Murex was a 3,564 gross ton M class oiler, built by William Gray & Company, West Hartlepool in 1892 for Marcus Samuel & Company. She was the first bulk-oil tanker to pass through the Suez Canal en route to Thailand in 1892. She was chartered by the Royal Australian Navy and took part in operations against the German colonies in the Pacific with the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force during the First World War in 1914, as an oiler. Murex was given the battle honour "Rabual 1914", for her service. She was later requisitioned by the Admiralty.