RNLI – THE WRECK OF THE ROHILLA

 

When the Rohilla

Struck Whitby rock

On the Saltwick reef

In October 1914

The storm was so bad

The life boat

Could not be launched

From Whitby harbour

So the rescuers grittily

Manhandled the lifeboat

Over an eight-foot seawall

And treacherous rocks

So it could be launched

From the beach

On the first attempt

They rescued seventeen

On the second

Another eighteen

But in the second attempt

The lifeboat was damaged

Too badly to make a third