Hugh Woolner

Male

Birth date: 17.11.1898 y.

Cabin: Healthcare workers-96

Biography:

As the son of a Catholic minister to a Scottish church in Genoa and his Scots wife, Hugh Woolner Born on the 17th of November, 1898, in Genoa, in the Kingdom of Italy. Hugh was the only son and the only child of the Woolner family. His father, Reverend Archie Woolner, was the minister of the Scottish church in Genoa, while his mother, Margaret Ann Woolner (née Drummond), was dedicated to community work and teaching English to expatriate families.

Hugh grew up in the Italian port city of Genoa, experiencing a childhood filled with contrasts. The solemn discipline of a minister’s household stood in stark contrast to the vibrant sights and sounds of the Mediterranean. While his upbringing was deeply rooted in Scottish faith and values, the sea and ships of Genoa left a lasting impact on him, igniting a quiet fascination with travel and the people who ventured into the open waters. In 1907, the family returned to Scotland when his father accepted a new parish post in Edinburgh.

Hugh attended Fettes College, where he was known for being polite, soft-spoken, and somewhat shy. Although he was more of a thinker than a talker, he surprised many by joining the school’s rugby team. Encouraged by his father to “learn strength through spirit,” he grew to appreciate the camaraderie of the sport. Despite this, he remained the quietest member of the team, preferring to tend to a bruised knee rather than boast about scoring a try.

When the Great War broke out in 1914, Hugh was fifteen years old. Like many boys his age, he was both fascinated and frightened by the stories from the front lines. As the war continued, several of his older schoolmates enlisted, and the letters detailing their experiences left a lasting impression on him. Hugh's academic record was modest; while he had an interest in the sciences, he never seriously pursued medical training. His parents hoped he would one day enter the ministry, but Hugh felt uncertain about his future path.

By late October 1916, feeling restless and eager to contribute, Hugh decided to enlist in the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Private. Influenced by his mother's encouragement and motivated by a desire to help the wounded, he was drawn to medical service, despite having minimal knowledge of medicine beyond some basic first aid lessons. After being assigned to His Majesty’s Hospital Ship, Britannic, he quickly felt overwhelmed by the ship's size, the strict discipline of naval life, and the harsh realities of war.

For Hugh, life aboard the Britannic is both an honor and a source of quiet fear. He struggles to adjust to the noise, the strict discipline, and the sight of suffering all around him. Nevertheless, he does his best to follow orders carefully and help wherever he can. Those who meet him see a timid but kind-hearted young Scot, earnest, apologetic, and eager to prove himself despite his nerves. His hands often shake when he handles medical instruments, and he sometimes admits that he feels “not built for war.” Nonetheless, his compassion for others never wavers.

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