The Scottish War Graves Project

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

On the 10/10/1918 the Royal Mail Ship Leinster enroute from Dublin to Holyhead was torpedoed and sunk. It was thought that only two bodies were washed ashore in southwest Scotland - one at Portpatrick and one at Kirkbean - but I've now identified nine CWGs along the Solway Coast.
Has anyone spotted a CWG with this date and with no obvious connection to the local area on the Ayrshire coast?

Kenneth

LST_164 · Joined: 13 Feb 2009 Posts: 10 Location: Northeast Wales

Kenneth,
not a direct answer to your query but the sinking of the Leinster is covered in great detail in Philip Lecane's book:

Torpedoed! The R.M.S.Leinster Disaster (Periscope Publishing Ltd., Penzance, 2005) ISBN-1-904381-29-4

note this is a paperback republication of an earlier volume.

He lists all the passengers & crew and their fates, but alas doesn't complete the record by stating where known (or unknown) bodies are buried!

As regards CWGC burials, perhaps someone who holds the original Imperial War Graves Commission printed Registers covering the relevant areas of Scottish coastline could check them for Services and Mercantile Marine crew casualties for 10 October 1918?

Clive

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

Thanks Clive.
Since my original posting I discovered Phillip's book and have spoken to him a couple of times.
There was not apparently a definitive passenger list and the true cost in lives may never be known.
I've managed to identify 11 casualities so far (Philip only knew of 2) with another probable and a couple of posibles but I'm reliant on finding newspaper reports of the time. Only about half were entered in the Death Registers of the various parishes.
The nice bit is that I was contacted recently by the great-grandson of one of my "finds" who knew a little of his ancester's death but not the circumstances and was delighted to be able to find his grave.
Anyway thanks again.
Kenneth