The MV British Motorist was a 6,891 ton tanker, built by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in 1924 for the British Tanker Company.
While under charter to the merchant navy, she was in port in Darwin, Australia when on 19 February 1942, she was hit by two bombs during the Japanese air raid on Darwin and was sunk, resting in 18–20 metres (59–66 ft) of water. She had been carrying oil, aviation fuel and petrol and was refueling USS Peary when the raid commenced. Two of her crew were killed out of 61 in the initial attack: GILBERT CHASE BATES (UK Merchant Navy and Master of the vessel) 37 years old of Minster-in-Thanet, Kent, UK and JAMES HENRY WEBSTER (UK Merchant Navy and 2nd Radio Operator) 17 years old, from Wallasey, Cheshire, UK. Additionally two of her Lascar crew died later from injuries sustained in the attack and are commemorated on the Bombay/Chittagong War Memorial: IBRAHIM AHMAD, Seaman, M.V. British Motorist (London), Indian Merchant Navy. 10th May 1942. SHAFI RAJAB, Bhandary, M.V. British Motorist (London), Indian Merchant Navy. 26th July 1945.
In 1959–1960, she was salvaged by Fujita Salvage Company, with the fore and aft sections of the hull welded together while the engine room was left, as it was too heavy to refloat. The welded fore and aft was towed back to Japan and broken up.
What remains of British Motorist lies in Darwin Harbour at position .[1]