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In 1918, in the Bristol Channel – 20 miles from Hartland and 20 miles from Lundy – two hospital ships were torpedoed and sank.

The Rewa was attacked by U-boat 55 on 4 January 1918. It was reported that the torpedo went directly through the red cross insignia. The ship was sailing from Greece towards Avonmouth with 279 patients, many suffering from malaria. All of the wounded, plus the crew of 207 and 80 medical staff survived, but three Lascars (Asian seamen) died at sea. Before the war, the Rewa had been part of the British India Line.

The wreck of the Rewa has collapsed but the ship’s bell, a porthole with glass, an egg poacher and an empty champagne bottle; have been recovered.

The Rewa was the sister ship of the Rohilla, the first hospital ship lost during World War One.

On 26 February 1918, the Glenart Castle was torpedoed in the same stretch of water. U-boat 56 attacked in the early hours of the morning. More than 150 people died. Only 38 survived. Both the captain and the matron were lost. They are remembered with the officers, crew and medical staff on a memorial stone on the cliffs off Hartland Point.

Today the wreck of the Glenart Castle lies underwater, but is intact. The ship’s bell has been recovered, along with crockery marked with the Union Castle Line crests. Two plates were donated to the families of the captain and the matron.

Location: Hartland Point, Hartland, Bideford EX39 6AU
Image: Memorial stone in the cliffs off Hartland Point

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