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His Majesty's Hospital Ship Rohilla suffered one of Whitby's worst
shipwrecks, and certainly the most tragic. In October 1914, the 'Rohilla' sailed
from Leith on a mercy mission to Dunkirk for a rendezvous with wounded and dying
soldiers. Fate, however, was to deal her a cruel hand. At 4am on the 29th
October, the 'Rohilla' ran hard aground on Saltwick Nab and was lost. This
tragic accident happened in the midst of a fierce gale, which lasted for several
days.
Throughout that fateful weekend 85 people lost their lives. Six lifeboats
attempted rescue of those stranded aboard the sinking vessel, and between them
they rescued 144 souls. The lifeboat 'John Fielden' was damaged each time she
set out and was eventually abandoned in an irreparable condition. No fewer than
three Royal National Lifeboat Association Gold Medals and four Silver Medals
were subsequently awarded. The tragedy is listed as one of the worst in the
annals of the RNLI.
Colin Brittain
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Complete film (1:02)
