Quote: "The reason or motive for the Luftwaffe had for attacking HMHS Newfoundland has never been known. One theory has been put forward that the American nurses were mistaken for troops because of their green uniforms and maybe the Luftwaffe believed that the hospital ship was being used as a troop ship". I don't believe that for a second. In my opinion (and that's all it is), they were just a bunch of blood thirsty germans who were bored and decided to go against the geneva convention. The ships were lit up like a christmas tree. They could obviously see it was a hospital ship.
Thanks for your response Marcus I did see the BBC post but this was by the niece of one of the six nursing casualties (Dorothy Cole). I was hoping that their may have been something with more detail on the other five whose names I do have. You log onto Google with HMHS Newfoundland and half the entries refer to Britannic. Looks like I will have to get hold of Brenda McBryde's book. Tony
Tony, A little more. NEWFOUNDLAND official number 147312 Johnston Warren Lines; 1925; Vickers; 6,791 tons; 406-lx 55- 4x31-8; 1JQ47n.h.p.; quadruple-expansion engines. The steamship Newfoundland, in service as a hospital ship, was bombed and set on fire by German aircraft on September 13th, 1943, off the Salerno beaches during the Allied landings in Italy. After burning for two days she was sunk by gunfire. Four of her crew, five doctors, six nurses and six Army medical staff were killed/Fortunately only two patients were on board at the time. Regards Hugh
Hi There, This is my first time on this forum. My father was killed when Newfoundland was sunk. Here is the result of my research (I visited The Monte Cassino Cemetry, where the names of those with no known grave are recorded). Here is a copy of what I have found:- As far as can be ascertained the following personnel were killed in the attack on HMHS Newfoundland and are recorded on the Cassino Memorial Plaques in the Cassino Cemetery in Italy as personnel for whom no known grave exists. Major Charles Ryan, RAMC 65313 aged 38 (My Father) Major George Alexander Hay Adam, RAMC 108781 Private William George Douglas Bonar, RAMC 7397558 Sister Una Cameron, Territorial Army Nursing Service 209965 aged 31 Private William David Cannell, RAMC 14243316 aged 19 Matron Agnes McInnes Cheyne, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service 206099 Sister Dorothy Mary Cole, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service 218052 aged 29 Sister Phyllis Gibson, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service 223596 aged 31 Private Harry Gordon Hubbard, RAMC 7384137 aged 23 Private Ernest Victor John Hurley, RAMC 7384138 aged 28 Sister Mary Lea, Territorial Army Nursing Service 213741 aged 31 Captain Harry Mathews, RAMC 157582 aged 29 Sister Margaret Annie O’Loughlin, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service 234988 Private Charles Riding, RAMC 792113 aged 40 Major George North Watson, RAMC 75408 The following additional personnel are also recorded on the Cassino Memorial for the same date of death, but may, or may not, have been on board Newfoundland. Guardsman Ransome George Harold Cooke, Grenadier Guards 2621141 aged 22 Private Horace Hallam, Lincolnshire Regiment 4800665 aged 29 Guardsman Reginald Jack Pash, Grenadier Guards 2621407 aged 23 Private Frederick Radcliffe, The King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 3772039 aged 23 Lance Corporal Anthony Wilson Shemmonds, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment 6351892 aged 21 Lance Corporal James Smith, South Lancashire Regiment 3654054 aged 24 Lance Corporal John Alexander Stewart, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders 2931169 aged 23 I hope that this helps Cheers Andy
hello Andy thank you for your post and sorry for your loss please add any further info/pictures you have,forum members will be interested. regards Clive
Quote: "The reason or motive for the Luftwaffe had for attacking HMHS Newfoundland has never been known. One theory has been put forward that the American nurses were mistaken for troops because of their green uniforms and maybe the Luftwaffe believed that the hospital ship was being used as a troop ship". I don't believe that for a second. In my opinion (and that's all it is), they were just a bunch of blood thirsty germans who were bored and decided to go against the geneva convention. The ships were lit up like a christmas tree. They could obviously see it was a hospital ship. Think again, out of 22 Italian hospital and rescue ships only two survived the war, all the others were sunk by allied forces. Possibly the greatest naval disaster in WW2 was the sinking of the German hospital ship Wilhelm Gustloff with, according to some sources, over 9.000 lives lost.
As far as can be ascertained the following personnel were killed in the attack on HMHS Newfoundland and are recorded on the Cassino Memorial Plaques in the Cassino Cemetery in Italy as personnel for whom no known grave exists. Major Charles Ryan, RAMC 65313 aged 38 (My Father) Major George Alexander Hay Adam, RAMC 108781 Private William George Douglas Bonar, RAMC 7397558 Sister Una Cameron, Territorial Army Nursing Service 209965 aged 31 Private William David Cannell, RAMC 14243316 aged 19 Matron Agnes McInnes Cheyne, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service 206099 Private Charles Eric Cockayne, RAMC 7366272 aged 25 Sister Dorothy Mary Cole, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service 218052 aged 29 Lt. Col Hartas Foxton (MC), RAMC 50586 Sister Phyllis Gibson, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service 223596 aged 31 Private Harry Gordon Hubbard, RAMC 7384137 aged 23 (Died of Wounds on board Hospital Carrier Leinster & Buried at Sea) Private Ernest Victor John Hurley, RAMC 7384138 aged 28 Sister Mary Lea, Territorial Army Nursing Service 213741 aged 31 Captain Harry Mathews, RAMC 157582 aged 29 Sister Margaret Annie O’Loughlin, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service 234988 aged 27 Private Charles Riding, RAMC 792113 aged 40 Private James Arthur Unwin, RAMC 7367893 aged 25 Major George North Watson, RAMC 75408 The following additional personnel are also recorded on the Cassino Memorial for the same date of death, but may, or may not, have been on board Newfoundland. Guardsman Ransome George Harold Cooke, Grenadier Guards 2621141 aged 22 Private Horace Hallam, Lincolnshire Regiment 4800665 aged 29 Guardsman Reginald Jack Pash, Grenadier Guards 2621407 aged 23 Private Frederick Radcliffe, The King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 3772039 aged 23 Lance Corporal Anthony Wilson Shemmonds, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment 6351892 aged 21 Lance Corporal James Smith, South Lancashire Regiment 3654054 aged 24 Lance Corporal John Alexander Stewart, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders 2931169 aged 23 Crew members killed: Steward - Frederick Hewlett, Merchant Navy, aged 53 Assistant Purser - George Owens, Merchant Navy, aged 23 2nd Radio Officer - Dennis Bryant Russell, Merchant Navy, aged 21 Chief Steward - Alfred Thomas Williams, Merchant Navy, aged 31 The following wounded survivors were admitted to shore hospitals in North Africa (Note: Names & Numbers are as they appear in WO361/463 and are not confirmed) : Capt. A Barkin, A D Corps, 96603 Private J Williams, A D Corps 7537195 Rev J L Monk, RA CH D, 161001 N/O Miss E M Jenkins, QAIMNS(R), 200527 N/O Miss M M Kelly, QAIMNS(R), 227180 Private E B Saunters, RAMC, 7349280 I hope that this helps Cheers Andy I've been researching the Salerno Landings recently and just got hold of WO 361/463 : Casualties at sea, Mediterranean: Hospital Ship Newfoundland, sunk off Salerno, Italy, 13 September 1943 through PsyWar.Org (Thanks Lee) I have edited andyryan's original list to show the correct casualties and also added the crew casualties and known wounded. The missing casualties and crew casualties are commemorated on the Brookwood & Tower Hill Memorials. Anything Blue is what i've added or additional information. Anything Red is incorrect. There is also a list of British survivors in the file (but no American ones as the American authorities dealt with them), which i will try to add at a later date. Regards Scott
WO 361/463 : Casualties at sea, Mediterranean: Hospital Ship Newfoundland, sunk off Salerno, Italy, 13 September 1943 I have now posted the above full file in the Gallery under Documents (See link below) for reference http://ww2talk.com/forums/gallery/album/276-wo-361463-hmhs-newfoundland-casualties-at-sea-13th-sept-1943/ Its interesting to note that a lot of the casualties had chosen to sleep on the deck that night instead of their usual quarters. Regards