The ship was laid down by R. and W. Hawthorn, Leslie and Company, Limited, at Hebburn-on-Tyne on 19 August 1940, launched on 29 November 1941 and commissioned on 22 October 1942.

On 20 May 1945, while taking part in Operation Iceberg (the Invasion of Okinawa), Quilliam was involved in a collision with the British aircraft carrier Indomitable, which left the destroyer with a heavily damaged bow.

[2] The ship was refitted to Dutch standards and had a new bow fitted before she entered service in the Netherlands East Indies.

[2] After carrying out patrols during the Dutch 'police counteractions', Banckert returned to the Netherlands in August 1948 for a refit, which lasted until 19 September 1949.

[2] On her return, Banckert was assigned to the naval base at Den Helder as part of the RNLN's European Training Squadron.