RFA Reliance

RFA Reliance

 

Previous name:                        Knight Companion
Subsequent name:                  HMS Reliance, Emanuele Accame, Orata

Official Number:                  131280                                                                  

Class:                                         Stores Support Ship

Pennant No:                              D 97 / N 90 / X 09 / X 59

Laid down:
Builder:                                      C Connell & Co, Scotstoun, Glasgow
Launched:                                 11 June 1910

Into Service:                              1915
Out of service:                          1920
Fate:                                           Broken Up

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data: She was purchased from commercial owners and was initially placed under the White Ensign as a Repair Ship. Spent a large part of WW1 at Mudros and in the Mediterranean. She was converted into a Stores Support Ship when she was transferred to the RFA

 

22 June 1910 Launched by C. Connell & Co Ltd, Scotstoun, Glasgow as Yard Nr 334 named  KNIGHT COMPANION for Knight Steamship Co Ltd (Greenshields, Cowie & Co Ltd, Managers) Liverpool

August 1910 completed

4 May 1911 sailed Sabang

31 August 1911 while under charter to the Ocean Steamship Company for a voyage back to England caught fire at Batavia - fire extinguished with some difficulty and the hold having to be flooded.

21 April 1912 arrived at Hong Kong

24 June 1912 arrived at Calcutta

15 October 1912 sailed New Orleans to Antwerp

14 November 1912 purchased by the Admiralty for £120,000 and was converted at Devonport Dockyard into a Repair Ship and was commissioned under the White Ensign as HMS RELIANCE

August 1914 based at Portsmouth

21 January 1915 Lieutenant John R Williams RNR appointed in command as an RFA

February 1915 Workshop staff from HM Dockyards at Devonport, Portsmouth, Chatham and Sheerness taken onboard as 'passengers' from the UK on three month contracts to work on HM ships at Mudros. These passengers amounted to: -

Constructive Department

Ship Fitters 2 - Joiners 2 - Smiths 4 - Hammermen 2 - Working Chargemen of Shipwrights 1 - Shipwrights 9 - Skilled Labourers 10 - Ordinary Labourers 4

Engineering Department

Working Chargemen of Fitters 1 - Fitters and Turners 30 - Working Chargemen of Boilermakers 1 - Boilermakers 8 - Bricklayers or Skilled Labourers as Bricklayers 30 - Coppersmiths 6 - Working Chargemen of Coppermiths 1 - Founders 6 - Working chargemen of Founders 1 - Patternmakers 2 - Skilled Labourers 20 - Ordinary Labourers

Electrical Department

Working Chargemen of Electrical Fitters 1 - Electrical Fitters 5 - Joiners 1 - Skilled Labourers 5 - Wireman 6 - Ordinary Labourers 2

A total of 170 dockyard staff

The dockyard staff were to be paid their Dockayrd rates of pay and Working Chargemen would, in addition, receive 6d a day additional pay and an afloat allowance of 1/6d a day for a 7 day week. All their accommodation and victualling would be provided free of charge.

Problems ensued when those who had been working at Mudros refused to renew their 3 months contracts and the Admiralty was unable or unwilling to bring them home. In July 1915 seventeen of the workmen refused duty and it was found that they were not subject to Naval Discipline and Naval Courts under the Merchant Shipping Act were for various reasons inappropriate. In additional a Labourer went and remain ashore for a whole day in the 'French Camp' strictly against orders  This later case was disposed of by the Senior Naval Officer (a Rear Admiral) acting as Governor of Mudros with an award of five days cells. The Rear Admiral sought advice from the Vice Admiral commanding the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron and suggested that anyone acting as above on British ships in Government employ would be considered as delaying work necessary for the Defence of the Realm. Legal advise was taken by the Admiralty

1 July 1915 Lieutenant Williams RNR made a formal complaint to the Senior Naval Officer, Mudros that seventeen members of the crew had refused to work as they believed that the articles they had signed had expired on 30 June 1915

2 July 1915 The SNO directed that the men concerned be removed from the ship by an armed guard. Some were then detained on HMS Agamemnon

28 July 1915 summonses were issued allegeding that the men had combined to disobey and the refusal of duty under the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 to 1906. The Agreement was exhibited which said 'they had agreeded to serve on board the ship until 30 June or first arrival of the ship in the UK after that date or discharge of cargo consequent on arrival

30 July 1915 the Court was convened onboard HMS Europa and held onboard HMS Cornwallis. It consisted of Captain Alex P Davidson Royal Navy of HMS Cornwallis, Captain Robert Rideout Stone, Master of ss Gibraltar, Captain John Oliver Band, Master of ss Cairngowan. Assistant Paymaster A J Doweswell Royal Navy, HMS Europa was nominated as Clerk of the Court. All seventeen defendants were present and pleaded NOT guilty. After hearing the full evidence for both the prosecution and the defence the Court convicted all seventeen defendents. The Court sentenced each of the defendents: -

1. Lindsay Cameron, Assistant Steward - sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment with hard labour

2. George Murray, Assistant Steward - sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment with hard labour

3. William Grant Mitchell, Assistant Steward - sentenced to eight weeks imprisonemt with hard labour

4. Robert Russell, Assistant Steward - sentenced to six weeks imprisonment with hard labour

5. George Boyce Bennett, Assistant Steward  - sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment with hard labour

6. Joseph Vassallo, Scullion - sentenced to four weeks imprisonment with hard labour

7. Carmelo Pace, Scullion - sentenced to four weeks imprisonment with hard labour

8. John Andraid, Able Seaman - sentenced to six weeks imprisonment with hard labour

9. John Strong, Able Seaman - sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment with hard labour

10. Herbert Williams, Able Seaman - sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment with hard labour

11. Thomas Lambert, Able Seaman - sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment with hard labour

12.  John Nolan, Able Seaman - sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment with hard labour

13. Frank Oatt Grant, Donkeyman - sentenced to six weeks imprisonment with hard labour

14. Robert Alphonsus Wilson, Engineroom Store Keeper - sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment with hard labour

15. John Joseph Ward,  Leading Fireman, sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment with hard labour

16. Antonia Gallo, Seaman, sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment with hard labour

17. John Clark, Assistant Cook, sentenced to four weeks imprisonment with hard labour

The Court directed their sentences were to commence on 30 July 1915 but they were to be returned to one of His Majesty's Prisons in the UK to serve any remaining time of  their sentence upon their arrival.

4 August 1915 the seventeen prisoners were returned to England from Mudros aboard the Transport ss Berrima which sailed this day

5 August 1915 Joiner Laurence Lee discharged dead. He is buried in Kalkara Royal Naval Cemetery, Malta  

11 September 1915 6th Engineer Officer Arthur William Hall RFA, aged 22, discharged dead having died from Typhoid fever.  He was buried in East Mudros Military Cemetery on the Greek Island of Limmos in grave II N 238

11 November 1915 Engineer Lieutenant Tom G Richardson RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

6 July 1916 at Mudros with RFA Overton alongside with her fitters fitting a gun mounting

9 August 1916 to 11 August 1916 at Mudros workshop staff onboard HMS ARK ROYAL building platforms for after guns

20 November 1916  Engineer Sub Lieutenant  William L Blackmore RNR appeared before a court martial charged with (a) Act to the prejudice of good order and naval discipline in purchasing whisky from the Officer's mess of His Majesty's Royal Fleet Auxiliary Reliance his wine bill being stopped at the time (b) drunk on board. The first charge was adjudged to be proved and the second charge not proved. He was adjudged to forfeit all seniority and to be reprimanded

28 June 1917 Engineer Lieutenant Joseph S Harrison RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

26 July 1917 to 28 July 1917 at Mudros a working party from the ship working on the flight deck of HMS ARK ROYAL caulking

13 September 1917 Fireman J Reed and Fireman S Myers both sentenced to 90 days DQ's at Malta and discharged. Fireman Reed had signed on on 27 July 1915 and Fireman Myers had signed on the 28 July 1915 

18 October 1917 and 19 October 1917 at Mudros a working part from the ship working on the flight deck of HMS ARK ROYAL caulking

7 November 1917 Lieutenant Commander William Gregory RNR appointed in command 

20 January 1918 Sculleryman Walter Charles Gilmore and Able Seaman Thomas Cavalier both discharged dead.  They were buried at sea and are remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial

31 January 1918 Fireman Fred Thorogood sentenced to detention - reason or duration not shown

26 February 1918 Greaser Peter Murphy sentenced to 30 days DQ's at Malta and discharged the same day. He had signed on on the 20 January 1918. On the same day Fireman George True also sentenced to 30 days DQ's at Malta and discharged the ship. He had signed on on the 28 January 1918.

2 April 1918 Able Seaman L Henderson sentenced to 60 days DQ's at Malta. On the same day Trimmer Fred Brooks MMR 808799 sentenced to 14 days DQ's and discharged to Portsmouth.

18 April 1918 Able Seaman L Henderson sentenced to a further 7 days DQ's at Malta. Signed off the ship on the same day. He had originally signed on on 29 November 1917. 

24 April 1918 Leading Stoker Joseph H Sinclair MMR 979618 discharged dead. He had signed on on the 14 March 1918 previously having served on RFA Polshannon. He was buried in East Mudros Military Cemetery on the Greek Island of Limmos in grave III H 236

 

Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project

 

7 May 1918 Switchboard Operator Ed George MMR 938462 sentenced to 14 days DQ's for sleeping on watch. He was discharged on 15 March 1919 having signed on originally on 13 March 1918.

16 May 1918 Inspector of Engine Fitters W E Armes and Plumber John Charles Bright MMR 340247 both discharged dead - both drowned.  They were both buried in East Mudros Military Cemetery on the Greek Island of Limmos. 

 

Both courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project

17 May 1918 Plumbers Mate Francis G Wykes discharged dead. He is buried in East Mudros Military Cemetery on the Greek Island of Limmos.in Grave III H 232

20 August 1918 Fireman H J Smith MMR 863175 sentenced to cells (no period stated). He was discharged to barracks on 4 October 1918 subsequently signed on RFA Fortol on 22 November 1918

9 October 1918 Engineer Sub-Lieutenant Norman Hirst RNR aged 39, discharged dead. He had signed on on the 9 November 1917 and was buried in East Mudros Military Cemetery on the Greek Island of Limmos in grave III 1 250

 

Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project

 

2 March 1919 paid off at Devonport for disposal by the Ministry of Shipping

5 May 1919 Engineer Lieutenant Harold Leather RNR appointed Chief Engineer Officer

17 December 1919 Purchased by Societa Anonyme Angelo Parodi fu B & Ditta Salvatore Emmanuelle Fili Accame, Genoa and renamed EMANUELLE ACCAME

10 July 1922 arrived Ellis Island, New York with 46 passengers having sailed from Naples, Italy via Cardiff

1923 dockers of Cardiff, Wales, refused the loading and bunkering of the Emanuelle Accame manned by members of a Fascist organization, as a protest against the outrages of that body and its members in Italy

1937 Sold to Polena Soc di Nav, Genoa and renamed Orata

6 March 1940 detained by RN ships and escorted to the Downs off Deal contraband control as it was suspected she was carrying German coal - a banned cargo - for Italy - reported in the Times of this day.

23 May 1954 arrived Hong Kong for breaking up. 

 

 

Ships of the same name

Reliance. A discovery vessel of 394 bm, 90 x 30 feet purchased in December 1793, reduced to harbour service in 1800.  Sold out of service on the 12 October 1815.

 

Reliance. A tender of 12 guns that was in service between 1812 and 1815.

 

Reliance. Repair ship of 14,250 tons built by Bethlehem Iron Works and launched on the 13 January 1944 as “Dutiful”, she was intended for service in the RN under the lend-lease programme, but was retained by the USN as USS Laertes.

 

Reliance. A discovery vessel of 394 bm, 90 x 30 feet purchased in December 1793, reduced to harbour service in 1800.  Sold out of service on the 12 October 1815.

 

Reliance. A tender of 12 guns that was in service between 1812 and 1815.

 

Reliance. Repair ship of 14,250 tons built by Bethlehem Iron Works and launched on the 13 January 1944 as “Dutiful”, she was intended for service in the RN under the lend-lease programme, but was retained by the USN as USS Laertes.