HS Dongola

[Sheleen]

My nan passed away this week, and among her belongings I came across several photographs concerning this 'HS Dongola'.
Including a photograph of "
Private Bateman, R.A.M.C, H.S Dongola"
another photo with this on the back:
"Myself and army 'Pal' "
The 'myself' being my great-grandfather, John Smale...known as 'Jack'.
another picture of an elderly woman and two young ladies states:
"Gran: and he two children aboard the 'Dongola' "
There are several more pictures - many with men in uniform, and even one of the 'ships mascot'... a little jack russell terrier.
I understand that a dongola can mean just a boat... but several references are made to HS Dongola and HMS Dongola, and many pictures are of men in uniform aboard the boat. I also found a photo of a boat in the same envelope as the other photos... but there is no indication that this may be the mystery boat 'Dongola'.

Does anyone know of a WWI boat called the Dongola? Or any information regarding this?

[Geoffers]

......several references are made to HS Dongola and HMS Dongola, and many pictures are of men in uniform aboard the boat. I also found a photo of a boat in the same envelope as the other photos... but there is no indication that this may be the mystery boat 'Dongola'.

Does anyone know of a WWI boat called the Dongola? Or any information regarding this?
I have a recollection, but cannot find the book at the moment, that I read that there was a troopship called Dongola used in the Gallipoli campaign. Is there anything in any photo which may confirm this, or in a service record, or in family memory? Sorry I can't be more specific but it might help you locate a reference somewhere - maybe try using a search engine for Galllipoli and Dongola to see if anything comes up??

Geoffers

[Sheleen]

I've had a quick search - and loads of interesting info came up!

I have also found two more photo albums - one has the:
H.M.H.S DONGOLA football team 1915-1918
and several more photos of the men aboard, but still no pic of the ship to verify whether the picture I have is definately the Dongola.
There are several references to the 'Dongola' - including a photo of a dongola launch - a small boat (a small joke, methinks).
Photo of SS Konig - Sunk entrance harbour - Dar.es. Salaam. E.A
and the last photo says this:
Steward - )( - chef
Copeland - )( - Falcoz
H.S Dongola
With a picture of two rather dashing, smiling, men on what looks like a stage (?!) wearing white trousers and button-through vests.


One album states on the front page:
L/Cpl Smale WJ (my great grandfather, but also the name of my great-great-grandfather)
R.A.M.C. France.

The pictures start with a hospital train, Bombay...dated 1918.
General Mauds grave (no idea what this is ?!)
Turkish prisoners coming in to Bagdad.
Ashore at "Kilwa" German E. Africa 1917
R.A.M.C office H.M.H.S. DONGOLA
"B" ward H.M.H.S.Dongola

The rest of this particular album is filled with photos of India - including one marked as
"Lady Hardings war hospital, Bombay".

[Sheleen]

Have I just been having a blonde moment???

The HS Dongola was a hospital ship! right??

There is a picture of 'hospital staff' in one of the albums... and of course the reference to 'B' ward.

Will this make searching for info easier?

[Geoffers]

General Mauds grave (no idea what this is ?!)A grave is the place where someone is buried, preferably post mortem :) At a guess this grave is where General Maude is buried

I'm Sorry - I have an awful sense of humour :o

Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Stanley MAUDE 1864-1917, buried Baghdad - put his name into a search engine and you should come up with some hits.

The HS Dongola was a hospital ship! right??It's a fair bet and would explain what a private in the RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps) was doing there.

Will this make searching for info easier?It could do, it certainly can't harm your chances. Try The National Maritime Museum (NMM) at Greenwich (they have an enormous collection of photos) and/or the Imperial War Musum (IWM) they may have further records relating to this ship. Also have a browse at the following web-site http://www.army.mod.uk/medical/ams%5Fmuseum/ams%5Fresearch/

Geoffers

[Maiwand]

Dear Sheelen
HMT Dongala was a troopship that mainly went between India and the UK prior to the 1st World War. I study the Royal Berkshire Regiment and the Dongala (Which is named I think after somewhere in the Sudan) brought the Regiment back from India in 1914 to take part in the war on the Western Front. After that I have no knowledge

Hope that helps
Cheers

MAC

[ExDevonport]

My nan passed away this week, and among her belongings I came across several photographs concerning this 'HS Dongola'.


P&O Shipping Coy. 'Dongola'.

Built 1905 by Barclay Curle, Whiteinch, Glasgow. Cost 160,167.00 British pounds.
1905, November 19, registered. Used for India trooping.
1911, attended Coronation Naval Review.
1915, Used as Hospital Ship in the Dardanelles Campaign.
1920, Beached in River Thames after colliding with the Wimbledon.
1923, Undertook relief work after Yokohama earthquake.
1926, June 28, sold and was broken up.

A second ship also named Dongola was built in 1946.

(source 'Merchant Fleets' Ships of the P&O, Orient & Blue Anchor lines, by Duncan Haws, published 1978).

James.
(former Marine Engineer Officer P&O Coy.)

[Procat]

Hi James,

Thank you for posting this information. Unfortunately Sheleen has not been active on the forum since 2006 so may not see your reply.

[ExDevonport]

Hi James,

Thank you for posting this information. Unfortunately Sheleen has not been active on the forum since 2006 so may not see your reply.

Thanks for advice Doug.

Cheers,

James.

[leamington]

Dongola's role as a hospital ship was quite short lived. She was used to ferry troops to and from the Middle East and India both before and during the Great War.