SS Rohilla

The steamship Rohilla grounded off the coast of England, 1914
History
UK
Name	SS Rohilla
Builder	Harland and Wolff, Belfast
Christened	Not christened
Completed	1906
In service	1906 Southampton to Karachi 1908 as a hospital ship
Fate	At around 4:00 a.m. on 30 October 1914, the Rohilla struck a notorious reef system known as "Whitby Rock" at Saltwick just south of Whitby harbour.
Status	Sunk
Notes	7,114 tons gross

Rohilla was a steamship of the British 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 Rohillas. 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 northern India later renamed Rohilkhand, in modern Uttar Pradesh state.

History

Rohilla (7,114 tons gross) was built in 1906 in Belfast by Harland & Wolff. It was called up at the outset of World War I and converted into a naval hospital ship.

Sailing south through the North Sea, at around 4:00 a.m. on 30 October 1914, the Rohilla struck Whitby Rock, a reef at Saltwick south of Whitby. 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.

The following six lifeboats Bradford, John Fielden, Queensbury, Robert and Mary Ellis, William Riley of Birmingham and Leamington and the Henry Vernon all RNLI Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats effected a rescue operation lasting fifty hours. Many of the 229 people on board were saved, but 85 died in the disaster.

Amongst those rescued from Rohilla was Mary Kezia. Roberts, who had survived the sinking of RMS Titanic just two years earlier in 1912.

The Empire Gallantry Medal (later changed to the George Cross) was awarded to Major Burton of the Tynemouth lifeboat Henry Vernon for his role in the rescue.

The Gold Medal of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the highest honour the institute could award was presented to Coxswain Thomas Langlands, Coxswain Robert Smith. The Silver Medal, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s second highest award was bestowed on Second Coxswain Richard Eglon, Second Coxswain James’ Brownlee, Lieutenant Bazil Hall, RN, and George Peart, who also received £10.

Lloyds Agent, Captain John Milburn, received a letter of thanks and a pair of binoculars. Whitby Police received £10 from the R.N.L.I. and £25 from the owners of the Rohilla. The crews of the lifeboat John Fielden and Henry Vernon got additional cash payments. Captain Neilson was awarded the Bronze Medal of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, for his efforts in the rescue of the ship's cat.

See also

• Rohillas
• List of United Kingdom disasters by death toll

Further reading

• Brittain, Colin: Into the Maelstrom: The Wreck of HMHS Rohilla. (The History Press, 2002) ISBN 0-7524-2384-3