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.