RMS Lusitania - Swansea connections

RMS Lusitania

May 2024 will mark the 109th anniversary of the sinking of RMS Lusitania. 

RMS Mauretania
Launched by the Cunard Line during 1906, Lusitania was the largest ship until the completion of Mauretania three months later.  Lusitania was awarded the Blue Riband during 1908 for the fastest Atlantic crossing, after her second voyage when Lusitania arrived at Sandy Hook, after being at sea for 4 days, 19 hours and 53 minutes.

Captain
William Thomas Turner
1915, 7th May whilst on her 202nd voyage trans-Atlantic crossing from New York to Liverpool, captained by William Thomas Turner was sunk after the German U-boat U-20 commanded by Walther Schwieger fired a torpedo 11 miles off the Old Head of Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland.    Abroad were 1,962 passengers and 696 crew. 

The Cambrian Daily Leader
8th May 1915
The torpedo hit the Lusitania on the starboard bow, and moments later a second explosion erupted within the Lusitania’s hull where the torpedo had struck.

Almost immediately lifeboats were launched, however, this was difficult due to conditions of the sinking. Out of the 48 lifeboats only six were launched successfully.  Severely were overturned and broke apart. 1,199 lives were lost in the sinking, with only 764 having been survived.

8th May, the Cambrian Daily Leader, produced a photograph of the Lusitania on courtesy of Messrs T. W. R. Mason and Co., Swansea, local agents for Cunard Company. 

The Cambrian Daily Leader
8th May 1915

The Cambrian Daily Leader
8th May 1915
The Cambrian Daily Leader
12th May 1915
In the same edition, there is an article 7 Swansea People – Four Children Among the Party. 11th May, the Cambrian Daily Leader, reported in an article Lusitania Death Roll: 1134.  On the 12th, the Cambrian Daily Leader reported Brave Fforestfach Vocalist – Mr. David John Hopkin, who lost his live in the sinking.  Also lost in the sinking were two crew members from Swansea, Richard Gaul, greaser and James Osborne, fireman both of whom served with the Mercantile Marine and are commentated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

So, let’s look at the two families.

Alfred Smith, who was travelling with his wife, Elizabeth and daughter Helen and son Hubert along with his sister, Cecelia Owens and nephews Ronald and Reginald Owens onboard the Lusitania.

Alfred Smith was born 1881 and Elizabeth Jones was born 1881.

The couple were married in Swansea and their daughter Elizabeth was born October 1908.  The following September the couple moved to United States, where they moved in with Alfred’s brother, Arthur Smith on Oliver Street, New York.  From there the family moved to Ellwood City, nr. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  The family lived at Ellwood Ward 2, Lawrence, Pennsylvania, USA at the time of the 1910 USA Census.  It is here that Alfred found employed as an electrician.  Late 1914, the couple were to have a second child, Hubert. Also settling in Ellwood City, were Alfred’s sister Cecelia and husband Hubert Owens and two sons, Ronald and Reginald.

1910 USA Census
Ellwood Ward 2, Lawrence, Pennsylvania, USA

By 1915, Elizabeth had become disillusioned with the American life, that they decided to move back to Swansea. The family would sail on the Lusitania also joining them would Cecelia and the two boys.  Hubert would remain in the USA, where the Cecelia would return.

After lunch on the 7th May whilst on board the Lusitania the Smith family returned to their cabin, where they changed Helen into her travelling clothes.  Whilst there they started to pack, Helen had left the cabin with Ronald and Reginald to play out on deck. Baby Hubert was being cared by his aunt, Cecelia in her cabin.

After the torpedo stuck at 2 that afternoon, Alfred and Elizabeth met up with Cecelia who had given Hubert back to them. The parents parted company and they went in search of the children.

Helen Smith with Ernest Cowper
New York Times
30th May 1915
Meanwhile, Ernest Cowper, a Toronto newspaperman had seen Helen on her own on deck and taken her to safety in lifeboat 13. 

Lifeboat 13 had been launched on the starboard side by First Officer Arthur Rowland Jones and Senior Third Officer John Idwal Jones, with about 70 occupants. The boat was picked up the government boat Stormock.

Ernest Cowper who wrote for Jack Canuk, was travelling with his publisher, Richard Rogers.  Both men were on their way to Europe to become war correspondents.  Richard lost his life in the sinking.

"Young Survivor of Lusitania
Who Lost Father, Mother, Sister[?],
Brother In Disaster
Underwood & Underwood 
US National Archives
24th May 1915 
After rescuing Helen and arriving at Queenstown, Ernest who became Helen’s de facto guardian searched for Helen’s parents.  They were both unaware that both Alfred and Elizabeth had been lost in the sinking.  Ernest and Helen continued to keep in touch during the 1920’s, Ernest later moved to Vancouver, Canada.  Whilst visiting Washington, January 1939, Ernest died of a heart condition.

Helen now an orphan after the sinking.  Following the sinking Helen returned to Swansea where she raised by her mother’s family.  Helen worked in a shoe store, where she met John Henry Thomas, whom she married during 1931.  They were to have a child, Elizabeth named after her own mother.  Helen died 1993.

David John Hopkin
The Cambrian Daily Leader
12th May 1915
David John Hopkin/Hopkins, who was a member of the Newport Glee choir.  1912, the choir went on tour to America, where they were hailed “The World’s Greatest Singers”, and their shows were promoted as must-see events for communities from Salt Lake City to Texas.  They were choir were invited to perform at the first unveiling of a Christmas Tree, at Madison Square, 1912.  They went on to win at the National Eisteddfod the following year, and later that year, performed for King George V at Buckingham Palace.

Seven members of choir, in David John, were travelling back to the UK on Lusitania, where David John, baritone Isaac “Ike” Talbot Jones and conductor George F. Davies lost their lives. 

Richard Gaul
Tower Hill Memorial
London
credit - findagrave
Richard Gaul was the son of James and Sarah Gaul. At the time of the 1891 Census, Richard, is living at the family home, 7 Scyborfach Street. Richard, 11 place of birth of birth is described as Bridgewater, Wexford Ireland.  By the time of the 1911 Census, Richard, 33, now head of the family is living at 8 Wilkin Street, Kirkdale, Liverpool.  His occupation is listed a Marine Fireman.  His place of birth is described as Swansea.  He was married to Bridget nee Kehoe and had 3 children, John, Jenny and Sarah.

James Osborne
Tower Hill Memorial
London
credit - findagrave
James Osborne was the son of James and Catherine Osborne.  James had married Annie nee McKibbon, at the time of the sinking, was living at Liverpool.  James isn't present at the present of the 1911 Census, as he was working away at sea

The Cambrian Daily Leader
8th May 1915
Let’s look further to the Cambrian Daily Leader article 7 Swansea People – Four Children Among the Party. In which it refers to Alfred’s father as being Captain Smith, of Bryn Street.  For many years, he was the skipper of paddle steamer Lynx owned by Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.




Lynx a paddle steamer was built during 1853, by William Denny & Bros., Dumbarton.  It was acquired during 1859, by C. R. M. Talbot, it was during this year that the South Docks were opened.  Lynx remained in the Talbot family until 1887, when it was consigned to the breakers yard.

Lynx 
with credit - Retired Section Swansea Docks

With thanks to Retired Section Swansea Docks, they have transcribed the Particulars of Engagement and printed the listed the names of the crew.  Captain W. F. Smith is top of the list.  It is also interesting to see 13 names of crew that came from Mumbles, including Samuel Gammon and David McNamara.

Particulars of Engagement
with credit - Retired Section Swansea Docks

Particulars of Engagement
with credit - Retired Section Swansea Docks

C. R. M. Talbot along with other family members attended the grand opening of the Suez Canal, 1869 onboard the Lynx.

The South Wales Daily News
31st May 1880
Ferdinand de Lessps














The Suez Canal, 120.1 miles long from Port Said, Egypt to Suez Port, Egypt, was constructed from 1859, after Ferdinand de Lessps, obtained a concession from Sa’id Pasha, the Khedive of Egypt and Sudan to create a company to construct a canal to all ships of all nations. Construction lasted from 1859 to 1869.  Ferdinand de Lessps visited Swansea, during 1880, to raise funds for the construction of the Panama Canal.  The South Wales Daily News reported de Lessps on 31st May 1880. 


Now everyone likes a little mystery.

In the Family Notices published in the Cambria Daily Leader, on the 15th May there is a death notice for the death of Francis William Lancaster, who was lost in the sinking of the Lusitania.  So, who was Francis William Lancaster?

The Cambrian Daily Leader
15th May 1915
Francis William Lancaster
Old Church Cemetery, Cobh, Ireland

According to the Lusitania Resource, Francis William Lancaster, 48, was a British national from Toronto.  Francis’ body was revered from the sinking, and he was buried at the Old Church Cemetery, Cobh, Ireland.

There is no clear connection to Swansea.  Looking back to the 1871 Census, Francis, aged 4, is living at Hackney St. John, London.  He is the youngest son of William Locke Lancaster and Ann E. Lancaster.  There are various records of Francis travelling back and forth the Atlantic and other countries. 

1871 Census
Hackney St. John, London

Let’s look at Francis’s older brother, Ernest Lancaster.

By the time of the 1911 Census, Ernest, 49, is a Physician and he is living at Winchester House, Swansea. 

1911 Census
Winchester House, Swansea


Ernest had studied at St. George’s Medical School, 1883; house physician, 1888; obstetric assistant, 1881; demonstrator of physiology, 1886 and demonstrator of anatomy 1889-1890.

Swansea General and Eye Hospital
Moved to Swansea during 1898, where Ernest was a Pathologist and anaesthist at Swansea General and Eye Hospital, Senior Physician, Consultant Physician at Port Talbot General Hospital, Swansea and the Institution for the Blind.  Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine.  Served during the First World War, with RAMC ranked as Lieutenant Colonel at the 3rd Western General Hospital.

So, was it Ernest who put the notice in the Cambria Daily Leader?

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