AT EXACTLY 9.50am last Wednesday morning, An Post staff across the country observed a minute’s silence in memory of their postal colleagues who lost their lives aboard the RMS Leinster 100 years ago, on October 10, 1918.
Whether delivering or sorting mail or serving customers at Post Office counters, over 9,000 staff paused to remember the 21 postal sorters who were among more than 500 people killed when the RMS Leinster was torpedoed by a German submarine and sank within sight of Dun Laoghaire.
The sinking of the Leinster was the greatest tragedy of either World War on Irish soil or in Irish waters. The postal staff were at work in the ship’s mailroom when tragedy struck. An Post issued a commemorative stamp that was unveiled at the official State commemoration event in Dun Laoghaire last Wednesday morning. It features a painting by Irish artist Brian Palm with a special First Day Cover envelope (FDC). Both will be available at irishstamps.ie, in Dublin’s GPO and main post offices nationwide.
An Post also commissioned a special performance at Dun Laoghaire’s Pavilion Theatre in which the story of the RMS Leinster will be remembered through music and dramatised readings.
Dublin Rathdown TD and Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan and the Rt Hon Carwyn Jones, First Minister of Wales, laid wreaths at the official commemoration in Dún Laoghaire in remembrance of all of those who died following the sinking of the Leinster.
Just before 9 o'clock on the morning of Thursday, October 10, 1918, the RMS Leinster began its final voyage from Carlisle Pier in Dún Laoghaire (then Kingstown) to Holyhead in Wales. The ship was owned and operated by the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company.
Between 9.30am and 9.40 am, the RMS Leinster passed the Kish Light. Shortly afterwards, it was struck by two torpedoes fired by German submarine, UB-123. What unfolded was the worst maritime disaster in the Irish Sea, with at least 564 lives lost. After the commemoration ceremony Minister Madigan officially launched the commemorative stamp with David McRedmond, CEO of An Post, marking the occasion.
Minister Madigan said: “I am deeply honoured to represent the Government at today's official commemoration in remembrance of all of those who lost their lives following the sinking of the RMS Leinster.
“As the French philosopher, Paul Ricour, wrote, ‘To be forgotten is to die twice’. For many years, those who were lost in this terrible tragedy – over 564 members of the ship's crew, civilian passengers, postal sorters, and military and medical personnel – were consigned to the shadows of our history.
“One hundred years later, the Decade of Centenaries has created a new momentum and opportunity to shine a light on their stories. Today, we remember each and every one of those who perished and the countless families on both sides of the Irish Sea and as far afield as America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, who grieved for their terrible loss. We remember, too, the members of the crew of UB-123, who themselves were killed one week later.
“We pay tribute also to the heroism and kindness shown by the rescue services, nursing and medical personnel in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.”
Minister Madigan added: “I welcome the attendance today of representatives from the countries affected by this tragedy, in recognition of our shared loss and shared remembrance. I am especially grateful to the First Minister of Wales for his presence this morning.
“I would like to thank all of those who have worked so hard for many years to ensure that the stories of all of those who were on board the RMS Leinster when she embarked upon her final voyage are written back into our shared history.
“I would like to acknowledge the endeavours of the late owner of the RMS Leinster, Mr Des Brannigan, who was committed to protecting the ship. Today, the vessel comes under the protection of the National Monuments Act, which covers shipwrecks over 100 years old.
Meanwhile, out at sea, relatives of those who were on board the Leinster threw carnations and wreaths at the exact spot where the sinking took place near the Kish lighthouse which is 12km from the coast.
The St Bridget which brought the relatives to the site, was escorted by the naval ship, the LE Orla and the local lifeboat, the RNLB Anna Livia.
Across the city, the OPW staged an Act of Remembrance at the Grangegorman Military Cemetery as part of the week of commemorations.This was followed by the opening of an exhibition at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Leinster and to remember those lost. The exhibition was opened by Philip Lecane, author of the book ‘Torpedoed, the RMS Leinster Disaster’.
This was the first opportunity for many of the descendants of those who lost their lives, some of whom had travelled from as far away as America and Australia, to visit their relatives' graves 100 years after the tragedy which claimed the lives of over 500 people.
Over 140 military personnel from the sinking are buried in Grangegorman Military Cemetery and the commemoration there included a colour party from the Irish Defence Forces.
