Lest we forget.

The first 'Rohilla', the 7 ton steamship HMHS Rohilla, was a hospital troop ship which became the focus of the most famous RNLI rescue in the North East.

At 4am on 29th October 1914 in heavy seas and gale force winds the HMHS Rohilla carrying 229 passengers and crew struck rocks near to Whitby and began to break up. The RNLI Henry Vernon based at Tynemouth, one of 6 lifeboats but the only motorboat, was launched in worsening gale force winds in a last ditch effort to rescue the final 50 people from the sinking ship.

Click 'read more' to read the full story and to see a list of those people who are going to attend the Rohilla day this year.

The Henry Vernon battled for 48 miles to the site of the incident. When 40 people had been rescued two massive waves swamped the boat but it recovered and rescued the last 10.

In the end only 84 of the 229 people died. Major Burton of the Henry Vernon was awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal (later changed to the George Cross). Robert Smith, Coxswain of the Henry Vernon was awarded the RNLI's highest award The Gold Medal (he won this an incredible 8 times serving in the RNLI). 5 other lifeboats took part during the 50 hour rescue and many of the RNLI crew were awarded high honours for their part. Remarkably one of the rescued was Mary K Roberts who had survived the sinking of the Titanic two years previously.

When the Henry Vernon was sold to a private buyer in 1936 it was renamed "Rohilla" in remembrance of the gallant efforts of the RNLI crew for their part in the epic rescue of those final 50 people.

In 1959 the Rohilla was chartered by KHS for 2 trips to the Channel Islands. The Skipper was Colin Noble (scout master and math tutor) and was helped to crew by his friend John Clewett. In September the second of 2 sailing trips began with 5 KHS boys aboard - David Earle (16 - Norwich), Peter Knight (15 - Clyde), Robin Green (15 - Bradford), Anthony Gould (15 - Clyde) and Matthew Rudman (14 - Durham). After a few days on the Isle of Sark the Rohilla began its return to the Cornish coast on the 19th of September.

When the boat was declared overdue a massive combined Anglo / French search began. Despite great efforts by the military and civilian shipping very little wreckage was found and only 3 bodies (Mr Noble, Peter Knight and Robin Green) were ever recovered.

Some have speculated the weather was to blame, others that a collision with another ship was possible. Whatever the reason it is a sad irony that a boat which had saved so many lives, weathering so many storms, should end in such a way. 

God's peace be with them.

Special thanks to John Thompson for pointing us to relevant research

Please note this is an interim list, you are still able to book and come, however time is short so get on with it!