- Rohilla (steamship)
"Rohilla" was a
steamship of theBritish India Steam Navigation Company which ran aground in 1914 while serving as HMHS "Rohilla" (His Majesty's Hospital Ship "Rohilla").The steamship was named "Rohilla" in honour of
Rohilla s. Rohillas were Afghan highlanders ("Roh" means "mountains" and "Rohilla" literally means "mountaineer" or "highlander") that entered India with Nadir Shah Durrani and were awarded territory in northernIndia later renamedRohilkhand , in modernUttar Pradesh state.History
"Rohilla" (7,114 tons gross) was built in 1906 in
Belfast byHarland & Wolff . It was called up at the outset ofWorld War I and converted into a naval hospital ship.Sailing south through the
North Sea , at around 4:00 a.m. on30 October 1914 , the "Rohilla" struck a reef at Saltwick south ofWhitby . At the time there was a fierce gale and due to wartime blackout conditions no landmarks were visible. Although only 600 metres from shore, the treacherous conditions of the high seas and storm force winds made rescue difficult.Six lifeboats of the
Royal National Lifeboat Institution effected a rescue operation lasting fifty hours. Many of the 229 people on board were saved, but 85 died in the disaster.Amongst those resued from "Rohilla" was
Mary K. Roberts , who had survived the sinking of RMS "Titanic" in 1912.The
Empire Gallantry Medal (later changed to theGeorge Cross ) was awarded to Major Burton of theTynemouth lifeboat for his role in the rescue.Further reading
* Brittain, Colin: "Into the Maelstrom: The Wreck of HMHS Rohilla". (The History Press, 2002) ISBN 0-7524-2384-3
ee also
*
Rohillas
*List of United Kingdom disasters by death toll
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