in the raging seas were rescued, though many were lost, and lifeboats were able to rescue others. In all, 146 of the 229 on board, including Captain Neilson and all the nurses, as well as survivor Mary Kezia Roberts, survived. Captain Nielson believed that the ship had struck a mine before grounding. An inquest jury exonerated Nielson from all blame and recommended that all passenger vessels carry rocket apparatus rather than rely on rockets fired to the ship from shore, and also that a motor lifeboat be stationed at Whitby. The Gold Medal of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the Institute's highest honour, was presented to Superintendent Major H. E. Burton and Coxswain Robert Smith of the Tynemouth lifeboat Henry Vernon and to Coxswain Thomas Langlands of the Whitby lifeboat. The Empire Gallantry Medal (subsequently changed to the George Cross) was awarded to Burton and Smith in 1924. In 1917 a monument was erected at Whitby by the British India Steam Navigation Company, commemorating all those who lost their lives in the tragedy. See also List of United Kingdom disasters by death toll References Further reading Brittain, Colin (2014). Into the Maelstrom: The Wreck of HMHS Rohilla. The History Press. HMS Rohilla photograph at Port Said(archived) External links Footage of the wreck and people being rescued from the sea (hosted on British Pathé) World War I shipwrecks in the North Sea Shipwrecks of England Ships built in Belfast Maritime incidents in October 1914 1914 disasters in the United Kingdom Ships of the British India Steam Navigation Company Hospital ships in World War I Hospital ships of the Royal Navy 1906 ships Ships built by Harland and Wolff Rohilla