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Remembered Today:

Hospital Ship April-July 1917


ZweitesSchwere

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Can anyone identify the ship that sailed from France (probably Marseille) around the end of April 1917 via Bizerta, Malta, Melos and Skyros to Salonika, returning in July 1917. It carried German prisoners of war aboard as hostages to deter German submarines? Im following the life of one German officer who mentions being on this voyage.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Whilst I cannot furnish off hand specific ships both the British and the French placed German POWS on a few of their respective hospital ships as a reprisal for what both states asserted were Central Powers, specifically German violations of the laws of war by in particular employing British and French POWS on war sustaining or supporting activities such as labour work behind the front lines, mining, and I believe also the attacks on their respective hospital ships.  The Lanfranc a British hs was carrying German POWS when it was sunk in the spring of 1917 BUT this may have simply been unintentional on both sides as the POWS were being I think evacuated for care in Britain rather than repatriated or put on board as a reprisal.  A fair literature exits in the history of international law on reprisals.  

At any rate judged from the itinerary that you furnished in your original posted question the ship(s) in quesiton would almost certainly have been French.

Good luck.

John

 

Edited by John Gilinsky
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While transcribing newspaper articles from local newspapers a few years back I came across the following in the edition of the Eastern Daily Press dated Wednesday September 12, 1917.

 

"SAFETY OF HOSPITAL SHIPS…………………………

 

FRANCO-GERMAN AGREEMENT

 

SUCCESSFUL SPANISH INTERVENTION.

 

(Press Association War Special, Paris, September 11.)

 

The following semi-official statement is issued here :-

 

The German Government, giving as its pretext abuses alleged to have been committed by French hospital ships in the Mediterranean last February, announced its intention to torpedo ships without regard for the written obligations of The Hague Convention. In order to prevent the execution of such a plan the Government of the Republic ordered to be placed on board hospital ships a certain number of German officers. The German Government replied to this precautionary measure by sending to places exposed to fire a comparatively considerable number of French prisoners. Under these circumstances the King of Spain generously proposed to intervene, and his action has resulted in the following measures :-

 

From September 10th onwards German naval forces will respect hospital ships in the Mediterranean, which will no longer have to be escorted by armed vessels. The King of Spain has agreed to place delegates aboard who will see that hospital ships are strictly used for the purpose for which they are intended, and who will guarantee by their presence the perfect execution of the rules of The Hague Convention. From the same date German prisoners of war will be landed from hospital ships on board which they have been. The German Government, on its side, will at the same time evacuate French prisoners from all places to which they had been sent by way of reprisals."

 

Hopefully that provides a bit of context and note also the absense of any mention of British involvement.

 

Cheers,

Peter

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Z

 

An answer may be obtainable from shipping files kept at UK Archives at Kew, London. In the series WO25 they keep copies of load lists for some ships carrying military personnel and their cargoes.

A ship leaving Marseilles for Salonika in April 1917 would likely be within file WO25/3563 which covers movements during April to June 1917.

A ship returning to Marseilles from Salonika in July 1917 would likely be within file WO25/3721 which covers movements during July to September 1917. If a ship left Salonika for a UK port in July 1917 it would likely be within file WO25/3561 which covers movements back to the UK from any overseas area during July to December 1917.

These files are not digital so need to be read on site at Kew. Officers of the British military are named with their unit, other ranks just listed by quantity and unit. Not sure how,or if,captured enemy officers would be named.

If you are unable to get to Kew you might be able to get someone here to look for you !

 

 

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2 minutes ago, sotonmate said:

Z

 

An answer may be obtainable from shipping files kept at UK Archives at Kew, London. In the series WO25 they keep copies of load lists for some ships carrying military personnel and their cargoes.

A ship leaving Marseilles for Salonika in April 1917 would likely be within file WO25/3563 which covers movements during April to June 1917.

A ship returning to Marseilles from Salonika in July 1917 would likely be within file WO25/3721 which covers movements during July to September 1917. If a ship left Salonika for a UK port in July 1917 it would likely be within file WO25/3561 which covers movements back to the UK from any overseas area during July to December 1917.

These files are not digital so need to be read on site at Kew. Officers of the British military are named with their unit, other ranks just listed by quantity and unit. Not sure how,or if,captured enemy officers would be named.

If you are unable to get to Kew you might be able to get someone here to look for you !

 

 

Here a sample from the records:

https://nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4400425

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