hmsk212 Posted 19 June , 2004 Share Posted 19 June , 2004 Hi, I thought I might share the attached photo with the pals. I recently bought a book and found this in amongst its pages. Although tatty, it is still clear and on the back it has written " Wreck of Hospital Ship Rohilla at Whitby - Firing a Rocket - Exposure 1/1000 part of a second." There is a great website that covers details on her at www.merchantnavyofficers.com/rohilla.html Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Coulson Posted 19 June , 2004 Share Posted 19 June , 2004 Steve, There is also a Rohilla plot in Whitby cemetery. Bob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 19 June , 2004 Share Posted 19 June , 2004 Steve, That photograph is a great find and thanks for sharing it The following is from ‘The Cross on the Sword – Catholic Chaplains in the Forces’ by Johnstone & Hagerty and concerns two of the chaplains serving on this ship “The first chaplain of any faith in all the British Sevices to die in World War I was Cannon Robert Basil Gwydir OSB, of Douai Abbey and St. David’s Priory, Swansea. Following his appointment as full-time officiating chaplain, Fr Gwydir worked at Rosyth and Queensferry, and at the end of October 1914, departed for Portsmouth in the Home Fleet hospital ship Rohilla loaded with sick and wounded seamen and marines. During a storm on 30th October the ship was wrecked off Whitby. Fr Gwydir remained on board with the wounded and drowned with them. By stark contrast, the C of E chaplain, the Rev Richard Allen, who may have been on the upper deck away from the ship’s wards at the time, allowed himself to be rescued with many others. The Admiralty was unforgiving, and Allen was not appointed to another ship. He resigned his commission on 23rd December 1914.” A footnote indicated that the details were from ‘Sea Chaplains’ by G. Taylor [London 1978] p.340 Regards Michael D.R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon R Posted 19 June , 2004 Share Posted 19 June , 2004 For details on casualties (portrait photo, age, dependents, service details, marriage status, address etc) see 'Cravens Part in the Great War' - many men from Barnoldswick died during this incident. I have a copy and can do quick look ups if needed. What a picture - is it of the usual 'postcard' type c. WWI? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERITAGE PLUS Posted 19 June , 2004 Share Posted 19 June , 2004 'The Sea Chaplains Page 340 actually reads as follows: 'Ronald Allen had only recently become a naval chaplain, was rescued from the wreck of the hospital ship Rohilla off Whitby on 30 October 1914, but as a consequence of the shock he was physically unable to serve again and resigned on 23 December. In this disaster the Officiating Roman Catholic chaplain, Basil Gwyder, a Benedictine, lost his life when he stayed with the wounded.' Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 19 June , 2004 Share Posted 19 June , 2004 Dave Many thanks for that - a very useful clarification Regards Michael D.R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmsk212 Posted 19 June , 2004 Author Share Posted 19 June , 2004 For details on casualties (portrait photo, age, dependents, service details, marriage status, address etc) see 'Cravens Part in the Great War' - many men from Barnoldswick died during this incident. I have a copy and can do quick look ups if needed. What a picture - is it of the usual 'postcard' type c. WWI? Hi Simon No it is a photograph - about paper thin and approx 6.5 inches by 4.5 inches. Other than the writing in ink on the back, that I have already quoted, there are no marks such as copyright/ photographers marks etc. As it is so well taken I did wonder if it was a press photo that had escaped the copyright stamp. The book that the picture was in was published in 1919 and belonged to an ex-Captain in the Machine Gun Corps who committed suicide in 1923. What I need to do is to see if I can find a link between him and the Rohilla. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted 31 August , 2004 Share Posted 31 August , 2004 My great-uncle, George Brain, was the ship's carpenter and drowned too. I hope to go to Whitby again for the 90th Anniversary. I keep meaning to buy "Into the Maelstrom The Wreck of HMHS Rohilla" by Colin Brittain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted 3 October , 2004 Share Posted 3 October , 2004 There has been a Remembrance Service organised for 31st October at 14.30 at the Bandstand in Whitby. There will then be a wreath laying ceremony where the Rohilla was damaged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Coulson Posted 3 October , 2004 Share Posted 3 October , 2004 John, Thanks for that info, might try and get there myself. Bob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Noble Posted 3 October , 2004 Share Posted 3 October , 2004 John. Where's the Banstand at Whitby? On the top near the whale bone arch? Would love to meet up and pay my respects. Regards, Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted 4 October , 2004 Share Posted 4 October , 2004 Chris, I think it's near the Lifeboat Museum. I've only been to Whitby once (about ten years ago) and that was to see the Rohilla Memorial in the churchyard. Peter Thomson is organising it. He's based at the RNLI Whitby Lifeboat Museum, Pier Road. 01947 602001. Best wishes John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Coulson Posted 4 October , 2004 Share Posted 4 October , 2004 To All, The bandstand is on Pier Road right opposite the lifeboat museum. Bob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Noble Posted 4 October , 2004 Share Posted 4 October , 2004 Cheers for that John/Bob. I'll try to make it, traffic on the A64 permitting Regards, Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred W Posted 5 October , 2004 Share Posted 5 October , 2004 Steve, Private Sellars, of Brierfield, who died in the wreck of the Rohilla, is buried in St. Paul's churchyard, Little Marsden, Nelson, about two minutes walk from where I live. Fred W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 13 October , 2006 Share Posted 13 October , 2006 One of the lifeboats involved in unsuccessful attempts to rescue people from the Hospital Ship Rohilla [see the second of 'Some Lifeboat Stories' here http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/J...RS/lifeboat.htm] the William Riley is to be restored see the Hexham Courant article here http://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/viewa....aspx?id=422964 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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