HMHS Newfoundland
Encyclopedia
HMHS Newfoundland was a British
hospital ship
. She served during the Second World War and was sunk in an air attack in the Mediterranean.
to Halifax
, Nova Scotia
.
In April 1943 Newfoundland repatriated some Allied servicemen from Lisbon to Avonmouth (Bristol) in England. Amongst them was Flight Lieutenant John F. Leeming
RAF, who had been captured with Air Marshal Owen Tudor Boyd
(as his Aide-de-Camp
) in 1940. His escape plan from Vincigliata
PG 12 prisoner of war camp in Italy was by cleverly faking a very bad nervous breakdown case. He succeeded so well that the international Medical board, with Swiss and Italian doctors, unhesitatingly accepted his case. As he describes in his book 'In the late afternoon (18 April 1943) we went aboard the British hospital ship Newfoundland,which was lying at the quay ready to sail for England. I walked quickly up the gangway, and as I felt my two feet touch the ship's deck I looked up - I suppose I am too sentimental - at the flag flying from the masthead. "Done it!" I said aloud.'
After the Allied invasion of Italy
in September 1943, HMHS Newfoundland was assigned as the hospital ship of the Eighth Army
, and was one of two hospital ships sent to deliver 103 American nurses to the Salerno
beaches on 12 September. The hospital ships were attacked twice that day by dive bomber
s, and by evening they were joined by a third hospital ship. Concerned by a number of near misses, it was decided to move the ships out to sea and anchor there for the night. All three ships were brightly illuminated and carried standard Red Cross markings to identify them as hospital ships, and their protection under the Geneva Convention.
, she was struck by either a Fritz X
or a Henschel Hs 293
air launched anti-ship missile
40 nautical miles (74.1 km) offshore of Salerno
. It struck on the boat deck, abaft of the bridge. The ship fortunately was only carrying two patients and 34 crew members. Communications were lost but, more importantly, the fire fighting equipment was completely shattered. The USS Mayo
came alongside to rescue the patients, and also put a party onboard to help with damage control
. By now the ship had caught fire. There was another explosion and it became clear that the oil tanks had also caught fire. The injured crew left the boat and 12 crew members battled the fire for a further 36 hours. The ship was beyond repair and was towed further out to sea and intentionally sunk by the USS Plunkett
. Of the people on board, six of the British staff nurses and all of the medical officers had been killed. The Luftwaffe
's reasons for attacking HMHS Newfoundland have never been known. One theory has been put forward that the American nurses were mistaken for troops because of their green uniforms.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
hospital ship
Hospital ship
A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital; most are operated by the military forces of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones....
. She served during the Second World War and was sunk in an air attack in the Mediterranean.
Career
Newfoundland spent the first part of the Second World War carrying wounded troops from the UK to Canada, and bringing the rehabilitated troops back home. Her sailings usually took her from LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
to Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
.
In April 1943 Newfoundland repatriated some Allied servicemen from Lisbon to Avonmouth (Bristol) in England. Amongst them was Flight Lieutenant John F. Leeming
John F. Leeming
John Fishwick Leeming was an English entrepreneur, businessman, early aviator, co-founder of the Lancashire Aero Club, gardener and author.- Early life and family :...
RAF, who had been captured with Air Marshal Owen Tudor Boyd
Owen Tudor Boyd
Air Marshal Owen Tudor Boyd CB, OBE, MC, AFC was an officer in the British Royal Flying Corps during most of World War I...
(as his Aide-de-Camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
) in 1940. His escape plan from Vincigliata
Vincigliata
Vincigliata Castle is a medieval castle which stands on a rocky hill to the east of Fiesole in the Italian region of Tuscany. In the mid-nineteenth century the building, which had fallen into a ruinous state, was acquired by the Englishman John Temple-Leader and entirely reconstructed in the...
PG 12 prisoner of war camp in Italy was by cleverly faking a very bad nervous breakdown case. He succeeded so well that the international Medical board, with Swiss and Italian doctors, unhesitatingly accepted his case. As he describes in his book 'In the late afternoon (18 April 1943) we went aboard the British hospital ship Newfoundland,which was lying at the quay ready to sail for England. I walked quickly up the gangway, and as I felt my two feet touch the ship's deck I looked up - I suppose I am too sentimental - at the flag flying from the masthead. "Done it!" I said aloud.'
After the Allied invasion of Italy
Allied invasion of Italy
The Allied invasion of Italy was the Allied landing on mainland Italy on September 3, 1943, by General Harold Alexander's 15th Army Group during the Second World War. The operation followed the successful invasion of Sicily during the Italian Campaign...
in September 1943, HMHS Newfoundland was assigned as the hospital ship of the Eighth Army
Eighth Army (United Kingdom)
The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations of the British Army during World War II, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns....
, and was one of two hospital ships sent to deliver 103 American nurses to the Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
beaches on 12 September. The hospital ships were attacked twice that day by dive bomber
Dive bomber
A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target reduces the distance the bomb has to fall, which is the primary factor in determining the accuracy of the drop...
s, and by evening they were joined by a third hospital ship. Concerned by a number of near misses, it was decided to move the ships out to sea and anchor there for the night. All three ships were brightly illuminated and carried standard Red Cross markings to identify them as hospital ships, and their protection under the Geneva Convention.
Sinking
At 5:00 a.m. on 13 September while under the command of Captain John Eric Wilson O.B.EOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, she was struck by either a Fritz X
Fritz X
Fritz X was the most common name for a German guided anti-ship glide bomb used during World War II. Fritz X was a nickname used both by Allied and Luftwaffe personnel. Alternate names include Ruhrstahl SD 1400 X, Kramer X-1, PC 1400X or FX 1400...
or a Henschel Hs 293
Henschel Hs 293
The Henschel Hs 293 was a World War II German anti-ship guided missile: a radio-controlled glide bomb with a rocket engine slung underneath it. It was designed by Herbert A. Wagner.- History :...
air launched anti-ship missile
Anti-ship missile
Anti-ship missiles are guided missiles that are designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea-skimming type, many use a combination of inertial guidance and radar homing...
40 nautical miles (74.1 km) offshore of Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
. It struck on the boat deck, abaft of the bridge. The ship fortunately was only carrying two patients and 34 crew members. Communications were lost but, more importantly, the fire fighting equipment was completely shattered. The USS Mayo
USS Mayo (DD-422)
USS Mayo was a Benson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Admiral Henry Thomas Mayo....
came alongside to rescue the patients, and also put a party onboard to help with damage control
Damage control
Damage control is a term used in the Merchant Marine, maritime industry and navies for the emergency control of situations that may hazard the sinking of a ship...
. By now the ship had caught fire. There was another explosion and it became clear that the oil tanks had also caught fire. The injured crew left the boat and 12 crew members battled the fire for a further 36 hours. The ship was beyond repair and was towed further out to sea and intentionally sunk by the USS Plunkett
USS Plunkett (DD-431)
USS Plunkett , a Gleaves-class destroyer, is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Rear Admiral Charles Peshall Plunkett....
. Of the people on board, six of the British staff nurses and all of the medical officers had been killed. The Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
's reasons for attacking HMHS Newfoundland have never been known. One theory has been put forward that the American nurses were mistaken for troops because of their green uniforms.