Rohilla was easily distinguishable from her sister Rewa (Built by Denny W. & Bros. Ltd., Dumbarton), her foremast was closer to the Bridge and her funnel was both taller and bigger in circumference.

 

Like her sister she commenced on the London - Calcutta service and trooped during the winter season, whilst carrying troops civilian passengers were also conveyed. She was designated Troopship Number Six, totally painted white, with a blue riband on the hull and her funnel was painted buff.

 

Along with her sister she represented British India at King George V review at Spithead in 1910, Rewa carried the House of Commons, Rohilla the Lords. In the same year both were fitted with radio, the first British India ships to have the installations.

 

On the 6th of August 1914 Rohilla was requisitioned and converted for use as a Hospital Ship HMHS Rohilla.

 

On the 29th of October 1918 she left Leith bound for Dunkirk to board wounded but at 0400 the following day she ran aground on the Saltwick Nab, one mile south of Whitby. At the time the sinking was attributed to a German mine, this was propaganda, with no coastal lights available because of the war she lost her way, ran onto the bank and in the ensuing storm broke her back.

 

Because the ship was only four hundred yards from the shore some of the crew attempted to make their own way to landfall but sadly even with the efforts of the lifeboat crews 84 members of the ship's compliment perished out of a total of 229.The survivors were picked up by the Whitby, Upgang and Tynernouth lifeboats.

 

Today no visit to Whitby would be complete without a trip to the Rohilla. The inshore end of the wreck lies in about 6 metres whilst the seaward end sits in around 15 metres, there are very large boilers to be seen, with lots of wreckage left.

 

The Rohilla were a people of Rohilkand in the former Untited Provinces, east of Delhi.