October 1914: The HMHS Rohilla, a naval hospital ship travelling to Dunkirk to rescue wounded soldiers struck rocks at Whitby.
For three days, brave lifeboat crews and selfless community of Whitby and surrounding towns & villages battled extreme conditions to reach the boat and rescue the passengers. 84 people lost their lives that day but 145 were saved. The Tynemouth motor lifeboat ‘Henry Vernon’ was instrumental in the rescue, bringing the last 50 survivors off the wreck.
This is their story.
