Merseyside Maritime Museum commemoration
A moving service to mark the 96th anniversary of the sinking of the luxury liner Lusitania by a German submarine with the loss of 1,200 lives is being held this Saturday 7 May 2011.
Rev Steven Brookes, the rector of St Nicholas's Parish Church , Liverpool – known as the seamen's church – conducts the service starting 1330 hours next to the Piermaster's House, Merseyside Maritime Museum . Following the service a wreath is cast into the River Mersey.
Ian Murphy, deputy head of Merseyside Maritime Museum , who is attending the service, says: "Lusitania was Liverpool 's favourite ship and visited the port hundreds of times after her maiden voyage in 1907.
"Many Liverpool people died in the disaster and to lots of people she came to symbolise the city's losses in the First World War. Merseyside Maritime Museum started this annual service some years ago and everyone is welcome to attend.
"It is fitting that those who died are remembered on the waterfront that Lusitania called home."
The sinking of the 31,550-ton Cunarder on 7 May 1915 sent shock waves around the world. Lusitania was torpedoed off the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland , on a calm sunny day and sank in just 18 minutes.
Germany claimed she was a valid target as they had issued a warning that all Allied shipping would be treated as legitimate targets.
The action by the U-20 submarine sparked horror and revulsion, particularly in Liverpool and New York as Lusitania had completed 202 voyages between the two cities.
The dead included 123 Americans and the tragedy is said to have been a major factor in the United States entering the war.
The death toll cut a swathe through all sections of passengers and crew including any celebrities and famous people from both sides of the Atlantic .
The disaster is featured prominently in the Merseyside Maritime Museum 's Titanic, Lusitania and the Forgotten Empress.
Among the many Lusitania items are a cork and canvas lifebuoy, deck chair, cushion from the First Class music room and a model of the liner made by a former crew member. There are souvenirs, letters and personal belongings including a stunning gold pocket watch belonging to Captain William Turner who miraculously survived the sinking.
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