RFA Maine (1)
Previous name: Swansea Subsequent name:
Official Number: 94303
Class: Hospital Ship
Laid down: Builder: William Gray & Company 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
1988 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 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
1899 fitted out as a Hospital Ship by Fletcher, Son & Fearnall at Limehouse Reach on the Thames. Her conversion cost more than £41,000
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
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

Hospital Ship Maine at Cape Town, South Africa in 1900
donated by John Vitale. Photographer Charles F Austin
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
16 October 1900 was at Nagasaki shortly to sail to Yokohama with invalids from the Taku Forts
1 December 1900 sailed Hong Kong for Southampton with 108 sick and wounded onboard
January 1901 returned to the U.K. after China Station service to be laid up
29 June 1901 formally presented to the Admiralty and renamed HMHS MAINE.
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 T G Richardson - both bars
2nd Engineer J Barrett - both bars
3rd Engineer J N Cairns - both bars
3rd Engineer J W Anderson - South Africa bar only
Purser J G Whyman - both bars
1905 taken over as an RFA when the service was formed and renamed RFA Maine (1)
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
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
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
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 Medal 1900 without clasp.
2. Only 11 members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade served on the MAINE as orderlies and received the China 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
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
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 1st Class passengers. Maiden voyage Liverpool - Montevideo - Valparaiso
29 May 1902 sailed Liverpool to Spain, Portugal, Brazil and the Falkland Islands
4 September 1902 sailed Liverpool to Spain, Portugal, Brazil and the Falkland Islands
9 September 1902 sailed Vigo
27 December 1902 sailed Pernambuco for Liverpool
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
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
7 September 1918 Private W J Ball, Royal Army Medical Corp discharged dead. He is buried at Ste. Marie Cemetery, Le Harve in grave Div.62 V D 3
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
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
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
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
20 June 1925 Lieutenant Ean C G Greenlees Royal Navy 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 W W Keir CMG MB 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 to 21 November 1927 at Colombo
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
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
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
15 August 1932 off Corfu was inspected by HRH The Prince of Wales and Prince George who also inspected RFA Perthshire
17 June 1935 sailed Malta on passage to Portsmouth
16 July 1935 participated 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.
18 October 1935 at Alexandria, Egypt as the Italian liner Ausonia entered port after a voyage from Haifa when two boiler explosions and a fire outbreak occurred on board her killed three and injured twenty three of the crew. The injured were taken to the Maine where 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'
2 January 1936 with RN ships attended the site of the crash of an Imperial Airways flying boat off Alexandria. Twelve were killed, one saved who 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 W 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
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
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
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.
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
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
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 and Assistant Steward George Montebello were killed. 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

The grave of Antonio Soldato
Images courtesy of British War Graves - with thanks
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
November 1942 berthed at Alexandria
December 1942 to early January 1943 dry docked and fitted with a de-gaussing coil
January 1943 tasking and movements taken under Army control with an Army medical crew on the ship
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
12 October 1943 reverted to Naval tasking and medical staff onboard
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
Subsequent name:
Official Number: 159356
Class: Hospital Ship
Pennant No: -
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
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
4 April 1944 sailed the Clyde independently to Algiers arriving 11 April 1944
16 April 1944 sailed Naples independently to Barry arriving 25 April 1944
30 April 1944 sailed Avonmouth independently to Gibraltar arriving 8 May 1944
2 June 1944 sailed Naples independently to Glasgow arriving 11 June 1944
19 October 1944 sailed the Clyde 19 October 1944 independently to Gibraltar arriving 25 October 1944
1 November 1944 sailed Gibraltar independently to Bone arriving 3 November 1944
3 November 1944 sailed Bone independently to Naples arriving 5 November 1944
7 November 1944 sailed Naples independently to Liverpool arriving 15 November 1944
19 November 1944 sailed Liverpool independently to Naples arriving 27 November 1944
28 November 1944 sailed Naples independently to Taranto arriving 29 November 1944
30 November 1944 sailed Taranto passing Gibraltar on 4 December 1944 and arriving at Falmouth 9 December 1944
9 December 1944 sailed Falmouth independently to Southampton arriving the next day
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 arriving 24 December 1944
26 December 1944 sailed Naples independently to Algiers arriving 28 December 1944
28 December 1944 sailed Algiers independently to the Clyde arriving 3 January 1945
6 January 1945 sailed the Clyde independently passing Gibraltar on 11 January 1945 and arrived Algiers on 12 January 1945
12 January 1945 sailed Algiers independently to Palermo arriving 14 January 1945
14 January 1945 sailed Palermo independently to Catania arriving the next day
15 January 1945 sailed Catania independently to Taranto arriving 16 January 1945
2 February 1945 sailed Taranto independently to Salonika arriving 5 February 1945
7 February 1945 sailed Salonika independently to Piraeus arriving the next day
10 February 1945 sailed Piraeus independently to Taranto arriving 12 February 1945
15 February 1945 sailed Catania independently to Naples arriving 16 February 1945
19 February 1945 sailed Naples independently to the Clyde arriving 26 February 1945
May 1945 taken over for use as a Naval Hospital Ship, name unchanged for service with the British Pacific Fleet
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 - New Zealand forces wounded
29 September 1945 sailed Wellington, New Zealand independently to Manus arriving 9 October 1945
10 October 1945 sailed Manus independently to Shanghai
22 October 1945 sailed Shanghai independently to Hong Kong arriving 27 October 1945
October 1945 became Base Hospital Ship at Hong Kong
22 May 1946 arrived at Hong Kong 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 Italian sick 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
January 1947 taken over as a Royal Navy Hospital Ship as RFA Empire Clyde. Some of her Royal Naval medical team had been appointed to her as early as 1945
2 January 1947 arrived Trincomalee and sailed the next day to Colombo
6 January 1947 sailed Colombo to Suez arriving 16 January 1947
17 January 1947 sailed Port Said to Naples
23 January 1947 berthed at Malta from Naples and the Far East
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
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

RFA Maine (4) Christmas Card for 1950
kindly donated by Andrew Gourlay
12 January 1951 Captain William W Peddle RFA appointed as Master
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. |