HMHS Herefordshire WWI

[Tony Walker]

My attempts to find details about the service history of this Hospital Ship have proved to be anything but fruitful :

Her period of service was from 25.7.16 to 1.1.18, with a capacity of 254 patients.  That's it !

I have a German PPC of a semi-derelict building in German East Africa, and on the message side a full but faint double oval cachet H.M.HOSPITAL SHIP / 15 JUL 1917 / HEREFORDSHIRE  addressed to a Miss Rolfe at Chevely near Newmarket.  The message is family orientated.  It has not been censored.

Any further details would be welcome

Cheers
Tony

[Peter High]

Details about HMHS Herefordshire do seem sparse. I have two postcards written in her; 14 Sep 16 at Alexandria & 32 Oct 16 (yes 32; probably should be 22) at Salonika. Both have double oval cachet.

Other details I have gleaned: Built 1905 for Bibby Line. 7,200tons. Requisitioned at beginning of war as troopship; during this time used straight-line named cachet. This was used in the early days as a hospital ship. Hosp ship from 25 Jul 16 to 1(?) Jan 18. 380 beds.

Firebrace states Jan 17 : sailed between Salonika & Malta. 4 Feb 18 attacked by submarine in the Mediterranean; torpedo missed. Sep 16: sailed between Alexandria, Salonika, Malta & England until Dec.

Gould lists cachet on p198 (1st vol)

That's all I have I'm afraid. 

Regards, Peter

[Tony Walker]

Thanks Peter, and for the email

Cheers
Tony