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Here is just a sample of some of the hospital ships lost.
HMHS Anglia.
This steamer was built in 1900 for the London and North Western Railways Company, who also operated ferry services. After the
declaration of war with Germany, the Government requesitioned Anglia. She briefly served as an armed boarding
steamer until her conversion to a hospital ship in May 1915.
His Majesties Hospital Ship [HMHS] Anglia left Calais laden with almost 400 wounded service personnel. Shortly
before midday on 17 November 1915, while approximately one mile east of Folkestone, the hospital ship struck a mine laid by
the German submarine U5.
Within fifteen minutes the hospital ship disappeared beneath the waves, fortunately HMS Hazard arrived promptly
to rescue the survivors. Many died as the result of the explosion or drowned. The actual death toll is open to conjecture,
varying between 120 and 165 deaths.
| HMHS Anglia sinking off Folkestone. |
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The Union Castle fleet played a significant role in the mercantile war at sea. Their intermediate steamers were ideally
suited for conversion to hospital ships. One of the companies ships, the 8,270 grt Dover Castle commenced services
as a hospital ship on 11 August 1915. All went well for almost two years until the fateful day she made a routine passage
through the Mediterranean Sea; when she was torpedoed without warning on 26 May 1917.
After transferring her 600 wounded to another vessel, the captain attempted to make port. However, one hour later the
submarine UC 67 returned, and fired another torpedo. Within a few minutes the hospital ship sank, fortunately only
six crew members are reported as killed in the incident.
When the White Star ordered their third Olympic class liner, from Harland and Wolff shipyard, they intended to name the
ship Gigantic. But following the loss of her sister ship Titanic, and with war clouds on the horizon she
slid down the launchways as RMS Britannic. Bigger and safer than her two earlier sister ships, she was destined never
to carry a fare paying passenger. Her fine furnishings were never installed, for, due to the level of casualties requiring
evacuation from Galipolli, the great liner was fitted out as a hospital ship.
At the beginning of her her sixth voyage she left Southampton for Mudros in the Aegean Sea. On a bright morning at
8-00 am on 21 November 1916 the great liner struck a mine, which ruptured her hull. Although she had no wounded onboard she
carried over 1,100 crew and passengers who now commenced to abandon ship. The captain attempted to beach his ship and drove
his command forward with lethal consequences. Two of the lifeboats were drawn into the maelstrom produced by the ships huge
propellers, resulting in thirty deaths.
In preparation for receiving patients, the nurses had opened the hospital wards port holes to air the wards. As the ship
settled lower in the water the sea poured into the open ports, sealing the vessels fate. Despite all the safety modifications,
Britannic sank in half the time of the Titanic.
| HMHS Britannic, sister to the infamous Titanic. |
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