Built as a composite screw corvette by the Devonport Dockyard for the Royal Navy.
27 April 1881 keel laid down.
07 March 1883 launched under the name HMS ROYALIST, one of the Heroine class.
Displacement 1,420 tons, dim. 61 x 11.59 x 4.8m. (draught)
A compound Maudsley steam engine, 1.510 ihp., speed 13 knots.
Bunker capacity coal, 400 ton.
Armament 2 – 6 inch, 10 – 5 inch guns.
Crew 171.
Rigged first as a ship later barque rigged.
After she was completed kept in reserve.
14 April 1886 commissioned, and used for the Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa stations.
November 1886 took part in the Niger River Expedition together with HMS RACER.
1888 Relieved by HMS CURACOA, she proceeded to the Australian station where she spent the next 11 years.
May 1888 commenced service on the Australian station.
She participated in cruises with the squadron to Australia and New Zealand ports and carried out patrols around the Pacific Islands.
1890 The British High Commissioner for the Western Pacific based in Fiji recommended the acquisition of the Gilbert Islands by Britain, and the Commander in Chief HMS Ships, Australia to send a warship to the Gilbert to declare it a Protectorate.
Captain Davis of the ROYALIST was sent to carry out this task. The ROYALIST sailed from Sydney on the 27th April 1892 and arrived at Fiji the 11th May, sailed after coaling and taken on board provision on the 13th and arrived at the Gilbert Islands on the 24th.
Thereafter Captain Davis spoke with the old men and Chiefs of each island to obtain their agreement to the declaration of the protectorate.
27 May 1892 the Protectorate was declared in Apamama.
From Jaluit, Marshall Group he sent the following telegram by the German schooner TLINK that left the Marshall Islands on 1 July to the Commander-in-Chief H.M. Ships, Australia.
25th June 1892 No 20 My Lord.
1) Have the honour to report that I arrived here on the 23rd instant.
2) In compliance with orders, I hoisted the British flag at Apamama on the 27th May, and assumed a protectorate over the Gilbert Group (now Kiribati). Having visited the other islands in the group I proceeded for this port.
3) There are about 50 tons of coal of an inferior quality procurable here in the German barque SPECULANT with some 400 tons on board having been wrecked on this island on the 15th instant.
4) I was fortunate enough to obtain 100 tons of coal, whilst in the Gilbert Group, from the Nicaraguan steamer MONTSERRAT engaged in the collecting labour for Guatemala.
5) Want of coal, will fear necessitate a very short visit to the Marshall Group, having many islands yet to visit.
6) As is all probability, I shall meet the flag before the schooner I am sending this by, can arrive at Sydney, I reserve particulars of my cruise.
7) The health of the ship’s company is good.
I have the honour to be My Lord Your obedient servant (Sd) Ed. H.M. Davis Captain.
1898 Was she chosen to convey a judicial commission to Pitcairn Island. The mission was to conduct the trial of Harry Albert Christian for wilful murder of Julia Warren and her child who Christian fathered. Found guilty, he was taken aboard the ROYALIST in irons and hung that same year in Korovou Gaol, Fiji.
Early 1899 under the command of Captain W. Hand she took part with HMS PORPOISE and TAURANGA in operations at Samoa, where rivalling native factions were fighting.
1899 she left the Australian station for home, and arrived at Plymouth on 17 October 1899.
13 November 1899 sailed to Queenstown to be converted into a hulk for the reception of ships crews at Haulbowline.
01 December 1913 commissioned as a Receiving Ship at Queenstown, and renamed COLLEEN.
Between 1914/19 wore the flag of the C. in C. in C. Coast of Ireland.
1920/22 Wore the flag of C. in C. Western Approaches.
15 March 1922 paid off at Haulbowline.
19 February 1923 handed over to the Irish Government, who used her as an oil hulk.
1950 Broken up.
Gilbert and Ellice Islands 1967 3c sg132, scott132.
Solomon Islands 1980 35c sg411, scott?
Tuvalu 1981 45c sg166, scott?
Pitcairn Islands 2010 $1 sg?, scott?
Source: Devonport Built Warships since 1860 by Lt. Cdr. K.V. Burns.
http://members.nbci.com/_XMCM/janerestu ... iaries.htm (does not more work)
Pitcairn Island stamp bulletin 114. Ships of the Australia Station by John Bastock.
