102nd anniversary of the sinking of the Lusitania,

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Join us at 1.45pm, Sunday May 7 on the

102nd anniversary of the sinking of the Lusitania,

to pay respects to those who were lost in this devastating maritime tragedy.

Merseyside Maritime Museum .

LINK

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Sunday May 7

It is a beautiful morning here at the Old Head of Kinsale and perfect for coming along to our official opening of phase 2, the Lusitania Memorial Garden.

This day 102 years ago, many poor souls lost their lives when the Lusitania sank just 10 miles south of the Old Head. Many survived though and lived to tell the tale thanks to the help of local seafarers and the lifeboat.

On that day they commemorated those brave people. The ceremony began at 2pm sharp

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Lest we forget,Lusitania sinking on May 7, 1915. Off the Old Head of Kinsale.

A few years ago the Merchant Navy Association from Barry Dock in Wales, as they looked out across the sunlit waters 15 miles south of Courtmacsherry, near Kinsale, on a day when the weather was similar to that of the sinking all strong men who had seen and experienced a lot at sea themselves and lost companions and relations during the Second World War, all had tears in their eyes, imagining what it must have been like for those aboard the Lusitania.

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More bodies continued to wash ashore as far west as the Aran Islands and as far east as Barry, Wales. These bodies were buried in private plots. Few of the later bodies recovered could be identified, but on 12 July an identifiable body washed up on the shore of County Kerry, Ireland. At first it was presumed to be a Lusitania victim, but later he was identified as Leon Thresher, the first American citizen to lose his life in the German U-boat campaign in the Falaba sinking on 28 March.

With regards to bodies being washed as far as Barry, it seems the bodies were found off Ireland and recovered to Barry Docks.

Digital reports:

LUSITANIA VICTIMS

LUSITANIA VICTIMS. TWO BODIES LANDED AT BARRY, j - When, the s,’s Kyleford arrived at I Barry Docks on Wednesday last. the captain reported that he had on board the bodies of a lady and a marine fire- man, which they had picked up off the Coast of Ireland whilst on a voyage to Barrv. Both aro vidims of the terrible disaster to the liner Lnsitania, which was torpedoed by a German submarine off Kinsale on Friday, one of the boat’s lifebelts being found around the body of the man. From the clothing and jewellery worn by the lady it seems that she was very well connected. The bodies were conveyed to the Barry Town Mortuary to await an inquest.

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TWO LUSITAMA VICTIMS. I INQUEST ADJOURNED AT BARRY DOCKS. probable identification OF AMERICAN LATVy. The inquest on the bodies of two ot ■■ the victims of the Lusitania disaster a male and a female picked up off the coast of Ireland, and landed at Bavrv Docks on the previous day by the s’s. Kyle-ford, was conducted at the Police Court, Barry Docks, on Thurs- day last, by Mr. 1). J. Rees. the divi- sional coroner. The first witness was Silvanus TIllX- ton, steward on the s.s. Kyleiord, who said that the body of the woman was recovered from the water about ItS miles off the Fastnet Light, E.S.E., I no the previous Tuesday. about 11.4o am. The body was floating on its back without a lifebelt, but arbund the man’s bodv was a lifebelt. Police Inspector R. H. Thomas, spoke “Mo seeing the bodies on board the s.s. Kvleford soon after its arrival at Barry Docks on Wednesday. The female was about 50 vears of age, 5ft. 6fins. in height. She had grey hair, dyed -Hack, and was a well-built, woman. Her eyes were missing. She had a prominent chin, large nose, long face, and the teeth in upper jaw were pro- ,w t il-I.cro I (,] The minent., some being set in.gold. The (iece.ased wore black silk stockings, with- cloche’s, richly embroidered fine iawn chemise, initials worked on front: white corset, merino combina- “tions, embroidered black silk petticoat, crepe blouse, with pearl buttons, navy ~*>lue serge skirt and coat, high-heeled ?oots, with grev suede tops. with name ¡loots, with grey H1He top. wIth name “P. E. Faster and Co.. Chicago,” on inside of one. She wore the following jewellery:-Oold bangle, set with 17 diamonds, on the fourth finger of left “hand, American split ring, and plati- num Ting set with five largo and four in centre. On finger of right hand, she “tiad a platinum ring. set with two large -Ltmouid, around the neck, a pearl tiecklace. She also wore a pair of pearl screw ear-rings. A number of deck chairs were floating in the sea around fcitere the bodies were found. Dr. P. J. O’Donnell gave evidence of examining fhe female’s body, and at- tributed death to drown ing. At this stage the Coroner said he proposed adjourning the inquest in re- gard to the female till Friday week, tiii(I from a telegram which had been tianded to him, it seemed that the de- teased would be identified before the next hearing. The telegram ran:- Wrrying to find Catherine E. Wil- ier* y. age 56, weight 158 lbs., oft. 7in., ‘filII nose, long face. good teeth, hair fiyed black, probably wearing ear- nings, pearl necklace, wrist watch. Please make further examination of “body. This description, added the Coroner, I tallied with that given in evidence. In the meantime the deceased’s body would 110 embalmed on the instructions of a Cardiff firm of brokers for removal to ftew York. In the case of the male victim. Dun- C-art Graham, master of the s.s. Kyle- ford. spoke to recovering the body. The deceased was wearing a. lifebelt. SOIlIO wreckage was floating on the svater, including a number of deck Chairs. The following description was given Lv Tiispectoi- Tt. H. Thomas: Deceased was between 28 and ao years of age, õft. 8in. in height, medium build, light tmnvn hair, light brown moustache, eyes, scar on left side of forehead. Had good teeth, but one was missing on iefr side of upper jaw. Dressed in blue -44e,-rge trousers, pink merino vest, white •fcierino pants, lined with white wool, stripe cotton shirt, with name “Ander- son Bros., Glasgow,” on pad at back of Heck. He wore lace-up boots, with Native “riolober Bros., New York City,” stamped inside, grey socks, light colour striped braces, with word “Hague” on buckle, plain leather black belt with “fickle buckle, and in one pocket was found a piece of paper bearing figures ,497. 491, 50, and 50G. The deceased, be thought, was either an engineer’s assistant or refrigerator man. Death in this case was attributed by 1)J’. O’Donnell to exhaustion. This case was also adjourned till c Friday (to-day). i

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Descendants praise ‘long-lasting Lusitania tribute’

The descendant of a survivor of the Lusitania tragedy has praised a community for honouring everyone on board the doomed liner through a stunning bronze sculpture and memorial garden.

John Kiger, from Atlanta, was among about 30 descendants of Lusitania survivors who travelled from the US to the Old of Kinsale in Co Cork to attend the unveiling of the sculpture in a new Lusitania Memorial Garden yesterday — the 102nd anniversary of the tragedy.

Mr Kiger’s great-grandfather, businessman Albert Jackson Byington, was among the 760-plus survivors plucked from the Atlantic by local boats and brought to shore at Cobh.

Mr Kiger said his story was passed down through his mother’s family: “But growing up in America, we always felt like the sinking of the Lusitania existed in a bit of obscurity, especially when compared to the sinking of another large passenger liner just two years earlier.

“Over the years, we found ourselves having to explain why it sank, where it sank and what the implications of this event were to the rest of the world.”

But he said that all changed on his first visit to Kinsale in 2009 while working on a film project.

“I finally found myself in an area that knew all about her and that was a great comfort to me,” he said.

“The sculpture dedicated today finally brings the names of all those on board into the public eye in a lasting way. On behalf of the relatives of the passengers and crew, I thank everyone involved for creating this fitting and long-lasting tribute.”

LINK