YESTERDAY marked the 90th anniversary of the Leinster sinking, Ireland’s greatest maritime disaster.
The Leinster was sunk by the German U-boat 123 just outside Dublin Bay on October 10, 1918.
Stricken by three torpedoes, the ship went down in minutes.
Among the 501 dead was my greatuncle George, a sergeant in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
Most of the casualties were soldiers en route for Britain, perhaps ultimately headed for France or Flanders in the last days of the First World War.
Among these troops were six men from Ist (Garrison) Bn Worcestershire Regiment, of whom one was an officer.
Second Lieutenant Thomas Hedworth had been a member of the Territorials and was well-known at Worcester Royal Grammar School where he trained many of the pupils.
On October 10, the 33-year-old Hedworth was going on leave to visit his wife Ada, daughter Doreen and sons Thomas and Selby in Worcester.
The reunion never came about for he was lost, along with three of his men.
Today’s Holyhead ferries pass directly over the Leinster, which lies on a sandy seabed in 90 feet of water.
To be sure, the catastrophe pales in significance when compared with the appalling slaughter of that war.
Yet every October, I spare a thought for those men who died within weeks of peace being declared, a cruel twist of fate that most surely amplifies the tragedy.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here