HMHS Glenart Castle
From Our Contribution
 courtesy anzac-22nd-battalion.com | |
 Pre 1914 while known as SS Galician | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | HMHS Glenart Castle |
| Owner | Union-Castle Line |
| Builder | Harland & Wolff, Belfast |
| Launched | 20 September 1900 |
| Completed | 6 December 1900 |
| In service | December 1900 |
| Out of service | 26 Feb 1918 |
| Fate | Torpedoed and sunk on 26 Feb 1918 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Passenger / cargo ship |
| Tonnage | 6,807 tons |
| Length | 440 ft (134.11m) |
| Beam | 53 ft (16.15m) |
| Propulsion | twin screw |
| Speed | 12.5 knots (23.15 km/h) |
| Capacity | 453 patients |
Contents
Remarks
Built for the Union-Castle Line, her original name was Galacian. In 1914 she was requisitioned for use as a Hospital Ship and renamed at that point. The Glenart Castle was active in support of the Gallipoli campaign during 1915.
On 1 March 1917 she struck a mine in the English Channel between Le Havre and Southampton laid by U-Boat UC-45, with all 520 sick and wounded saved. She was towed to Portsmouth where she was repaired and returned to service. However worse was to follow, as on 26 Feb 1918, despite being lit up at night as was required of Hospital ships, she was sunk by a torpedo from the U-Boat UC-56. Sinking in a short space of time and with most lifeboats damaged by the blast, only 32 Survivors were found. 162 personnel had perished, including most of the crew, eight nurses, and seven Medical officers along with 99 of their patients.
Evidence was found that the submarine may have shot at survivors of the sinking in an effort to cover up the sinking of Glenart Castle. The body of a junior officer was recovered from the water close to the position of the sinking. It was marked with two gunshot wounds, one in the neck and the other in the thigh. The body also had a life vest indicating he was shot while in the water