Hello, I'm new (well to this forum ....)

[Rosyk]

Hoping to find out more about the Royal Fleet Auxillary, my dad served during WWII on RFA Cherryleaf, but I'm finding it difficult to get any information on what part it played and what happened to it.

Anyway, I'm 50 this year :eek: and promised myself I'd find out about what life was like in the Navy on WWII, so I'll be an interested observer of the stuff that goes on on this forum ....

[kc]

Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting.

If you haven't seen the page already, here is a (big) page on the RFA:

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/auxiliaries.htm

and here is a pic of a later RFA Cherryleaf in 1961.

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/rfacherryleafmpl3425.jpg

[romft1945]

Hi mate welcome abord the good ship lollipop I have found it very interesting Rom;)

[herakles]

What a lovely big pic Kc!

Welcome Rosyk! Enjoy your time here. I hope you can find the information you need. Don't concern yourself being 50. You're positively a young 'un here!

[cissystar650]

Just adding my 'hello's'.......












(I'm 43 :p:D )

[Stan.J]

Hallo Rosyk, I hope that you dont remain just an observer but take an interest and post occasionally.Nice to hear fromyou..By the way I am $%&$* years old myself.

[John Brown]

Welcome Rosyk

Don't know much about the RFA Cherryleaf but this might get you started....

There was a Cherryleaf launched in 1917 and I expect this was the one your father served on. In WW2 she spent sometime in the Mediterranean and supported such ships as the Battlewagon HMS Valiant whilst in Alexandria. When war was actually declared on 3/3/39 I believe she was in Malta and her skipper was a D A Rees. In fact she probably had quite a few Maltese among her crew and one of them, a Victor Galea, died of an illness whilst serving on 5th March 1945.

Not much I'm afraid but some of the other 'old sweats' my be able to elaborate. Bob probably has a picture or two of the ship.

Good luck....John

[astraltrader]

Hi Rosyk and welcome to the forum.
There was another RFA Cherryleaf after the one John mentioned. Originally completed as the Laurelwood in 1953 it was taken over as RFA Cherryleaf a year or so later and was used as such up to 1966 when it was returned to her original owners - the Molasses General Transport Company.
From what you say it was probably the earlier one that your father served on - but it is worth mentioning there were two quite close to each other in order to ensure that any photos you come across are the right ones!

[Stan.J]

This might be the Cherryleaf you are looking for the ship on the right.
Built at Middlesbrough and launched in Nov.1916. at 5896 tons down as Tanker..