ON Sunday, ist November, 1964, the 50th anniversary of one of the greatest of all life-boat services was commemorated at Whitby. This was the rescue from the hospital ship Rohilla.

The Rohilla, a vessel of 7,365 tons belonging to the British India Steam Navigation Company and used at the time as a hospital ship, went aground near Saltwick Nab early on the morning of 30th October, 1914. She had 229 people on board.

THREE GOLD MEDALS GIVEN The rescue was a remarkable combined operation, which showed conclusively the advantages which the early motor life-boats had over pulling boats, for no less than 50 of the 145 survivors were rescued by the Tynemouth motor lifeboat, which had to make a journey of 44 miles to reach Whitby.

Three gold medals were awarded for the services rendered, two of them to members of the Tynemouth crew, Coxswain Robert Smith and Captain H. E.

Burton, and one to Coxswain Thomas Langlands of Whitby.

At a civic reception on ist November, 1964, given by the Mayor and Mayoress of Whitby, Field Marshal Sir Francis Festing, representing the Committee of Management of the Institution, laid a wreath at Whitby cemetery. Among those present were two survivors from the Rohilla and two members of the Whitby crew of 1914, two brothers named Richardson.

A FLOTILLA OF VESSELS After a service at St. Mary's parish church, the Whitby life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched and led a flotilla of fishing vessels and other craft to the place where the Rohilla foundered. Wreaths were lowered into the water as the Rector of Whitby gave a blessing and the last post was sounded.

To commemorate the occasion a special exhibition was organized at the Whitby life-boat museum by the honorary secretary of the station, Mr. Eric Thomson..