British auxiliary ships Assistance and Aquarius ready for service according to the Dutch magazine Marineblad dated 1903-1904 no. 6

An item referred to the magazine Marine Rundschau dated July 1903 reporting that according to the latest tidings the British repair ship Assistance (1) would not go o the Mediterranean buy stayed in home waters to serve as repairs hip for the reserve ships and as school ship for scholars trained to become artificers. The also recently fitted out distiller ship Aquarius (2) was destined for the Mediterranean but would first participate in the manoeuvres. Her maximum distiller capacity was 8o tons of water each hour.

Notes
1. On 19 September 1900 purchased, later handed over to Messrs. Ward and broken up in 1937.
2. Aquarias also called a water tanker, in 1902 acquired as the Hampstead and renamed. In June 1907 was her conversion into a depot ship completed and she was sold in 1920 back to the merchant marine.