Battle or Action:


RMS Lusitania, Sinking of


  Detail :

 The Royal Navy had blockaded Germany at the start of World War I. Having completed her voyage to New York on 24 April, the Lusitania left the Cunard berth at Pier 54 just after midday on 1 May 1915 on the return voyage to Liverpool. When RMS Lusitania left New York for Britain, German submarine warfare was intensifying in the Atlantic. Germany had declared the seas around the United Kingdom a war zone, and the German embassy in the United States had placed a newspaper advertisement warning people of the dangers of sailing on Lusitania.

Six days later, on the afternoon of 7 May the German U-boat U-20, captained by Kapitaenleutnant Walther Schwieger torpedoed Lusitania, 11 mi (18 km) off the southern coast of Ireland and inside the declared war zone. A second, unexplained, internal explosion sent her to the seabed in 18 minutes, with the deaths of 1,198 passengers, including almost a hundred children, and crew.

Because the Germans sank, without warning, what was officially a non-military ship, many accused them of breaching the internationally recognised Cruiser Rules. It was no longer possible for submarines to give warning due to the British introduction of Q-ships in 1915 with concealed deck guns. (Lusitania had been fitted with 6-inch gun mounts in 1913, although she was unarmed at the time of her sinking.) [Wikipedia]

 Rank Initials Surname Died Lodge
 Pr. F. DAVIES 07-05-1915 Moore Keys No. 2519
 Civ. R. GOULD 07-05-1915 Kirkdale No. 1756
 Stwd. D.C. HANDLIN 07-05-1915 Kirkdale No. 1756
 Surg. J.F. McDERMOTT 07-05-1915 Abercromby No. 3699
Lodge of Israel No. 1502
 Civ. C.E. PAYNTER 07-05-1915 Lathom No. 2229
Lodge of Perseverance No. 155
St George's Lodge of Harmony No. 32
Sylvanus No. 3670
 Ch.Stwd. A.H. FORD 07-05-1915 Bootle No. 1473
 Stwd. H. ROSS 07-05-1915 Kirkdale No. 1756
 Stwd. W.S. RUFFELS 07-05-1915 Toxteth No. 1356
 Wtr. W.D. RYLANDS 07-05-1915 Toxteth No. 1356
 2nd Offr. P. HEFFORD 07-05-1915 Ancient Union and Princes No. 203
Lodge of Rectitude No. 502
 Stwd. T.J. HOUGHTON 07-05-1915 Ancient Union and Princes No. 203
 Stwd. J.S. PENKEYMAN 07-05-1915 Ancient Union and Princes No. 203
 Stwd. W.E. WOOD 07-05-1915 Ancient Union and Princes No. 203
 Stwd. J. MILLS 07-05-1915 Mariners' No. 249
 Wtr. O.G. JAMES 07-05-1915 Antient Briton No. 1675
Marlborough No. 1620
 Stwd. D. CRITCHLEY 07-05-1915 Antient Briton No. 1675

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