Into the Maelstrom

Know about the book -

Into the Maelstrom is written by Colin Brittain and published by The History Press. It's available with International Standard Book Number or ISBN identification 0750957514 (ISBN 10) and 9780750957519 (ISBN 13).

On 29 October 1914 the hospital ship Rohilla left Queensferry with 229 persons on board; the vessel was bound for Dunkirk on an errand of mercy, under wartime restrictions and in deteriorating weather. Just after 4 a.m. there was a tremendous impact as the ship ran on to rocks at Saltwick Nab, a mile south of Whitby. Rohilla was mortally wounded 600 yards from shore, 'so close to land yet so far from safety'. Over the ensuing days the heartrending loss of 92 lives in terrible circumstances would prove to be Whitby's greatest maritime disaster, still regarded as one of the worst amongst the annals of the RNLI. This book reveals the heroic actions of the public who waded out into icy turbulent waters to reach those who made the swim to shore and the gallant efforts of lifeboatmen forced to manhandle lifeboats over piers, rocks, overland and down a 200ft cliff.