HMAT Warilda

HMAT Warilda - World War I - front view

HMAT Warilda (His Majesty's Australian Transport) was a passenger ship converted for use as a troopship and later as a hospital ship during World War I. Launched in 1912 by William Beardmore and Company in Glasgow for the Adelaide Steamship Company, Warilda initially served Australian coastal routes before being requisitioned for war service.

Service History

Troopship

In 1915, Warilda was requisitioned by the Australian Government and converted into a troopship, designated HMAT Warilda (A69). She was used to transport Australian troops to various theatres of war, including the Middle East and the Western Front. During her service as a troopship, Warilda made multiple voyages, carrying thousands of soldiers to the battlefields and contributing significantly to the war effort.

Hospital Ship

In 1916, with the escalating need for medical support due to the high number of casualties, Warilda was converted into a hospital ship. As a hospital ship, she was painted white with large red crosses, a designation meant to protect her under the Geneva Convention as a non-combatant vessel. Warilda was equipped with medical facilities and staffed by medical personnel from the Australian Army Medical Corps and the Australian Army Nursing Service. She played a crucial role in evacuating wounded soldiers from the front lines to hospitals in safer locations.

Sinking

On 3 August 1918, while transporting wounded soldiers from Le Havre, France, to Southampton, England, HMAT Warilda was torpedoed by the German submarine UB-49. Despite the efforts to save the ship and evacuate the wounded, Warilda sank within two hours of being hit. The attack resulted in the loss of 123 lives, including medical staff, crew members, and wounded soldiers. The sinking of Warilda, marked by the violation of the Geneva Convention's protections for hospital ships, was a tragic event in the history of naval warfare.

Legacy

The loss of HMAT Warilda is commemorated in various memorials and records, highlighting the sacrifices made by medical personnel and the importance of hospital ships in wartime. The story of Warilda serves as a reminder of the perils faced by non-combatant vessels during war and the human cost of conflict.