RMS Leinster – List of survivors of the crew from Holyhead.

The following seamen from Holyhead are known to have survived the sinking of RMS Leinster.

William Griffiths, Under Steward (Cabin Boy), b. Holyhead, age 17.

Robert Jones, Fireman, b. Holyhead, age 43.

William Thomas Jones, 5th/4th Engineer, b. Holyhead, age 37. Lived at Morton Road.

Robert James Lewis, Second Cook, b. Holyhead, age 29.

Robert William Michael, 2nd/3rd Engineer (Cert. 35270), b. Holyhead, age 45. Died 19/8/1935 at Riversdale, Four-Mile-Bridge, Anglesey. Brother of Phillip Thomas George Michael, lost on RMS Leinster.

Hugh Owen, Seaman, b. Holyhead, lived at 4 Wesley Terrace, Holyhead, age 31. He was on the bridge with Captain Birch and saw the first torpedo arrive. Died in 1979 at Garreglwyd Home, Holyhead, aged 92.

William Pritchard, Fireman, b.Holyhead, age 42.

William R Thomas, Under Steward, b. Holyhead, age 16.

Hugh Williams, Seaman, b.Holyhead, age 33.

John Williams, 3rd Steward, b. Holyhead, age 29.

Evan Rowlands, RNR, Gunner, b. Newborough, lived at 13 Well Street, Holyhead, age 49. Died in 1939 at Holyhead.

Elias Richard Williams, Seaman, b. Caernarfon, lived at Baptist Street and Summer Hill, Holyhead, age 24. Died in 1940 at Holyhead.

Information largely from ‘Torpedoed’ by Philip Lecane.

Do you recognise any of the names above? Are you related? If so, we would be interested to hear from you.

 

Louisa was born at Holyhead in 1896. She left Park School at 15 to train as a nurse before joining the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company as a Stewardess in 1914. Two of her sisters were similarly employed at the company. She lived with her family at 5 Fair View, Holyhead. One of nine children, she was 22 when she lost her life and was much missed by her family. In the photo she is standing at the left side of the family group.

Family information tells us that she was not scheduled to work that day but sailed in place of one of her sisters who was ill. It is further believed that Louisa Parry went to a lower deck to help passengers but became trapped in a cabin with another woman and a child; crew members were unable to open the door due to the angle of the ship and the pressure of the water against it.

The Memorial Plaque bearing her name was one of 1.3 million issued by the British Government to the next-of-kin of those lost as a result of the war. Made from bronze and measuring 5″ in diameter, it is sometime known as the ‘Widow’s or Death Penny’.

With thanks to Simon McClean for permission to publish the above photographs concerning his great-aunt, Louisa Parry.

This Blog has been set up by the RMS Leinster Centenary Commemoration Group (Holyhead) to tell the story of the tragic loss of RMS Leinster on 10 October 1918.

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The image is of a painting of RMS Leinster completed in 1900 and available to view at Holyhead Maritime Museum.