Hospital Ships & Troop Transport of the First World War

The biggest shipping loss of both world wars was the hospital ship Britannic, at almost 50,000 tons. Supposedly safe to travel the seas, many were lost in both wars. From the smallest of motor launches through steam yachts and converted ocean liners, Campbell McCutcheon tells the story of the First World War hospital ships. Many were lost to accidents, mines or German submarines but many served faithfully without loss of life or accident. Troopships were vital from the first days of the war, with convoys bringing Canadian and Australasian troops to the UK and France from early in August 1914, and many continuing in service until long after the war had ended, repatriating soldiers well into 1919.