THE CENTENARY of a dramatic sea rescue off the Yorkshire coast will be commemorated this weekend.

The Rohilla - a First World War hospital ship heading to Dunkirk - ran aground 100 years ago today in bad weather conditions a quarter of a mile off Whitby, leading to the deaths of 85 of the 229 people on board.

During the three-day rescue, six RNLI lifeboats faced gales and high seas, travelling from as far as Tynemouth to help those on board, and their efforts will be remembered in Whitby between Friday and Sunday.

Descendants of those who died, of survivors and of members of the lifeboat crews who took part in the rescue will attend commemorative events, with some visitors coming from as far away as Australia and the United States.

Peter Thomson, curator of the Whitby RNLI volunteer museum, said: "This was the greatest rescue ever to have been carried out off Whitby and it is fitting that the centenary is marked in a very special way.

"We have put a huge amount of thought and planning into commemorating the anniversary and I hope that, as well as being a solemn remembrance of those who tragically died, we will be able to recognise the amazing feats of endurance and bravery of the RNLI lifeboat crews and people of Whitby who worked for such a long time to rescue the survivors."

One of the 144 people saved from the Rohilla was Mary Roberts, who had also survived the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, and the rescue helped convince many of the benefits of new boating technology.

Peter said: "She later said the Rohilla experience was much worse than the Titanic. People visiting the museum can see her trunk on display and learn about her amazing story.

"Four of the lifeboats involved in the rescue were rowing lifeboats but it was only the new motor lifeboat Henry Vernon, stationed at Tynemouth, that was able to reach the remaining 50 survivors. People had been suspicious of motor lifeboats until then but this helped convince the crews that they really were the future."

Events for the commemoration will include a wreath-laying ceremony at the site of the wreck, a flotilla led by a restored lifeboat involved in the rescue, and a new folk opera telling the story of the wreck performed at St Hilda's Church on Saturday, followed by a service of remembrance at St Mary's Church on Sunday at 11am.

For full details go to the NewsCentre section of rnli.org