Accession NumberP498Title (extended title only)Plaque - RFA ReliantDescriptionSmall sized plaque with raised painted stone/ceramic motif of Royal Navy ship RFA Reliant Date13th February 1968Provenancethe ship was originally designed as a cargo liner for Ropner Shipping Co, Darlington for the carriage of grain on the U.K. – Gulf of Mexico route and could also carry up to 12 passengers. She entered this service in March 1954 named SOMERSBY but due to uneconomical trading was turned over to tramping in 1956. She was chartered by the Admiralty for a 3 month period that year and the following year was purchased by them. After a quick docking and repairs, she entered service as RFA SOMERSBY on freighting duties. In 1958 the first stage of her conversion into a Stores Issuing Ship was carried out which lasted for seven months and she then rejoined the Fleet named RFA RELIANT.Relevance to the CityThe City of Fremantle has a long association with the Royal Navy and the RFA Reliant visited Fremantle on a few occasions, in 1962 with the Ark Royal battle group, in September 1967 and February 1968 the plaque was gifted to the City by Captain Waters of the RFA Reliant
