HMHS ST David

[Guest dragonsfire]

Picture of HMHS St David, which as you can see from the inscription, left France on January 31 1918. I believe my Grandad was onboard.

[sotonmate]

Dragonsfire

Whilst in the local Library today took a look at the book "Hospital Ships ands Ambulance Trains" to see what it says about HMHS ST DAVID. You can never put too much detail on this Forum I have learned,it rings a bell somewhere !

This ship was one of 5 Military Hospital Ships which commenced service in the first month of the War. It's sisters ST ANDREW and ST PATRICK were also Cross Channel steamers,each adapted for 180 patients. Your subject's first trip was to Le Havre on 24 August 1914,though the first run back with patients,from Rouen (up the River Seine from Le Havre) was carried out by the ST ANDREW,carrying 63 lying and 147 sitting patients.

From 24 August to 3 September 1914 these vessels made 9 trips in total,from either Le Havre or Rouen,to Southampton,carrying a total of 3787 patients.

The ST DAVID was also prominent in WW2. It was at Dunkirk,then the Med in 1943 for the Salerno landings,making journeys between Italy and Malta/North Africa. It suffered many air attacks,eventually being sunk by one 25 miles south of Anzio on 23 January 1944.55 lost,including some nursing sisters. During this period it carried 6000 patients and covered 25000 miles. (Apologies to the purists for mentioning WW2!).

Best wishes

Sotonmate