A SAD DAY FOR BARNOLDSWICK.
Perhaps one of the most poignant tragedies of the early stages of the War was the sinking of the hospital ship “Rohilla” on the East coast near Whitby. It was a disaster which will long be remembered by the Craven district generally and Barnoldswick in particular, inasmuch as the splendidly appointed ship of 7,000 tons had on board fifteen Barnoldswick members of the Naval Sick Berth Reserve. Of these only three were saved, the remainder being reported dead or missing.
The men concerned were:—
Saved.
Pte. W. Eastwood, married, two children, 8, Powell Street.
Pte. F. Rediough, single, 13, Ribblesdale Terrace.
Pte. Anthony Waterworth, single, North View Terrace.
Missing or Dead.
Sergt. A. Petty, married, one child, 2, Bracewell Street.
Cpl. M. Birtwhistle, married, one child, 19, Clifford St.
Cpl. W. J. Daly, married, six children, 32, Westgate.
Pte. H. Barter, married, no children, 41, Skipton Road.
Pte. T. Petty, married, three children, 11, Coronation Street.
Pte. T. Horsfield, married, seven children, 33, Heather View.
Pte. W. Horsfield, single, 7, Essex Street.
Pte. Alfred Elsworth, single, 32, Wellington Street.
Pte. J. T. Pickles, married, one child, Federation Street.
Pte. H. Hodkinson, single, 14, Bank Street.
Pte. W. Anderson, single, 20, School Terrace.
Pte. F. Dunkley, married, one child, 9, Bairstow Street.
The “Rohilla” was on her way to Dunkirk to bring back the wounded, and at ten minutes to four on the morning of October 30th, 1914, she struck on submerged rocks in the vicinity of Whitby. Within half a mile of land she broke in two, and was battered to pieces in the presence of thousands of spectators, who, for the most part, were helpless. The dangerous proximity of the vessel to land was first noticed by a sentry on night duty on the pier head at Whitby, who was astonished to see a large vessel loom up out of the darkness and pass silently within a few yards of the pier.
Almost simultaneously a coastguard sighted the vessel and recognised her peril as she skirted the submerged rocks which stretch from the foot of the south cliff. Half a mile further on, within a few hundred yards of a curious promontory known as Saltwick Nab, the vessel struck the rocks with a grinding crash. Rockets were at once sent up and the alarm raised. The vessel was about 500 yards from the cliff and in as helpless a position for rescue as could be imagined. It was impossible to launch the larger of the two lifeboats from Whitby Harbour or to drag it under the lee of the cliffs to a more favourable position, and all attempts of the Rocket Brigade to establish communication with the vessel were unavailing.
The smaller lifeboat was, however, dragged along the beach towards Saltwick Nab and a favourable position found for launching. Meanwhile one of the “Rohilla’s” boats had been lowered, and after a severe buffeting, reached the shore with the second officer and five of the crew. The rescue of the remainder seemed assured as the boat had brought a line from the steamer, but to the dismay of the onlookers this snapped before any use could be made of it.
Then an attempt was made with the lesser of the Whitby lifeboats. In spite of the very heavy sea they reached the wreck, and, thanks to the admirable seamanship of the coxswain, took off seventeen of the survivors, including the whole of the women on board—five. In this boat were Privates Rediough and Waterworth. A second trip was made and eighteen more were rescued and safely landed, but the boat was found to have been so battered by the double journey as to render her unseaworthy, and further attempts were impossible.
Word was sent for the Upgang lifeboat, but before this arrived it was clear the “Rohilla” was breaking up. About 10 a.m. an unusually large wave swept the wreck and when the foam had cleared away it was seen that the stern had turned turtle, and there was no trace of a number of men who, a few minutes before, had been clinging to that portion of the ship. The bows were also settling down and all the men left alive on the vessel were clustered on the bridge.
The Upgang lifeboat, which had been dragged through the town, was lowered over the cliffs, but it was then deemed impossible to launch her. Darkness fell at 5 o’clock. It was a night of horror. Saturday morning saw the superstructure of the “Rohilla” still above water with its tragic load. Attempts were made by several—among them, it subsequently transpired, one or two of the Barnoldswick men—to swim ashore, but few succeeded. An attempt by the Upgang lifeboat to reach the wreck failed, and the continued inability of the Rocket Brigade to do anything effective was most disheartening.
When it drew towards evening on Saturday scarcely a flicker of hope remained. About 10 p.m., however, a message was sent to Capt. Neillson urging him to hold on till morning, news having come through that the Tynemouth motor lifeboat was coming down the coast during the night and would attempt a rescue the following morning. Oil was poured on the water near the wreck. The motor boat arrived in the early hours and stayed in Whitby harbour until dawn, when it made towards the wreck. Amid scenes that will never be forgotten by those watching from the beach, all the survivors were taken off and landed safely. Pte. Eastwood was the only Barnoldswick man to be taken off in the motor boat; Pte. Waterworth and Pte. Rediough had previously been taken ashore by the Whitby lifeboat.
There were few towns more sad than Barnoldswick when the news of the disaster came through. Flags were hoisted half mast on the public buildings, feeling references were made from the pulpits of the town, an impressive memorial service was held, and letters of sympathy received from the Admiralty, the Medical Department of the Admiralty, and from many ambulance divisions and brigades in Yorkshire and Lancashire. A fund was started for the erection of a memorial hall, but this has since been merged in the Barnoldswick War Memorial.
A handsome monument has been erected in Whitby Cemetery by the owners of the “Rohilla” (the British India Steam Navigation Co.). As the outcome of the disaster a movement for equipping Whitby with a motor lifeboat has been successfully carried through, with the assistance of the Royal Lifeboat Institution. The new boat was launched in June, 1919.