The loss of the British hospital ship Gloucester Castle torpedoed by German submarine UB-32 in 1917

UB 18-47

In the British War Cabinet meeting of 2 May 1917 was again the loss of the hospital ship Gloucester Castle (1) discussed; see earlier War Cabinet 123 Minute 9. As reprisal for earlier attacks was the German town Freiburg bombed on 14 April. It was not clear which effects the bombing had on the German policy of attacking hospital ships while the Gloucester Castle was sunk by a submarine on 17 April. So it was possible that new German instructions were not received by the submarine on time. The French government was in the meantime asked to wait with a new attack until it became that the Freiburg raid had no effects. Since 17 April were none hospital ships attacked.

Note

1. Built for the Union-Castle Line, requisitioned to be used as hospital ship, torpedoed by the German submarine UB-32 off Wight on 30 March 1917, salvaged, after the war returned to the owners and finally sunk by the German commerce raider Michel on 15 January 1942 off Ascension Island. Launched by Fairfield Shipbuilding&Engineering, Glasgow, Scotland with yard number 478 on 13 May 1911 and completed in August 1911.

Source

The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England, CAB 23-2-48