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.