R.F.A. Oakleaf.
SS Montezuma
RFA Oakleaf. 25/07/1917
Displacement: 8106 grt.
Length: 147 m. Beam: 18 m. Draught: 9.3 m.
Propulsion: 2 x 3 Cylinder triple expansion steam engines, dual shaft, 2 screws
Complement: ?? officers and men.
Men Lost: 0
Armament: Yes.
Displacement: 8106 grt.
Length: 147 m. Beam: 18 m. Draught: 9.3 m.
Propulsion: 2 x 3 Cylinder triple expansion steam engines, dual shaft, 2 screws
Complement: ?? officers and men.
Men Lost: 0
Armament: Yes.
The RFA Oakleaf was built as SS Montezuma, a cargo/passenger ship by Stephen & Sons Ltd. - Alexander Stephen, Glasgow in 1899 for the Elder Dempster Lines Ltd. - African Steamship Co., Liverpool.
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Elder Dempster Lines Ltd. - African Steamship Co cap badge and button
Daily Record - Wednesday 12 July 1899
LAUNCHES.
Messrs. Alex. Stephen & Sons, Linthouse, yesterday afternoon launched a handsomely modelled twin-screw steamer, classed 101 Al at Lloyds. Her length over all is 490 feet, with a 59-feet beam, and she is provided with shelter deck fore and aft, and with upper bridge. The vessel has been designed to carry a large amount of cargo, for which she is fitted with a large complement of derricks and winches. She has been built to the order of Messrs. Elder, Dempster & Co., of Liver- pool, and was named the Montezuma by Miss Mabel Young, of 8 Claremont Terrace.
Liverpool Shipping Telegraph and Daily Commercial Advertiser - Thursday 13 July 1899
NEW VESSELS
Messrs. Alex. Stephen and Sons have launched at Linthouse a twin-screw steamer, classed 100 Al at Lloyd's, of 490 feet length over all, and 59 feet beam, named the Montezuma, for Messrs. Elder, Dempster, and Co., Liverpool. She is designed to carry a large deadweight of cargo.
LAUNCHES.
Messrs. Alex. Stephen & Sons, Linthouse, yesterday afternoon launched a handsomely modelled twin-screw steamer, classed 101 Al at Lloyds. Her length over all is 490 feet, with a 59-feet beam, and she is provided with shelter deck fore and aft, and with upper bridge. The vessel has been designed to carry a large amount of cargo, for which she is fitted with a large complement of derricks and winches. She has been built to the order of Messrs. Elder, Dempster & Co., of Liver- pool, and was named the Montezuma by Miss Mabel Young, of 8 Claremont Terrace.
Liverpool Shipping Telegraph and Daily Commercial Advertiser - Thursday 13 July 1899
NEW VESSELS
Messrs. Alex. Stephen and Sons have launched at Linthouse a twin-screw steamer, classed 100 Al at Lloyd's, of 490 feet length over all, and 59 feet beam, named the Montezuma, for Messrs. Elder, Dempster, and Co., Liverpool. She is designed to carry a large deadweight of cargo.
History
Liverpool Daily Post - Tuesday 26 December 1899
THE COLONIES AND THE WAR. THE SECOND CANADIAN CONTINGENT
THREE LINERS CHARTERED.
(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)
Ottawa, Monday.--The Government have chartered the Montezuma, belonging to the Elder, Dempster and Co., Line, and the Laurentian and Pomeranian, belonging to the Allan Line, for the purpose of transporting the second Canadian contingent to South Africa. Many extra horses will be sent with the force.
Shields Daily News - Monday 15 January 1900
THE MILWAUKEE AS A TRANSPORT.
It is announced that the Elder Dempster liner Milwaukee has been selected by the authorities to take the place of the Montezuma, to convey a portion of the Canadian contingent to South Africa. When it was found that they had typhoid fever on board the Montezuma, Elder Dempster offered to replace her by the Monterey or Milwauke. The Goverment have selected the Milwaukes, which is a steamer of very large capacity. The Milwaukee is due at New Orleans in three or four days, and will at once sail for Halifax. The Prah, of the Elder Dempster Line, which landed a large number of horses at Cape Town left the former port on Saturday last for another cargo of horses.
Barbados Agricultural Reporter - Monday 09 July 1900
St. LUCIA.
(From Daylight of 22nd June.)
MULE SHIP.
The S. S. Montezuma with 875 mules on board came into Port on Monday morning 18th June, to coal and take in water before proceeding to South Africa. The S.S. Montezuna belongs to the large firm of ship-owners known as Elder Dempster dr Co., Liverpool; and she was telegraphed for whilst lying in dock at New Port News to take over the mules of the Steamer Carinthia, which ship, as our readers will remember, ran ashore at Point Gravois, Haitie on the 21st of May last. Hundreds of the 1450 mules on board the Carinthia got drowned and some were so severely injured that they had to be shot. H.M.S. Proserpine picked up scores of them, we are informed, swimming, 17 miles out to sea; the poor brutes, in the blackness of the night and the general confusion which must have prevailed, having swam out to 88R instead of towards land. Many of those on board the Montezuma were still suffering from bruises and wounds they had received, one of them which was pointed out to our reporter having had his skull fractured. There was a splendid animal among them, the pick of the lot, which the men named "Lord Bobs." He was as black as jet, with two large intelligent eyes, that protruded from a huge head, like the bead lights of a locomotive; he was 14 hands 2 inches high and had a massive neck. A fine brute he was all over.
Liverpool Evening Express - Monday 30 July 1906
Liverpool Steamers Collide.
THE KILMORE SUNK.
All Hands Saved.
Lloyd's Flushing agent reports that the British steamer Kilmore, Antwerp for Liver- pool, in ballast, and the British steamer Montezuma London for Antwerp, cargo general goods, have been in collision near West Hinder. Former vessel sank; latter is badly damaged. All hands of the Kilmore saved by the Montezuma Latter vessel pro- ceeded to Antwerp.
The Kilmore was a steel screw steamer of 2,215 tons register, and was built at New- castle in 1890. The owners are the Loch- more Co., Ltd., of which Messrs. W. Johnston and Co., Ltd., are the managers.
The Montezuma is a steel twin screw steamer of 7,315 tons register, built in 189 and owned by the British and African Steam Navigation Co. (1900), Ltd., Messre. Elder, Dempster and Co. being the managers. Both vessels were registered in Liverpool.
THE COLONIES AND THE WAR. THE SECOND CANADIAN CONTINGENT
THREE LINERS CHARTERED.
(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)
Ottawa, Monday.--The Government have chartered the Montezuma, belonging to the Elder, Dempster and Co., Line, and the Laurentian and Pomeranian, belonging to the Allan Line, for the purpose of transporting the second Canadian contingent to South Africa. Many extra horses will be sent with the force.
Shields Daily News - Monday 15 January 1900
THE MILWAUKEE AS A TRANSPORT.
It is announced that the Elder Dempster liner Milwaukee has been selected by the authorities to take the place of the Montezuma, to convey a portion of the Canadian contingent to South Africa. When it was found that they had typhoid fever on board the Montezuma, Elder Dempster offered to replace her by the Monterey or Milwauke. The Goverment have selected the Milwaukes, which is a steamer of very large capacity. The Milwaukee is due at New Orleans in three or four days, and will at once sail for Halifax. The Prah, of the Elder Dempster Line, which landed a large number of horses at Cape Town left the former port on Saturday last for another cargo of horses.
Barbados Agricultural Reporter - Monday 09 July 1900
St. LUCIA.
(From Daylight of 22nd June.)
MULE SHIP.
The S. S. Montezuma with 875 mules on board came into Port on Monday morning 18th June, to coal and take in water before proceeding to South Africa. The S.S. Montezuna belongs to the large firm of ship-owners known as Elder Dempster dr Co., Liverpool; and she was telegraphed for whilst lying in dock at New Port News to take over the mules of the Steamer Carinthia, which ship, as our readers will remember, ran ashore at Point Gravois, Haitie on the 21st of May last. Hundreds of the 1450 mules on board the Carinthia got drowned and some were so severely injured that they had to be shot. H.M.S. Proserpine picked up scores of them, we are informed, swimming, 17 miles out to sea; the poor brutes, in the blackness of the night and the general confusion which must have prevailed, having swam out to 88R instead of towards land. Many of those on board the Montezuma were still suffering from bruises and wounds they had received, one of them which was pointed out to our reporter having had his skull fractured. There was a splendid animal among them, the pick of the lot, which the men named "Lord Bobs." He was as black as jet, with two large intelligent eyes, that protruded from a huge head, like the bead lights of a locomotive; he was 14 hands 2 inches high and had a massive neck. A fine brute he was all over.
Liverpool Evening Express - Monday 30 July 1906
Liverpool Steamers Collide.
THE KILMORE SUNK.
All Hands Saved.
Lloyd's Flushing agent reports that the British steamer Kilmore, Antwerp for Liver- pool, in ballast, and the British steamer Montezuma London for Antwerp, cargo general goods, have been in collision near West Hinder. Former vessel sank; latter is badly damaged. All hands of the Kilmore saved by the Montezuma Latter vessel pro- ceeded to Antwerp.
The Kilmore was a steel screw steamer of 2,215 tons register, and was built at New- castle in 1890. The owners are the Loch- more Co., Ltd., of which Messrs. W. Johnston and Co., Ltd., are the managers.
The Montezuma is a steel twin screw steamer of 7,315 tons register, built in 189 and owned by the British and African Steam Navigation Co. (1900), Ltd., Messre. Elder, Dempster and Co. being the managers. Both vessels were registered in Liverpool.
WW1
SS Montezuma was hired in 1914 and renamed “Special Service Vessel No: 3”. the ship was used to make up a Dummy battleship, HMS Iron Duke. The dummy ship had guns and superstructure made of wood.
On the 31st May 1915 there was an accident in the engine room and Assistant Engineer Rigby was killed.
Evening Star - Thursday 03 June 1915
NAVAL CASUALTIES.
The Secretary of the Admiralty announces the following casualties:--
ACCIDENTALLY KILLED--May 3lst. Assistant-Engineer Walter G. Rigby, R.N.R.
Liverpool Weekly Courier - Saturday 05 June 1915
RIGBY-May 31, at sea, as result of accident, Waiter John Rigby Engineer Sub-Lieutenant, eldest son of John and Annie Hamilton Rigby, Glencoe, Cable-road, Hoylake, member of Queen's Lodge,
2681.
On the 31st May 1915 there was an accident in the engine room and Assistant Engineer Rigby was killed.
Evening Star - Thursday 03 June 1915
NAVAL CASUALTIES.
The Secretary of the Admiralty announces the following casualties:--
ACCIDENTALLY KILLED--May 3lst. Assistant-Engineer Walter G. Rigby, R.N.R.
Liverpool Weekly Courier - Saturday 05 June 1915
RIGBY-May 31, at sea, as result of accident, Waiter John Rigby Engineer Sub-Lieutenant, eldest son of John and Annie Hamilton Rigby, Glencoe, Cable-road, Hoylake, member of Queen's Lodge,
2681.
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Assistant-Engineer Walter G. Rigby's grave. Holy Trinity Graveyard, Hoylake, Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, Photo: Mike McQuaid.
Assistant-Engineer Walter G. Rigby
July 1915 the Special Service Vessel No: 3 was requisitioned by the Admiralty and fitted out as an oil tanker and renamed RFA Abadol .
Feb 1917 renamed RFA Oakleaf and operated by Lane & MacAndrew Ltd under Admiralty control.
Feb 1917 renamed RFA Oakleaf and operated by Lane & MacAndrew Ltd under Admiralty control.
RFA Oakleaf.
The Loss
On 25 July 1917 the tanker RFA Oakleaf was torpedoed and sunk 64 miles NW¼W from the Butt of Lewis by the German submarine SM UC-41.
There were no casualties.
There were no casualties.
The Wreck.
There is no UKHO Wreck Card for RFA Oakleaf.
