appointed as Master

21 September 1942 sailed Bombay to Durbam and remained there until 23 November 1942 undergoing more repairs

23 November 1942 sailed Durban independently to Cape Town arriving 27 November 1942 where further repairs were undertaken

3 December 1942 sailed Cape Town independently to Pemambuco arriving 19 December 1942

31 December 1942 sailed Pemambuco independently to Trinidad arriving 10 January 43

January 1943 her name was cancelled and she was simply known as Ship 289

24 January 1943 sailed Trinidad in Convoy TAG38 to Guantanamo arriving on 29 January 1943

29 January 1943 sailed Guantanamo in Convoy GN 38 to New York arriving 4 February 1943. While in New York more repairs were undertaken

17 February 1943 sailed New York to Hampton Roads arriving the next day

February 1943 to March 1943 her engines were removed at Newport News

5 March 1943 sailed Hampton Roads in tow

7 March 1943 arrived Baltimore for conversion into a Hospital Ship after which she was taken over by the MoWT and renamed EMPIRE CLYDE under management of City Line,  London as an Army Hospital Ship

27 August 1943 sailed Baltimore to New York arriving the next day

2 September 1943 sailed New York in Convoy HX 255 to the Clyde arriving 15 September 1943 having detached from the Convoy

2 April 1944 sailed from Glasgow to Gourock. Army medical team unpacked medical stores. The Officer Commanding the Army medical detachment was Lt. Col A E Campbell RAMC

4 April 1944 sailed the Clyde independently to Gibraltar arriving 9 April 1944 at 2100hrs. Embarked one patient (an Italian POW who had TB and was being repatriated). Sailed at 2330hrs for Algiers arriving 11 April 1944. Embarked more patients

13 April 1944 sailed Algiers for Naples arriving on 15 April 1944. Patients disembarked 

16 April 1944 sailed Naples independently to Avonmouth

20 April 1944 T/190063 Driver John Thomas Davies RASC suffering from TB discharged dead. Buried at sea 21 April 1944 at 38 51N 12 32W. He is remembered with pride on the Brookwood Memorial

25 April 1944 at Avonmouth 452 patients disembarked

30 April 1944 sailed Avonmouth independently to Gibraltar arriving 5 May 1944

5 May 1944 sailed Gibraltar to Naples arriving 8 May 1944

9 May 1944 at Naples embarked 423 patients sailing at 1600hrs the same day

12 May 1944 following an accident in the engine room two of the ships engineers were badly injured. Engineers shown in the ships War Diary as Mr Armstrong and Mr Carson. Mr Carson suffered burns to his right hand (3rd degree) left hand, left and right legs and face. Both admitted to ward D6

18 May 1944 berthed at Princes Landing stage, Liverpool - patients disembarked

19 May 1944 sailed Liverpool for Glasgow arriving 20 May 1944 and berthed in KGV Dock No3 for additional facilities and equipment to be installed

24 May 1944 sailed Glasgow to Gibraltar for orders

29 May 1944 a call to Gibraltar resulted in orders being received to sail to Naples

30 May 1944 while at sea at 2200hrs ship subject to attack by twin engine aircraft at the stern of the vessel. Subsequent investigation found bullets and bullet marks on B & C decks astern

1 June 1944 berthed at Naples

2 June 1944 embarkation of 404 patients commenced and then sailed Naples passing through the Straits of Gibraltar on 5 June 1944

11 June 1944 arrived Glasgow - KGV Dock. Patients partly disembarked this day the remaining disembarked on 12 June 1944 

27 June 1944 sailed Glasgow KGV Dock and anchored in Loch Long

28 June 1944 to 25 August 1944 at Loch Long training the medical detachment

26 August 1944 sailed Loch Long to Faslane

29 August 1944 secured into AFD at Helensborough

6 September 1944 moved to the Gareloch

19 September 1944 a member of the crew was discharged dead - no further details at this time

16 Octoiber 1944 anchored off Loch Long

19 October 1944 sailed the Loch Long independently to Gibraltar. While on passage part of the port propeller broke off and a fracture was discovered in the rudder

25 October 1944 arrived at Gibraltar

28 October 1944 entered dry dock at Gibraltar

31 October 1944 floated out of the dry dock after repairs to the rudder and the propeller 

1 November 1944 sailed Gibraltar independently to Bone

3 November 1944 arrived at Bone and embarked 77 patients - all Italian POW's being repatriated then sailed Bone independently to Naples

4 November 1944 anchored in Naples Bay

6 November 1944 berthed alongside at Naples. The Italian patients were landed

7 November 1944 embarked 419 patients and sailed Naples independently to Liverpool

10 November 1944 passed Gibraltar

16 November 1944 berthed at Liverpool at the Prince's Landing stage and disembarked the patients 

19 November 1944 sailed Liverpool independently to Naples

24 November 1944 passed Gibraltar

27 November 1944 arrived at Naples and embarked 162 British and Canadian patients

28 November 1944 sailed Naples independently to Taranto

29 November 1944 berthed at Taranto oil jetty to load bunkers. Moved berth in Taranto harbour and embarked 271 Polish patients

30 November 1944 sailed Taranto passing Gibraltar on 4 December 1944 and arriving off Falmouth 9 December 1944

9 December 1944 sailed Falmouth independently to Southampton arriving the next day

11 December 1944 to 15 December 1944 in dock at Southampton

16 December 1944 sailed Southampton independently to Falmouth arriving the next day

17 December 1944 sailed Falmouth independently to Gibraltar

21 December 1944 sailed Gibraltar independently to Naples Bay arriving 24 December 1944

25 December 1944 berthed at Naples

26 December 1944 embarked 381 patients and sailed Naples independently to Algiers arriving 28 December 1944

28 December 1944 embarked 36 patients sailed Algiers, passing Gibraltar on 30 December 1944  to Gourock on the Clyde arriving 3 January 1945

5 January 1945 underwent repairs at KGV Dock, Glasgow 

6 January 1945 sailed the Clyde independently passing Gibraltar on 11 January 1945 and arrived Algiers on 12 January 1945

12 January 1945 embarked 179 patients and sailed Algiers independently to Palermo arriving 14 January 1945

14 January 1945 disemarked 161 patients (Italians) and then sailed Palermo independently to Catania arriving the next day

15 January 1945 embarked 135 patients and sailed Catania independently to Taranto arriving 16 January 1945 where all patients were disembarked

17 January 1945 to 1 February 1945 at anchor off Taranto

2 February 1945 sailed Taranto independently to Salonika arriving 5 February 1945

6 February 1945 at Salonika embarked 41 patients

7 February 1945 sailed Salonika independently to Piraeus arriving the next day

8 February 1945 embarked 81 patients

10 February 1945 sailed Piraeus independently to Taranto arriving 12 February 1945 where all patients were disembarked

13 February 1945 at Taranto while moving berth grounded for a short time - no damage. Then sailed the same day to Catania

15 February 1945 sailed Catania independently to Naples arriving 16 February 1945

17 February 1945 embarked 430 patients

19 February 1945 sailed Naples independently to Glasgow arriving 26 February 1945. All patients disembarked

27 and 28 February 1945 engines giving cause for concern resulted in them being examained for defects and then entered refit for major engine repairs - still under repair in May 1945

31 May 1945 taken over for use as a Naval Hospital Ship, name unchanged for service with the British Pacific Fleet

30 June 1945 in the North Atlantic around 37°36’N 67°43W passed USS General A W Greely (AP141)  (Source ship log of USS General A W Greely)

27 July 1945 sailed the Clyde, to Gibraltar 1 August 1945 to Taranto arriving 6 August 1945

6 August 1945 sailed Taranto independently to Port Said arriving 10 August 1945

11 August 1945 sailed Suez having embarked approximately 200 New Zealand troops (both injured and just being repatriated)  independently to Aden arriving 16 August 1945

16 August 1945 sailed Aden independently to Colombo arriving on 23 August 1945

25 August 1945 sailed Colombo independently to Freemantle arriving 5 September 1945

7 September 1945 sailed Freemantle independently to Wellington, New Zealand arriving 18 September 1945

18 September 1945 berthed at Aotea Quay Wharf, Wellington, New Zealand to discharged 55 patients - wounded New Zealand forces

29 September 1945 sailed Wellington, New Zealand independently to Manus, Admiralty Islands arriving 9 October 1945

11 October 1945 sailed Manus, Admiralty Islands independently to Shanghai arriving 19 October 1945

22 October 1945 sailed Shanghai independently to Hong Kong arriving 27 October 1945

October 1945 became Base Hospital Ship at Hong Kong

26 November 1945 at Hong Kong a Royal Naval patient Henry Glencross from HMS BERRYHEAD discharged dead with multiple injuries and shock

1 January 1946 at Hong Kong a Royal Naval patient Stoker Donald Tate from HMS BERMUDA discharged dead - natural causes

22 February 1946 at Hong Kong a Royal Naval patient Able Seaman Norman Mitchell from HMS WIDEMOUTH BAY discharged dead - head injury 

13 April 1946 at Hong Kong a Royal Naval patient Able Seaman Norman Bennett from HMS WHITESAND BAY discharged dead - natural causes

20 April 1946 at Hong Kong at Hong Kong a Royal Indian Naval patient 1st Class Stoker Hossain Eshak from HMIS CANVERY discharged dead - natural causes

21 May 1946 at sea at 21.00N 110.00E Yu Har Chai a 7 month old child being repatriated discharged dead - natural causes

22 May 1946 arrived at Hong Kong together with HMS WHIMBREL with 576 repatriated Chinese from Hainan, including 65 stretcher cases and 511 who were ill. The majority of the repatriates were Hong Kong Chinese who had been taken to Hainan during the war and used as forced labour

9 July 1946 arrived Kure, Japan and sailed two days later

21 July 1946 arrived Singapore. Undergoing repairs from 26 July 1946. Sailed 30 August 1946 for Hong Kong but returned to Singapore on 11 September 1946

1 November 1946 sailed Singapore

5 December 1946 arrived Sydney, NSW from Hong Kong

12 December 1946 sailed Sydney with sick British soldiers and sick Italian prisoners of war

14 December 1946 arrived at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia from Sydney, NSW. Sailed 17 December 1946 to Freemantle with repatriated Italian prisoners of  war

23 December 1946 at Perth, Western Australia - members of the Australian Red Cross boarded the vessel leaving extra food for the patients and crew

27 December 1946 at sea at 18.07S 101.35E Italian prisoner of war Santucci Concettino discharged dead - presumed drowned

2 January 1947 arrived Trincomalee and sailed the next day to Colombo

4 January 1947 arrived Colombo

6 January 1947 sailed Colombo to Suez arriving 16 January 1947

17 January 1947 sailed Port Said to Naples

22 January 1947 sailed Naples for Malta

23 January 1947 berthed at Malta from Naples and the Far East

10 April 1947 the Indian crew were transferred to the HM Transport Lancashire which sailed this day from Malta for Port Said and Bombay

14 April 1947 transferred to Admiralty ownership

25 April 1947 formally transferred 'by bill of sale' to the Admiralty

6 September 1947 Captain Stanley G Kent OBE RFA appointed as Master while the ship was RFA Empire Clyde

18 December 1947 Mr Edward B Morton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

 

Chief Engineer Officer Edward B Morton RFA

1 January 1948 renamed RFA Maine (4).

17 August 1948 Mr Charles Scott DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

29 March 1949 Mr Harold Ringshaw RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

Chief Engineer Officer Harold Ringshaw RFA

1949 was reduced to reserve Status at Malta

16 July 1949 Surgeon Captain J C Souter Royal Navy took over command of the Royal Naval medical team on the ship

19 September 1949 after a refit she again proceeded East to Hong Kong for Far East Station duties

30 October 1949 supported with medical supplies and water HMS Belfast which was saving lives from a Chinese vessel which was stranded on the Pratas Islands with about 600 passengers onboard.

25 June 1950 on the outbreak of the Korean War she was at Kobe as the only Hospital Ship in the area. She was placed at the disposal of United Nations Forces and dealt with the initial evacuation of US casualties from Pusan. Throughout 1951 - 52 she operated from Hong Kong, Sasebo and sometimes Kure and handled large numbers of British and Commonwealth personnel. She was awarded the Korea 1950 Battle Honour.

14 July 1950 arrived at Pusan, Korea.  Over the months carried 1,849 casualties to Fukuoka. The medical staff also treated 2,115 US personnel and up to 1,006 cases of surgery were performed

4 August 1950 while at sea US Army PFC's Donald Sellers and Ronald Kendall both discharged dead from the effect of wounds received in warfare

5 August 1950 while at sea US Army PFC Elbert Miller discharged dead from the effect of wounds received in warfare

11 August 1950 while at sea US Army Sergeant Roselio J Torres and US Army PFC William Weitman both discharged dead from the effect of wounds received in warfare

12 August 1950 while at sea US Army PFC George Poulson discharged dead from the effect of wounds received in warfare

1 December 1950 Mr Frederick O Brims RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer until 17 January 1951. Chief Engineer Officer Brims had sailed from the UK to join RFA Maine (4) on ss Corfu but reported sick upon arrival at Hong Kong. He was recommended for invaliding from the Service on 14 February 1951. He sailed from Hong Kong on the Empire Fowey on 22 February 1951. He was discharged medically unfit and granted a pension on 1 May 1951

 

 

12 January 1951 Captain William W Peddle RFA appointed as Master

 

Captain William W Peddle RFA 

7 March 1951 Mr D L Walls RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

10 October 1951 lost a propeller while on a westward passage through the Shimonoseki Straits. Taken under tow by USS Reclaimer [ARS-42] and USS Yuma [ATF-94]

1 December 1952 USS Ashtabuka on fire in Sasebo Harbour. 2 killed, one missing and 9 injured and damaged a repair ship Ajax moored alongside. Doctors and nurses from the Maine boarded USS Ashtabula to treat the injured.

9 December 1952 Mr A Morton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1 February 1953 Captain Russell G Edmonds RFA appointed as Master

22 May 1953 The President of South Korea awarded the Presidential Unit Citation of the Republic of Korea to RFA Maine for meritorious service in the Korean War theatre from February 1951 to July 1952

6 March 1954 the Government announced that RFA Maine was to be sold

26 April 1954 her operational Service ended at Hong Kong

25 May 1954 sold for demolition by local Hong Kong breakers

June 1954 broken up at Hong Kong

 

Notes:

1. As Empire Clyde served in the British PAcific Fleet - hence the B pennant number