HOSPITAL SHIP

'Brighton' c1940

By John Quinton

This is scanned from a postcard sized black and white reproduction of a painting.  My grandmother, whose husband was a ship's carpenter at Newhaven, gave me the card many years ago and on the back she has written "Hospital Ship 1939-41". The name on the bow of the ship is "Brighton" and the painting has been signed "T Mahoney Chief Off". The Brighton V was sunk at Dieppe in 1940 but can someone confirm she was a hospital ship at the time?

Photo: Illustrative image for the 'HOSPITAL SHIP' page
This page was added by John Quinton on 31/07/2011.
Comments about this page

She was indeed taken over by the Admiralty for use as a hospital ship. Newhaven Museum has a lot of information on this fine looking Denny-built steamer.

By Andy Gilbert
On 02/08/2011

My father Bob Simmons was a fifteen year old boy fresh out of school and was working on the "Grid Iron" when he was asked if he would volunteer to help out on the Brighton. He was on the quay side in Dieppe when the ship was sunk. He frequently recalls the harrowing story of his escape from Dieppe with a group of survivors and their journey across France to Cherbourg before finding a way back to the UK. This is a remarkable story.

By Rob Simmons
On 17/09/2013
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