Passenger liner · 1906–1914 · Yorkshire, United Kingdom

SS Rohilla

Also known as Rohilla.

Few wrecks carry the emotional weight of the Rohilla. This Harland & Wolff-built liner had been requisitioned as a hospital ship just weeks into the First World War and was steaming south from Scotland to collect wounded soldiers from France when a northeast gale drove her onto Whitby Rock in the early hours of 30 October 1914. With shore lights blacked out for wartime, her crew never saw the reef.

What followed was a three-day rescue drama that gripped the nation — lifeboats launching repeatedly into mountainous seas, spectators lining the cliffs, and 83 lives lost despite extraordinary courage from the rescuers. Most of the dead were doctors and nurses. The site is a war grave. At low spring tides, structural remains break the surface — a stark reminder visible to anyone walking the coastal path above.

StatusWar grave
Type
Passenger linerBritish
Year built
1906Harland & Wolff, Belfast
Lost
October 30th, 1914Grounding
Casualties
83World War I
Tonnage
7,114 GRTsteam
Length
140.2 m17.1 m beam
Depth
3–10 m
Location
Yorkshire, United KingdomNorth Sea

2 of 8 facts above are cited in Sources below.

Deeper than 16 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.

History and LossLost October 30th, 1914 · Grounding · World War I · Yorkshire, United Kingdom.

Struck Whitby Rock (reef at Saltwick) south of Whitby during a severe northeast gale. Shore lighthouses were unlit during wartime blackout. Rescue operations continued over three harrowing days. Of 229 aboard, 83 were lost — mostly medical staff heading to tend wounded soldiers in France.

Built 1906 by Harland & Wolff, Belfast; 8 years in service, also recorded as Rohilla. Lost October 30th, 1914, grounding during World War I.

83lives lost on October 30th, 1914.

Condition of the WreckFlattened, in 3–10 m.

Intactness

Heavily broken up after 110+ years of North Sea weather. Wreckage embedded in seabed near shore. Some structure visible at low tide in Saltwick Bay.

Notable Features

  • Hospital ship — medical staff casualties
  • Three-day rescue became national news
  • Built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast
  • Visible from shore at low tide

Regulations and RestrictionsWar grave.

This is a war grave, where human remains may be present.

Additional Details14 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.

Nationality
British
Flag
United Kingdom
Builder
Harland & Wolff, Belfast
Propulsion
Steam
Loss date
October 30th, 1914
Conflict / event
World War I
Latitude
54.49° N
Longitude
0.60° W
Water body
North Sea
Protection regime
Not designated under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2026 (SI 2026/286).
War grave
Yes
Protected
No
Permit required
No
Condition
Flattened

Sources and VerificationEvery cited fact on this page traces to a published source.

Background reading is listed for context and is not counted as a citation for the facts above.

  • Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright and database right.

A further 3 fields were derived from the wreck’s recorded position rather than taken from a source.

Licences and credits for the open data used on this site are on the Attribution page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SS Rohilla?

SS Rohilla is the wreck of a passenger liner, off Yorkshire, United Kingdom, at 10 metres. SS Rohilla ran aground and was wrecked in 1914.

How deep is the SS Rohilla?

SS Rohilla lies at 3 to 10 metres, Off Saltwick Bay Nab, ~600m from shore south of Whitby.

How did the SS Rohilla sink?

SS Rohilla ran aground and was wrecked on October 30th, 1914 during World War I, off Yorkshire, United Kingdom. 83 people lost their lives.

Is the SS Rohilla protected?

Yes. SS Rohilla is recorded as a war grave.