TWO BODIES LANDED AT BARRY

[Administrator]

Friday 14th of May, 1915

LUSITANIA VICTIMS

LUSITANIA VICTIMS. TWO BODIES LANDED AT BARRY, — When, the SS Kyleford arrived at 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 are victims of the terrible disaster to the liner Lusitania, 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).

[Administrator]

Unknown sailor is remembered

Report from 2015.

A MEMORIAL to an unknown sailor who died when the RMS Lusitania when sank by a German U-boat has been unveiled at Barry Cemetery, a century later.



The huge liner Lusitania departed New York on route for Liverpool on May 1, 2015 during the First World War, but got destroyed by a German U20 torpedo 11 miles off the old Head of Kinsale lighthouse killing around 1200 passengers and crew.

But when the steamship Kyleford arrived at Barry on May 12 its’ Master; Captain Duncan Graham reported they had recovered two bodies whilst on their normal route - one male and one female.

The man was in a lifebelt with the word – Lusitania on it and he reported that the woman had been found floating face upwards.

Police Inspector Thomas and several constables had the bodies removed to the town mortuary, shortly afterwards.

It was reported a large crowd had gathered on the quayside and on hearing that they were victims of the Lusitania, dock workmen bared their heads and many broke down.

The bodies were moved by Messrs James Jones and Co, of Barry Dock, by a funeral carriage.

At a resumed coroner’s hearing William Barnes, the chief bedroom steward onboard the Lusitania gave evidence.

He said he had seen the body of the man and believed he was one of the passage workers who wasn’t a regular hand, but could not name him.

The coroner was unable to close for the man and nobody was ever able to establish his identity.

The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against the person who fired the torpedo.

The accomplices were the officers of the submarine and the Kaiser under whose orders this particular act was carried out.

Baruc ward Vale and town councillor and chairman of the Friends of Merthyr Dyfan cemetery, Nic Hodges said: “His (the unknown sailor) description given at the inquiry was male, 28 to 30 years, medium build, light brown hair, light ginger moustache, one tooth missing front upper jaw, had at one time fractured his skull, height 5’8. He was wearing blue serge trousers, pink merino vests and white merino pants, both lined with wool, striped cotton shirt marked “Anderson Bros., Makers, 27 Bridge Street, Glasgow, light lace-up boots, stamped inside Holober Bros., 501 West 14th Street, New York, gray socks that had been footed with light bluish-coloured wool, light colour braces with the word “Hague” on the buckle. He also wore a plain leather belt with a nickel buckle.”

He was buried in our Merthyr Dyfan cemetery on May 18 – 11 days after Lusitania was torpedoed and was laid to rest in grave A1083.

The grave cost 18 shillings to buy and was a common grave later followed by four other bodies ranging from a 95 year old lady in 1935, 2 stillborns and a four day old girl.

Records mark him as an unknown person picked up off Kinsale Island from the RMS Lusitania.

Long-standing council member, the Reverend Longdon officiated.

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#OTD IN 1912 – THE TITANIC SANK ON HER MAIDEN VOYAGE WITH THE LOSS OF 1,513 SOULS, MANY OF THEM IRISH; 732 WOULD SURVIVE.

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