Ceremony held for anniversary of RMS Leinster disaster

THE 104th anniversary of the sinking of RMS Leinster off Dun Laoghaire took place at 09:30 on Monday, October 10, at the anchor on the Queen’s Road, Dun Laoghaire.

There was a large crowd in attendance which included relatives of those lost, members of the public, national and local politicians, council staff and a representative of the British Embassy with responsibility for Wales, together with Deputy Heads of Mission from the Australian and New Zealand Embassies.

The Chief of Staff of the Defense Forces was represented by an Army Officer and the Officer Commanding the Aer Corps was represented by an Aer Corps Officer, while the Officer Commanding the Navy also sent a representative.

The Emergency Services came from the Irish Coast Guard, RNLI, an Garda Siochana and St. John’s Ambulance (who were active in 1918).

 

Joe Ryan started proceedings at 09:40 with a minute’s silence for the tragedy at Cresslough.

He then introduced Philip Lecane who acted as MC for the commemoration.

Philip is the author of two fine books on the event, “Torpedoed” (2005) and “Women and Children of the RMS Leinster” (2018).

He introduced Dr. Joe Varley, President of the Maritime Institute who had seen the Stena Ferry depart Dublin for Holyhead as he came in on the DART this morning.

He put into context the loss on RMS Leinster where 70% perished compared to 68% on RMS Titanic and 61% on RMS Lusitania.

He also said that ferries are complicated vessels.

RMS Leinster served that purpose during WW1 as it was the only way to get from Ireland to England before air travel.

Philip spoke about the 21-year-old girl who was travelling who became the first WREN to lose her life on active duty.

He introduced Ms. Mary Hanafin, an Cathaoirleach.

She compared two tragedies. The one in Cresslough which was an accident and the one on RMS Leinster which was an act of war.

She spoke of the fragility of life and the futility of war.

WWI was ‘the war to end all wars’ and the same promise was made after WWII with the creation of the UN.

Yet, here we are again with war in Europe.

She then quoted from a poem by Siegfried Sassoon from her schooldays about the futility of war, how the Generals send men to their deaths but they can grow old and die in their beds.

Joe Ryan, Secretary of the RMS Leinster Memorial Committee, said they have a single objective to build a Memorial to name all those onboard RMS Leinster and they have been cited in the Indecon report on the Harbour and being considered by the Memorial’s Committee.

It is hoped that DLRCC will allocate a site for a fitting Memorial naming the 813 people who were onboard RMS Leinster.

He was very pleased with the turnout of national and local politicians, relatives, council staff and representatives from the Officers Commanding the Army, Aer Corps and Navy.

There were also Officers from the Emergency Services, from the Irish Coast Guard, RNLI, Garda Siochana and St. John’s Ambulance who the relatives would be happy to see as they were active ferrying injured to hospital.

A representative came from the Welsh Government in Ireland and Deputy Heads of Mission represented the Australian and New Zealand Embassies.

He asked people not to forget that many of the relatives and their families of the tragedy were given a new start in Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Canada and they their decendants come back to Ireland to trace the story.

Wreaths were laid by the Maritime Institute, Leinster Memorial Committee, the Head of Welsh government office in Ireland, Deputy Head of Mission from Australia, Deputy Head of Mission from New Zealand, RMS Leinster website, a lady who represented the postal workers laid a beautiful sheaf of 21 roses for the 21 postal workers, who lost their lives, there were two other tributes from relatives.

The Army Officer led a salute by Defence Forces personnel, Emergency Services personnel and ex-servicemen.

Iain Quick, from Wales, spoke about the honour it was to be present and the close ties between Dun Laoghaire and Holyhead.

Tim Milliken, from Australia, spoke of the Submarine Crew from Germany and how a lot of work has been done with the ANZACS to reconcile with Turkey.

Ernest Stokes from New Zealand said he was honoured to represent New Zealand and of the ties between our countries.

The lady representing the postal workers spoke of her Grandad who died at 35 when her mother was just 12 months and the difficulty of growing up without a Dad and Grandad.

Philip finished by telling those assembled about the Goulds.

Katherine and her 6 children from 21 to 12 months were travelling to England to join her husband who worked in a munitions factory.

Only one child survived and the 5 were never found. Katherine was buried in an unmarked grave in Limerick and it is hoped to rectify that situation soon.