The Nottinghamshire Free Press
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1914
At daybreak on Saturday rescuers resume the
attempt to reach the wrecked hospital ship Rohilla, which went on the
rocks at Whitby. Among the thousands who were on the cliffs, few hoped
to find that any of those exposed to the buffeting of the seas would
yet be alive.
THE HMHS ROHILLA
As we were able to announce briefly last week, amongst the number on
board the ill-fated hospital ship Rohilla, which was sunk off the Yorkshire
coast, was Mr F Brigwood, of 13 Morley Street, Sullon, a member of the
Royal Navy Sick Berth Reserve, and happily he was amongst the saved.
After his very trying experience Mr. Brigwood has been granted a few
days leave of absence and at his home this week he was able to tell
us how, by the greatest good fortune; he was saved from the wreck. Altogether
229 souls were aboard when in the darkness of a very stormy night, the
vessel was supposed to have struck a mine off the coast near Whitby,
and of these only 144 were saved.
Mr. Brigwood stated that he joined the Rohilla - one of the most beautifully
equipped hospital ships imaginable - on October 2nd, and it is now no
secret that the vessel was bound in the direction of Antwerp. During
the night preceding the disaster it was very stormy and Mr. Brigwood
with the great majority of the crew, was lying in his bunk when about
3.45 a.m. the vessel struck a mine. Immediately all the lights aboard
went out, but everything proceeded with as much orderliness as could
be expected under such tragic circumstances.
The captain immediately turned the boat for the shore, and as most of
our readers will be aware, the vessel was eventually wrecked just off
the coast.
All the crew, said Mr. Brigwood scrambled for the life-belts, which
were kept under the pillows, and they had to find their way up to the
hatchways as best as they could in the darkness. Water was then pouring
in, and many poor fellows were lost before they could reach the deck.
All who possibly could made their way to the pre-arranged stations in
case of disaster, but only to find that more than half the boats had
been washed over board, and some of those that remained were to badly
damaged to be of any service.
Until 9.30 Mr. Brigwood remained on the poop deck, and then, says he,
I came to the conclusion that if I stayed where I was I might get killed
amongst the wreckage, so a companion and myself decided to dive overboard.
At that time he had not got a life belt, but I managed to get one for
him from one of the wrecked boats. Unfortunately my companion was knocked
over and killed before he had a chance to leave the ship.
At that time we were about three quarters of a mile from the shore.
I dived overboard, and was immediately knocked about, and tumbled over
and over again by the force of the waves until I thought I should never
come to the surface again. I managed however, to keep my presence of
mind, and on two occasions got hold of a piece of wreckage, which were
afterwards washed out of my hands. Eventually, after much struggling,
I can not possibly say how long I was in the water, I managed to get
nearer to the coast, and then it was that a man waded into the raging
sea until the water reached his armpits and pulled me to safety.
Though not seriously injured, Mr. Brigwood received numerous bruises,
whilst the nervous shock was naturally very great. At the time he had
on only his night attire, all his other clothing and, in fact, everything
he possessed on board being lost in the wreck. Considering the awful
experience through which he had passed, Mr. Brigwood was in very high
spirits, today (Friday) he returns to the service, and as he modestly
expressed himself, he will endeavour to do his duty whatever happens.
His many friends wish him the best of luck.
Copyright © Colin Brittain 1999 - 2014
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