A service remembers the HMHS Glenart Castle, sunk in World War One, with military and local attendance.
The ship left Wales on February 25, 1918. It was going to France to get wounded soldiers. The ship clearly showed it was a hospital ship; it was lit and displayed the red cross symbol. A torpedo struck it on February 26 at 3:50 a.m. Many people died in this war crime. The crime was never prosecuted, but it is not forgotten.
Local fishermen witnessed the attack and said the ship clearly showed the red cross. The ship joined a list of destroyed humanitarian vessels. This year, military medical staff will attend, joined by 30 members of The Royal Centre for Defence Medicine. On February 25, they will clean the cliff-top plaque and the town war memorial. A service at the cliff top happens on the 26th; people will gather at 10:45 a.m.
Scott Baillie will attend; he collects medals, especially from hospital ships. He owns several medals from the Glenart Castle. One medal belonged to George Thomas Hutson, who served in the Royal Army Medical Corps. Hutson’s medals will be on display that day.
Hutson never saw the medals awarded to him. He was called up in 1917. His first overseas job was on the Glenart Castle. He died only ten hours into his active service. Scott has a stall where he will share the tragedy of the ship and stories about his collection.
Reports say only 29 of 182 people survived. A torpedo ruined the starboard lifeboats. The port side launched a few boats, but some people died in those boats. Bodies washed ashore in Wales and England. Confusion made it hard to know exact numbers.
The water was dangerous that night, hypothermia was a big threat. Even those escaping the sinking ship struggled to survive. The short service is on February 26 at 11 a.m., near Hartland Point by the coastal path. All are welcome to remember.