HMHS Rohilla Melody

I have been quite lucky in finding many unique finds on the internet and in 2005 I came across a website that seemed to have a song dedicated to the loss of the hospital ship. I was instantly drawn to the website and read with interest the lyrics of the song.

The website was attributed to a folk group called "Now Then" based in Barnoldswick and Earby. I was quite intrigued about the song and contacted one of the singers, about obtaining a CD. When it arrived I put into the player and marveled at the one song which was dedicated to the men of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. The track was captivating, if not moving, especially when the names of the Barnoldswick men are read out towards the end of the song. For anyone like me who has an interest in the Rohilla the CD is a must have item. I have regular contact with Heather and she recently told me that she was considering reworking the lyrics, although I feel it would be hard to beat the original song which is a classic for a Rohilla enthusiast. I have added the lyrics here and am hoping to be allowed to host the track itself, in the meantime I have added just a snippet to wet your appetite just click the music icon.

A stormy night in Whitby Bay
A biting north east wind and swirling rain
A coastguard shelters from the storm
And keeps a watch in the darkness before dawn
And his blood runs cold – a ship has run aground

Chorus

So come on bonny lads, we can’t let ’em down
We've got to pull them from the wreck of the Rohilla
Just come on lads, we can’t let ’em down
We've got to pull them from the wreck of the Rohilla

But the tide is high and she’s rammed into The Scar
And if we launch our lifeboat now, well it won’t get far

This war will end all wars, or so they say
But fighting men will still be killed or maimed
For this hospital ship the crew all volunteered
So from Leith to Dunkirk the SS Rohilla steered
But with no guiding lights the ship is way off course
And she’s hit the rocks with a terrible force

But the rocket lines we fired are falling short
Yeah, the rescue lines on jagged rocks are caught

As she hits the rock, the hull is broke in two
And the end comes quickly for many of the crew
Some brave souls they try to swim ashore
We see them struggle and then we see them no more
But the wreck is just 600 yards away
Surely we can save them before break of day

But the Rohilla's lifeboats have all been swept away
And all we can do is watch and pray

Fifteen lads from a cotton weaving town
Were called up to serve their country and their crown
Some people said those lads would have it good
The yd never face the trenches, the bullets or mud
Oh what an easy way to spend this bloody war!
No-one could have guessed what lay in store

Tell their folks in Barlick we’ll do our best

William Anderson, Harry Barter, Milton Birtwistle, William Daley, Frank Dunkley, Buck Eastwood, Albert Elsworth, Harry Hodgkinson, Tom Horsfield. Walter Horsfield, Arthur Petty and his brother Thomas Petty, John Pickles, Fred Reddiough, Anthony Waterworth

I saw a new heaven and earth

And there was no more sea

So come on bonny lads, we can’t let ’em down

We've got to pull them from the wreck of the Rohilla.

The folk group have since disbanded, but I would imagiune that copies of the CD still exist. I have added a further page with contains the contents of CD-ROM and at the bottom of the page I have also added some avenues that might yet still hold a copy of the CD, please try the link below