34 replies to this topic

[inishowen]

Canadian Ambassador to Attend Remembrance Ceremony in Fahan, Bunrana, Co Donegal.

Mr Patrick Binns, Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, is to attend a wreath laying ceremony in Fahan on Saturday 26th January, in memory of the 344 men who perished on the HMS Laurentic which was sunk off Lough Swilly on 25/1/1917 at the height of the first World War.

This ceremony is the initiative of Don McNeil, a Newfoundlander now resident in Buncrana, and the Ulster Newfoundland Initiative. 21 of those who died on the Laurentic were from Newfoundland.

The Canadian Ambassador will be accompanied by Captain Norm Jolin who will represent the Canadian Navy, and wreaths will also be laid by the Inishowen Friends of Messine, the Royal Naval Association, the RNLI, and the Ireland Newfoundland Partnership.

Hidden for years behind Fahan COI Church, a large Celtic Cross marks the mass grave in which many of the Laurentics passangers and crew now rest. Many other victims of both the Laurentic and other ships sunk by both Mines and U-Boats are buried in graveyards around the coast of Ireland.

This is the second year in which the Laurentic has been remembered in this way and the ceremony also marks the beginnings of a better appreciation of the links between the North West of Ireland and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is hoped that further events will be planned and that stronger links will be forged between these two communities.

The wreath-laying ceremony starts at 2pm sharp and the organisers would like to invite everyone from Inishowen and the North West to come along, not only to remember the Laurentic but to show solidarity with the people of Newfoundland, with whom we have such strong historical links.

[Canadawwi]

The Laurentic was one of the troop transport ships that took part in the historic fleet of ships transporting Canada's first Contingent to England.  The ship conveyed my great uncle to England with the 1st Battalion Western Ontario Regiment.  The Laurentic was loaded at Quebec Pier and arrived at Plymouth Sound on October 14th, 1914.

I've prepared a few pages about this event, and will see if I can post them here.

[Sean.]

 Laurentic_memorial.jpg   64.56K   23 downloads
Hello,
I came across this photo in a book and thought you might be interested, its the Laurentic memorial at St Mura's, Upper Fahan.

Regards,
Sean

[sadsac]

Inis, two Awards for LAURENTIC sinking ;

ROYAL Alfred 311WSA Skipper RNR   84S109   Hecla 11
Rear Admiral Buncrana 20.09.18 Gazetted
Minesweeping operations 01.01.18 - 30.06.18   Mentioned in Despatches
He has commanded trawlers in this area since the 14 February, 1915, during which time he has proved himself a most capable and painstaking officer. He received an expression of Their Lordships' appreciation for good work in endeavouring to tow S.S. "Aurasua", after this vessel had been torpedoed on the 4th March, 1918. He has also been instrumental in rescuing and bring in 187 survivors from H.M.S. Laurentic, S.S. "Roscommon" and S.S. Aurania.

WHITFIELD   John N/E   Lt. RNR   84S079   H.M.T. Sethon
Rear Admiral Buncrana   06.04.18     Gazetted
Auxiliary Patrols 01.01.17 - 31.01.17   Mentioned in Despatches
He has rendered very reliable services. On the 25th January, 1917, during very heavy weather and under very difficult circumstances, he saved lives from the sinkng H.M.S. Laurentic. On the 2nd October, 1917, he successfully towed H.M.S. Brisk after she had been mined. He has, on two different occasions, discovered minefields in this area. He has also been instrumental in bringing in over 300 survivors from torpedoed ships. In October, 1914, he extinguished a fire on, and scuttled the German S.A. "Santa Caterina".

Regards   Sadsac

[inishowen]

Thanks sadsac,
This will certainly be of interest to our group.
Fearghal.

[sadsac]

Fearghal - another Award for ROYAL, now a Chief Skipper ;

ROYAL Alfred 311WSA Chief Skipper   RNR 84S157 Hecla 11
Vice Admiral Buncrana 11.04.19 Gazetted
Auxiliary Patrol Lough Surlly - Buncrana 01.07.18 - 11.11.18 DSC
In command of H.M.T. "War Duke" on the 21st July, 1918, when his unit engaged an enemy submarine, reported by the Senior Officer as assisting him to the utmost.
He has been in command of an Auxiliary Patrol Unit on many occasions. He has performed consistent good work in this area since February, 1915. A most capable and painstaking officer. In June, 1917, he assisted to secure a rope round mooring of enemy mine in Tory Sound.
He has received Their Lordships' appreciation for his services when H.M.S. "Laurentic" was lost in January, 1917 ; also for assisting to tow S.S. "Brisk", which was mined in Rathlin Sound, when he had to take his Trawler into waters known to be mined, and for his endeavours to tow the S.S. "Auriania" after she had been torpedoed on the 4th March, 1918.

Best to all attending Buncrana   -  Sadsac

[ejcmartin]

As one living in Newfoundland, an interesting story. I know a few people on Ireland Newfoundland partnership, I shall ask if they know who is attending. Thanks for the post.

Ed

[jones75]

Inishowen,

Hi, One man who is listed on the War Memorial in Widnes, Cheshire, (Formerly Lancashire)

CERA Robert Price Lewis
No.1461 EA(D)
HMS “Laurentic”
Born : Not known.
Enlisted : Not known.
Resided : 13 Eric Street, Widnes, Lancashire.
Drowned in the Atlantic on 25th January, 1917, aged 28.
No known grave; he is commemorated on the Plymouth Memorial.

The son of Hannah & the late Hugh Lewis, he was a member of the Royal Naval Reserve, a Chief Engineering Room Artificer on the the “Laurentic”, she was a White Star liner and sank off Malin Head on the 25th January, 1917.  She had left Liverpool on 23rd January, 1917 bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia with a consignment of gold bullion to the value of £5OOO,OOO as payment for munitions.
At 5.55pm on 25th January, she was struck a mine on the starboard side and twenty seconds later hit another mine on the same side. The crew of 722 officers & men started to abandon ship and fifteen lifeboats cleared the sides, subsequently only seven of these were saved. 354 men were lost in this sinking. The minefield had been laid by U.80 and HMS “Laurentic”  struck two mines moored twenty feet below the surface and sank in 23 fathoms of water.
Six weeks after the sinking, a salvage operation to recover the gold bullion was mounted and in a series of 5,000 dives from the salvage ship, “Racer”, experts retrieved a total of 3,186 gold bars valued at £4,958,708. The cost of the operation was just £128,000.#
# Peter Threlfall. 1998.

[Andrew P]

Many thanks for posting this information about Laurentic & the photo of Fahan Churchyard.
One of the sailors I'm researching died when the ship was sunk and he is commemorated on the memorial at Upper Fahan Churchyard though apparently on the memorial his name is recorded as Sheehy not Sheedy.
Able Seaman Frederick Allan Sheedy had been on HMAS Sydney earlier in the war.

Regards
Andrew

[NigelS]

BBC 1s Lunchtime news today (1st May) had some coverage of the Laurentic with a short length of underwater footage (may well be repeated this evening and possibly on News 24 throughout the day?)
Sounded as if the wreck's owner is selling shares - by his own admission not really as a speculative venture as there is not  that much chance of any return (although there are, apparently, still 20 gold bars unaccounted for, which have yet to be found and  recovered....)

see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7377185.stm for some video.

Nigel

[mabel]

Leading Seaman 218192, William Aicken Laverty (aged 30) died 25.01.1917, HMS Laurentic.   Son of James and Jane Laverty of Connswater, Belfast.

Remembered on Belfast and Plymouth memorials.   RIP

[inishowen]

Many thanks for posting this information about Laurentic & the photo of Fahan Churchyard.
One of the sailors I'm researching died when the ship was sunk and he is commemorated on the memorial at Upper Fahan Churchyard though apparently on the memorial his name is recorded as Sheehy not Sheedy.
Able Seaman Frederick Allan Sheedy had been on HMAS Sydney earlier in the war.

Regards
Andrew

I was aware of this Andrew. The owners of the wreck were not involved in organising our memorial service which needless to say had no commercial or profit motive.

[historydavid]

inishowen,

On 25th January 1917 Armed Merchant Cruiser Laurentic, built 1908, 14,892 grt, hit a mine laid by U 80 off Malin Head, Ireland, Atlantic Ocean, owned by the Orient Line, with the loss of 347 crew. The CWGC lists 23 buried casualties comprising, 1 in Cape Town (Maitland) Cemetery, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, 1 in Cockhill Catholic Cemetery, County Donegal and 21 in Upper Fahan (St Mura's) Church of Ireland Churchyard, County Donegal.

You quoted a figure of 344 casualties in Upper Fahan plus 2 buried elswhere makes a total of 346, but the Admiralty lists 347 casualties for the 25th.

It would appear that one man has fallen thro' the crack.

Best wishes
David

[historydavid]

Andrew, this is the Admiralty record for casualty Sheedy:

SHEEDY, FREDERICK A., A.B., RAN, 2426, H.M. Armed merchant cruiser (hired) LAURENTIC, 25-Jan-17, SHIP LOSS, O/P HMAS SYDNEY.

Best wishes
David

[inishowen]

Many thanks for posting this information about Laurentic & the photo of Fahan Churchyard.
One of the sailors I'm researching died when the ship was sunk and he is commemorated on the memorial at Upper Fahan Churchyard though apparently on the memorial his name is recorded as Sheehy not Sheedy.
Able Seaman Frederick Allan Sheedy had been on HMAS Sydney earlier in the war.

Regards
Andrew

Hi Andrew,
I'm on crutches at the moment (playing football is dangerous for oul fellas like me!) but as soon as I can I'll drop into Fahan and see if I can get you a photo of your mans name.

Fearghal.

[inishowen]

inishowen,

On 25th January 1917 Armed Merchant Cruiser Laurentic, built 1908, 14,892 grt, hit a mine laid by U 80 off Malin Head, Ireland, Atlantic Ocean, owned by the Orient Line, with the loss of 347 crew. The CWGC lists 23 buried casualties comprising, 1 in Cape Town (Maitland) Cemetery, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, 1 in Cockhill Catholic Cemetery, County Donegal and 21 in Upper Fahan (St Mura's) Church of Ireland Churchyard, County Donegal.

You quoted a figure of 344 casualties in Upper Fahan plus 2 buried elswhere makes a total of 346, but the Admiralty lists 347 casualties for the 25th.

It would appear that one man has fallen thro' the crack.

Best wishes
David

Hi David,
I'm astonished by the man in Cape Town - did his body really drift to the other side of the planet?? Fascinating.

Fearghal.

[inishowen]

Here is a link to one of our local newspapers who covered the ceremony. Sorry for the long delay.

www.inishowennews.com/08PhotosJanLaurentic02.htm

[historydavid]

Glad you asked that question because it made me look at the CWGC report again.

The man in SA died on 22-Sep-16, somewhat before the sinking of the LAURENTIC (obviously I need new specs).

That is good because it means the casualty count is correct and no one was overlooked.

Best wishes
David

[fgogos]

I am looking into the sinking of the Laurentic. In part I am trying to confirm a 90 year old hand me down story that seems spot on the money so far. But I need to find out if the list of survivors is available to any one on this forum. In Particular I need to know if any survivors came from Newfoundland. I do know there were 21 Newfoundland deaths as a result. Can any one help me?


Frank

[ulsterlad2]

There is a sailor from HMS Laurentic buried in a cemetery near me in Holywood, Norhern Ireland. Sorry, this image hasn't transfered well. R R Mitchell ..HMS Laurentic .. 25th January 1917.

[per ardua per mare per terram]

Some files at the UK National Archives relating to her:
ADM 116/1553 Loss of H.M.S. LAURENTIC 1917
ADM 116/1740 "Laurentic" - Salvage of bullion 1917-1920

The list of survivors probably appeared in The Times.

[per ardua per mare per terram]

Name: MITCHELL
Initials: R R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Engineer Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Reserve
Unit Text: H.M.S. "Laurentic."
Age: 32
Date of Death: 25/01/1917
Additional information: Son of Mrs. Jane Mitchell, of 3, Church Avenue, Holywood.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 574.
Cemetery: HOLYWOOD CEMETERY

His service record would be in ADM 240 at the UK National Archives, with more possibly in ADM 340.

[per ardua per mare per terram]

Service register:
Name  Laverty, William
Official Number:  218192
Place of Birth:  Belfast, Antrim
Date of Birth:  04 February 1886
Joined 1901
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=1

[andalucia]

Hi All

I am looking for info on a man that died aboard Laurentic.

Fireman James McAdam     http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...asualty=3043891

Trying to find out if he has a link to Liverpool.

Cheers

Ant

[ADRIAN58]

See link for BBC news report on Deck gun recovered and put on display.  

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_irelan...est/8274680.stm

The ten-ton deck gun from the SS Laurentic was raised from the sea last year by a team of divers from Downings in County Donegal.

They have now restored the weapon and put it on show at the local pier.

The gun was one of eight guns on the Laurentic and the second to be recovered from the sea bed.