HMHS Anglia
The Ship
The HMHS Anglia was built in 1900 by William Denny & Brothers of Dumbarton. A steel twin-screw steamship of 1,862 gross tons, she was originally operated by the London and North Western Railway on the Holyhead to Dublin ferry route, and from 1908 on the Holyhead to Kingston (now Dún Laoghaire) route. During the First World War she was requisitioned and refitted as a hospital ship, ferrying the wounded from France to England.[1]
The King's Evacuation
Shortly before her loss, the HMHS Anglia was used to evacuate King George V from France following a riding accident. This connection would later have significance for the nursing staff who served aboard her.
The Sinking, 17th November 1915
On the morning of 17th November 1915 the HMHS Anglia left Boulogne harbour for England carrying 13 officers and 372 other ranks, of whom 166 were cot cases accommodated on beds or stretchers. She was escorted by the River-class destroyer HMS Ure.
Just after midday, approximately one mile east of Folkestone Gate, she struck a mine that had been laid by the German submarine UC-5. The explosion holed the ship on the port side forward of the bridge and she immediately began to sink bow first, listing heavily to port. The bridge was wrecked, though her captain, Lionel John Manning, survived. He attempted to send an SOS but found the wireless operator injured and the equipment destroyed.
The first two wards flooded almost immediately, giving those within little chance of survival. Because of the severe list only one lifeboat could be launched from the port side, saving approximately 50 people. The torpedo gunboat HMS Hazard and the collier SS Lusitania came to assist. The SS Lusitania launched two rescue boats but was herself struck by a mine during the rescue and sank, her crew being rescued by the same small boats. Other vessels that responded included HM Torpedo Boat No. 4, War Department vessel Langton, and the SS Channel Queen.
The HMHS Anglia sank within 15 minutes. An estimated 164 people died, including 1 nursing sister, 9 RAMC staff, 4 Army officers, 125 other ranks and 25 crew.[2]
The Nursing Staff
Throughout the sinking the nursing staff remained at their posts. Despite the speed of the disaster, order was maintained and the conduct of the nurses was widely praised by survivors. The British Journal of Nursing recorded:
"It is with pride we record that when the hospital ship Anglia sank in the Channel on November 17th, after striking a mine the Matron, and nursing staff worked with the utmost heroism. One patient stated that when he begged the Matron (Mrs. Mitchell), and two Sisters to get into a boat which had just come alongside they would not hear of it. 'I'm not leaving this deck till I see all my own wounded men off,' said one, and another touched an even higher level: 'Our duty is to see you men off safe - we have the right to be last this time.'
The patient who relates this says: 'Not until the water was lapping up over my feet did I slide off, and up to then not a single nurse had left her post in the sinking ship. It was just heart-rending to see their single-minded devotion to the wounded chaps under their care.'
Happily, only one, Miss Mary Rodwell, lost her life in performing her duty, but every nurse upon the ship was ready, and willing, nay, claimed the right to be last on the sinking ship. They have added lustre to the Roll of illustrious nurses whom the profession all the world over is proud to acclaim."[3]
The one nursing sister who lost her life was RODWELL, Mary. Sister MELDRUM, Alice also served on the HMHS Anglia and survived the sinking. She was subsequently awarded the Associate Royal Red Cross (ARRC) for her actions that day, receiving it from the King in a private investiture — the King having himself been a patient aboard the ship just days before she was lost.
Aftermath
The survivors were transported to hospital trains, with 112 soldiers and two sailors arriving at the Horton (County of London) War Hospital, Epsom, that evening. The hospital's physician, Dr Lord, recorded:
"The night of 17th November, 1915, will never be forgotten, for it was the occasion of the admission of 112 soldiers and two sailors, survivors of the hospital ship Anglia... All, more or less, were suffering severely from immersion in the sea, and many were severely wounded. Their condition on arrival was most pitiable."[4]
The following morning King George V sent a personal message of sympathy to all Anglia patients.
UC-5
The submarine that laid the fatal mines, UC-5, came to grief on 27th April 1916 when she grounded on the Shipwash Shoal and was captured by the Royal Navy. Her commander, Ulrich Mohrbutter, attempted to scuttle but the charges failed to detonate. The submarine was towed to Harwich and later put on public display at Temple Pier on the Thames before being transported to the United States for exhibition. Her previous commander, Herbert Pustkuchen, who had laid the mines that sank the Anglia, was killed in 1917 while commanding UC-66.[5]
War Grave Status
In March 2017 the wreck of the HMHS Anglia was declared an official war grave, making it illegal to remove or disturb any human remains at the wreck site.[6]
Nurses who served on HMHS Anglia
- MELDRUM, Alice — survived the sinking, awarded ARRC
- RODWELL, Mary — died in the sinking
References
- ↑ Epsom & Ewell History Explorer: Sinking of the Hospital Ship Anglia 1915
- ↑ Epsom & Ewell History Explorer: Sinking of the Hospital Ship Anglia 1915
- ↑ British Journal of Nursing, 27 November 1915, p.435
- ↑ Lord, J.R. The Story of the Horton (Co. of London) War Hospital: Epsom
- ↑ Western Front Association: Cpl. Henry White and HMHS Anglia
- ↑ Western Front Association: Cpl. Henry White and HMHS Anglia
