The s.s. 'Larchwood' was built at the yard of William Harkess & Son Limited, Middlesbrough and launched in January 1910. She was a single screw steamer intended for use as a general cargo coaster by the Meteor Steamship Company Limited, also of Middlesbrough.

She was one of the ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW1 to augment the ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. On the 14th January 1916, she was lost following a collision with the s.s. 'Argus' at a location approx. 3 miles off the Bull Point, North Devon, whilst on passage from Penarth with a cargo of coal. [864]