Representatives of The RMS Leinster Memorial Committee and The National Maritime Institute of Ireland were in Dún Laoghaire yesterday to mark the 105th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Leinster by laying wreaths at the anchor on Queen’s Road, Dún Laoghaire (beside the Carlisle Pier), and in doing so remembering all those who lost their lives aboard the ship when it sank off Dún Laoghaire on the 10th of October 1918.
In attendance at the wreath laying ceremony were relatives, elected representatives from the Dún Laoghaire area and representatives of the emergency services.
An Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Councillor Denis O’Callaghan, addressed the crowd and laid a wreath on behalf of the citizens of Dún Laoghaire.
Also in attendance were diplomatic representatives from the British Embassy, Australian Embassy, Embassy of New Zealand, Embassy of Canada, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, and Embassy of the United States of America, who laid wreaths on the behalf of their nations in remembrance of citizens from those countries who perished in the tragedy.
An Cathaoirleach with Katy McNeil Scottish Government Representative
The event this morning would not be happened without the support of Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown County Council, and the organisers duly acknowledged and thanked the members of the Council (the councillors) as well as Mr. Frank Curran, Chief Executive, Mr. Tim Ryan, Harbour Manager and Ms. Deirdre Black, Heritage Officer for all the support provided.
The sinking of the RMS Leinster in the last days of the First World War is one of tragedy and loss, and yet of international significance.
It was also the worst disaster ever to befall an Irish-owned shipping company and resulted in the highest-ever loss of life in the Irish Sea to date.
Shortly before 9.00 a.m. on the 10th of October 1918, the Royal Mail Ship (RMS) Leinster left the Carlisle Pier, Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire) bound for Holyhead in Wales.
The ship was carrying 817 passengers – 76 crew members, 23 postal sorters, 180 civilian passengers, men, women and children and the rest, military and medical personnel serving in the war effort.
Wreath at RMS Leinster Anchor 2023
Shortly before 10.00 a.m. about 16 nautical miles from Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire), U-boat SM UB-123, with a crew of 36 and under the command of Captain Robert Ramm, was waiting. Three torpedoes were fired at the ship with catastrophic results.
The ship sank within eight minutes while trying to turn around and head back to port. Officially 501 people died in the sinking.
However, research to date has revealed the names of 571 casualties in total.
An Cathaoirleach addressing those present
A database established at the National Maritime Museum of Ireland, Dún Laoghaire, by Brian and Lucille Ellis, names all those aboard the RMS Leinster and profiles each person individually and gives many more insights into the tragedy.
On the 19th of October, a week later, U-boat SM UB-123, while returning to Germany, struck a mine in the North Sea Mine Barrage with all on board perishing.
Colonel Sean Grant Ambassador Nancy Smyth Lt-Colonel Michel Tousignant Lt-Col Thomas Nolta
Each year, on the anniversary of the ship’s sinking, relatives, and others with the support of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, gather at the anchor to remember all those who lost their lives in the tragedy from across the Island of Ireland and from around the world while also paying tribute to the heroism shown by the rescue services, nursing, and medical personnel in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy and to the present date.
This morning’s ceremony event was very well attended on such a lovely autumnal morning.
The Dún Laoghaire based RMS Leinster Memorial Committee are currently focusing on getting a named memorial installed at the Carlisle Pier in Dún Laoghaire Harbour which would honour all those who died in the tragedy.
Those diplomatic representatives from the various embassies in attendance were as follows:
Embassy of Australia
Ambassador, Mr. Gary Gray
Embassy of Canada
Ambassador, Ms. Nancy Smyth
Lieutenant-Colonel J.G.F.M. (Michel) Tousignant, Deputy Defence Attaché
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
Ambassador, Mr. Cord Meier-Klodt
Embassy of New Zealand
Mr. Michael Gaskin, Deputy Head of Mission
Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Mr. Tadhg Clarke, Assistant Defence Attaché
Colonel Sean Glen Grant, Defence Attaché
Ms. Katy McNeil, Head of Scottish Government Office in Ireland
Mr. Iain Quick, Head of Welsh Government Office in Ireland
Embassy of the United States of America
Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Nolta Junior, Senior Defence Official and Defence Attaché