2 replies to this topic

[michaeldr]

Remembering 10th October 1918

Soon after sailing from Kingstown (now Dun Loaghaire) County Dublin, for Holyhead in Wales, the RMS Leinster was torpedoed by U-123 and sank with the loss of over 500 lives.  This was and still is, the largest ever loss of life in the Irish Sea.
The 90th Anniversary will be commemorated by an inter-denominational service at
St. Michael's Church, Marine Road, Dun Loaghaire, at 12.00 hrs on Friday, 10th October 2008.
A service will also be held at St. Cybi's Church, Holyhead on Sunday, 12th October 2008.

Best wishes for the success of these events to our GWF Pal 'Oak' (Philip Lecane) who has put in so much behind the scenes work.
Philip is the author of 'Torpedoed! The RMS Leinster Disaster' [ISBN No. 1-904381-30-8] published in 2005
He was also the driving force behind the Irish Post Offices' issue of a special stamp commemorating the sinking - see http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/News+and+Infor...MS+Leinster.htm

details from 'The Blue Cap' the journal of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers Association

See also http://www.rmsleinster.com/home.htm

[LST_164]

I have Philip's book and find it a well-researched, moving and detailled account of this, the greatest maritime tragedy to date in the Irish Sea.

As well as the substantial Irish, English and American casualties suffered in this event, many of the crew were from Holyhead (and some are buried there); as well as others, both crew and military/civil passengers from elsewhere on Anglesey and across North Wales.

Gone but not forgotten.  RIP.

LST_164

[Borden Battery]

The Sinking of the R.M.S. Leinster
The website documents the researched background of the sinking of a forgotten Irish passenger and mail ship in the Irish Sea by the German submarine UB-123 on 10 October 1918.  Loss of life was far more extensive than first reported.  Of the 771 military and civilians passengers on board the R.M.S. Leinster, 529 lives were lost. UB-123 struck a sea mine on its return to Germany and all hands were lost a week later.  The site features information on the sinking, selected passengers, a Canadian connection and recent commemoration activities. [Recommended by Philip Lecane][CEF Study Group – Nov 2007]
www.rmsleinster.com