RMS LADY NELSON

Hospital Ship

At 04.49 hours on 10 Mar 1942, U-161 fired two torpedoes into the harbour of Port Castries, St. Lucia. The first torpedo hit the Lady Nelson, which caught fire and sank by the stern in shallow waters. The second torpedo struck the Umtata, which sank by the stern. However, both vessels were later salvaged and repaired. Three crew members and 15 passengers of the 116 crew members, 110 passengers and two gunners aboard Lady Nelson and seven dock workers were lost. On 16 Apr, the ship was salvaged, temporarily repaired and left for Mobile on 11 May. Later converted to a hospital ship for 518 patients and commissioned on 22 Apr 1943.

After the war she again became S.S. LADY NELSON (1946). Sold to Egypt she became GUMHURYAT MISR (1953), and then later re-named ALWADI (1960). She was broken up in Egypt in 1968.

Photos and Documents

The Life and Times of Captain Morris O’Hara (Isaacs Harbour, NS), Master of Lady Nelson during the Second World War

Commanding Officers

Captain Morris O'Hara - 1943 - 1946

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

Former Crew Members

Etter, Phillip

van Audenhove, Julien J.

Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen who returned to Canada on the Lady Nelson

Photos and Documents

(LDN001) Hospital Ship Lady Nelson  //  From the collection of Roy Cardy  //  Courtesy of Dennis Cardy

(LDN002) Hospital Ship Lady Nelson  //  From the collection of William Connor  //  Courtesy of Jason Slater

(LDN003) Hospital Ship Lady Nelson  //  From the collection of John Brodie, SBPO, RCNVR, HMCS NANAIMO  //  Courtesy of Bill Brodie 

(LDN004) Newspaper Article on Captain Morris O'Hara, O.B.E., Isaac Harbour, Guysborough Co., NS who was Master of the Lady Nelson during the Second World War  //  Date: 18 Mar 1950  //  Courtesy of / Researched by Gerry Madigan

(LDN005) Nursing sisters of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (R.C.A.M.C.) aboard the hospital ship LADY NELSON, Naples, Italy, 29 January 1944.

Nursing Sisters R. MacLennan, J. Goodston, Reta Moffat, E. Covey, D.E. MacTier, E. Bateman, Y. Carr, J. Jackson, Captain C.I. Nixon (Matron), M. McLeod, R. Hughes, H.J. Battram, E.K. Sutherland and M.B. Meisner.

Credit: Lieut. Frederick G. Whitcombe / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-163661

(LDN006) Soldiers and Nurses aboard the Lady Nelson

Courtesy of Neil O'Connor

(LDN007) Lady Nelson End Mercy Ship Career - Hospital Ship Docks at Halifax on Final Run

Courtesy of Hugh Muir

(FM793-FM797) Canadian Hospital Ship LADY NELSON

(FM795) LADY NELSON - 1945  (FM796) LADY NELSON with what appears to be a Merchant Aircraft Carrier astern  (FM797) LADY NELSON returning with the wounded - Feb 1944

(FM798) Lady Nelson - Apr 1944  (FM799) Lady Nelson - Sep 1944  (FM801) Lady Nelson (right hand side of photo) with unknown troopship astern

From the collection of François Messier, AB, RCNVR

Courtesy of Denis Messier