[BITList] Fwd: [BIship] Rohilla Centenary

[Michael Feltham]

Begin forwarded message:

From: "hm1910ef1912 at btinternet.com [BIship]" <BIship at yahoogroups.com>
Date: 3 November 2014 10:08:16 GMT
To: <BIship at yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [BIship] Rohilla Centenary
Reply-To: BIship at yahoogroups.com

It would be an understatement to say the sea state over this memorial weekend bore no resemblance to that of 100 years ago when Rohilla was wrecked. Under a mainly blue sky with just occasional cloud and temperatures in the high 60's, the calmness made it difficult to appreciate the difficulties those involved in the rescue faced.

On Saturday, lead by the present on station lifeboat "George and Mary Webb" a flotilla of 17 boats including what had been the onstation boat in 1964 "Mary Ann Hepworth" headed out of Whitby Harbour to meet the recently restored onetime Upgang boat, "William Riley" which had been rowed out, at the wreck site off Saltwick Nab.

After forming up in a circle, a short service was held and to the ringing of Rohiilla's bell wreaths were cast on the sea.

The flotilla carried relatives of those lost, relatives of Whitby families who took survivors in, ex service organisation representatives, St.John Ambulace Brigade members, a RN Lieutenant Commander who's Grandmother had been a stewardess on Rohilla, past lifeboat men, and clergy.

After returning to harbour, a specially commissioned memorial plaque was unveiled by The most Hon. The Marquis of Normanby on the West Pier, over which Saltwick Nab can be seen.

 

A Service of Remembrance took place in St.Mary's Church (adjacent The Abbey) commencing at 11am on Sunday with the Mayor of Scarborough attending lead by The Right Reverend the Bishop of Whitby. Rohilla's bell was again rung to remember those lost.

 

Representing The BI besides myself and Mike Feltham was John Barrett with his wife Carol and after the service, recognising our ties, one of the rowing boat crew introduced himself; Peter Davis who had been in Chindwara when her cadet compliment was reduced from 42 to 12 and in Rajula towards the end of her days.

 

After the service I took Mike up to the Cemetery to view the resting place of 33 bodies recovered from the wreck in a mass grave dominated by an obelisk donated by The BI. The grave comes under the care of the War Graves Commission and is always immaculate.

 

A memorable and moving weekend.

 

Regards,

David J Mitchell.

 

 

 

 

 


 

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Posted by: hm1910ef1912 at btinternet.com
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