Arthur Edward Samuel Rouse

In memoriam

11934 Lance Corporal Arthur Edward Samuel Rouse, Died at sea of Disease, on the HM Hospital Ship Glenartcastle, 4th.February 1918 (Buried at Sea?) Son of Mrs Mary Rouse, 89, Hailsham Ave., Streatham, London SW16. Just a few weeks later on the 26-2-1918, HMHP Ship Glenartcastle was sunk at approximately 04.00, the ship was hit by two torpedoes off Lundy, and rapidly sank, within five to seven minutes. Witness statements made by survivors made it clear that the ship was sunk by an submarine, later identified as the German U Boat UC 56, despite the ship being lit up as a hospital ship (identified by a chain of green lights, in addition to deck and navigation lights) and her location in the 'free area' which should have marked her out as immune and an illegitimate target. She immediately lost all power – other boats in the area recorded the sudden blacking out of a previously heavily-illuminated ship, which rendered the already listing ship very difficult to evacuate. She took all but around 29 crew and staff down with her. A handful of survivors were picked up in the area in the aftermath of the sinking, but 144 souls perished with the ship. All eight of the nurses on board went down with the ship, and the sinking represents one of the worst losses of nursing staff at war

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