| Author |
Message |
    
Matt Endacott
Member
Username: m_endacott
Post Number: 127
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 - 9:53 am: | 
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Hey,
Im just curious, does anyone know if there were any Australian passengers onboard the Lusitania during the last voyage? As i am aware there is no accurate passenger list available and i'm just inquiring incase perhaps a survivor may have been buried down here, or if there are any Australian victims buried in Ireland.
Best Regards,
Matt
The Titanic isn't gone; it's closer to us more than ever!
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Michael Poirier
Member
Username: mike_poirier
Post Number: 61
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 - 11:58 am: |
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Hello Matt;
There were several Australian passengers on board. If you go to www.rmslusitania.info
and look at the 1st class list Lassetter and Learoyd, you will see what they had to say about the disaster. The Hook family eventually moved to Australia and died there. I believe they own Hook plastics. And there others, but it's too early in the morning for me!
Mike
" God will get you for that Walter! "
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Peter Kelly
Member
Username: pgk1
Post Number: 19
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 - 2:01 pm: |
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Hi Matt,
The remains of Charles Alfred Learoyd, who was a victim, certainly not a survivor, were recovered and buried on Valentia Island, Co. Kerry. There is a very nice headstone on his grave, which is in very good condition. I have a photograph of it somewhere.
Regards
Peter |
Ben Holme
Member
Username: benedict
Post Number: 634
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 - 3:47 pm: |
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Hi Matt and all,
Having conducted a bit of google sleuthing, here's the gravestone of Charles Alfred Learoyd as mentioned by Peter:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~irlker/kylemore/learoydchar.jpg
Learoyd was a wool buyer for the company of Learoyd and Boggio, based in Sydney.
Best Regards,
Ben |
Peter Kelly
Member
Username: pgk1
Post Number: 20
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 - 10:22 pm: |
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Hi Ben,
My photo is much clearer and is from the front, not at an angle. I took it in 2003. I think it is too big to post here as I have had trouble trying to post photos before so I must learn how to reduce it in size first.
Regards
Peter |
Matt Endacott
Member
Username: m_endacott
Post Number: 128
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 9, 2005 - 8:16 am: |
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Thanks heaps, i didn't know there was so much info on Australian passengers.
After doing some more researching i found Elizabeth Lassetter (Antill) was born in Picton, N.S.W and was one of 9 children born to John & Jesse Antill. She married Lassetter in 1891 and bore their only child the following year, Frederic. Following the disaster it appears they settled within the inner-city suburbs of Sydney from Birth, Death and Marriage records. Harry died in 1926 followed by his wife the following year in Picton (perhaps moving to be with family?) Any more information regarding this family would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks for the link Michael!
Best Regards,
Matt
The Titanic isn't gone; it's closer to us more than ever!
|
Michael Poirier
Member
Username: mike_poirier
Post Number: 62
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 9, 2005 - 3:17 pm: |
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Dear Matt
Glad to help. Fred Lassetter, according to my friend Paul Latimer, died
1940 February 24th Lassetter, Mr. Frederic Macquarie ( I ) 47 Whitchurch, England
He left a widow, Nancy, and children. The family believes he died young due to fuel oil he may have ingested in the water.
" God will get you for that Walter! "
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Matt Endacott
Member
Username: m_endacott
Post Number: 130
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 10:52 pm: |
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Hey Michael,
So did Fred Lassetter die in England? That would explain a lot since he's not recorded as having been married or died within Australia. Would it be possible his children are still living in England, or maybe even his wife?
Best Regards,
Matt.
The Titanic isn't gone; it's closer to us more than ever!
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Michael Poirier
Member
Username: mike_poirier
Post Number: 63
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 11:43 pm: |
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Hi Matt
Yes, Whitchurch is in England. The 2nd generation are still living and are spread out all over. His wife is long dead though.
Mike
" God will get you for that Walter! "
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Matt Endacott
Member
Username: m_endacott
Post Number: 132
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 9:41 am: |
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I'm curious, did the Lusitania ever visit Australia or was it planned to? I seem to have this memory i found somewhere that one of the big ships visited Sydney, but whether it was the Lusitania i'm not sure.
Thanks,
Matt.
The Titanic isn't gone; it's closer to us more than ever!
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Michael Poirier
Member
Username: mike_poirier
Post Number: 64
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 12:43 pm: |
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No, the Lusy would have never visited there.
There were two other ships by the name of Lusitania, both of which sunk. They were smaller and may have come to Australia. Perhaps one of the big ships in war time may have visited as a converted cruiser some such thing, but not on the passenger route
" God will get you for that Walter! "
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Matt Endacott
Member
Username: m_endacott
Post Number: 134
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 6:47 am: |
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hey,
thanks for clearing that up. I did a check last night and it was the Queen Mary that visited Sydney during WW2. Could the Mauritania or Olympic perhaps visited? Or was Australia not on any of the White Star or Cunard destinations?
Thanks,
Matt.
The Titanic isn't gone; it's closer to us more than ever!
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Peter Kelly
Member
Username: pgk1
Post Number: 21
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 10:29 pm: |
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Hi all,
Here is my photo of Charles Learoyd's grave.
Peter
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Michael Poirier
Member
Username: mike_poirier
Post Number: 78
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 18, 2005 - 2:03 am: |
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Dear Peter-
What a great picture! Thank you for sharing it with us. By the way, what does the 'G' stand for?
Your chum
Mike
" God will get you for that Walter! "
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Ben Holme
Member
Username: benedict
Post Number: 637
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 18, 2005 - 12:10 pm: |
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Excellent photo, Peter!
I imagine the late recovery of the body necessitated a hasty burial in a local cemetery.
Thanks for sharing.
Ben |
Peter Kelly
Member
Username: pgk1
Post Number: 23
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 18, 2005 - 3:45 pm: |
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Hi Mike & Ben,
This is one of the best of the surviving headstones on the graves of Lusitania victims buried in Ireland. In fact, many graves are now lost as the markers deteriorated. I presume many of them were made of wood, which has long since rotted away.
A number of things are obvious in this case. Firstly, Charles' widow, or other family members, went to great expense to have a good quality headstone erected over his grave. Secondly, the craftsman who made the headstone was a master of his trade for it to survive in such good condition to this day, and finally, the local people, especially the caretaker of the cemetery, and his brother, who recently repaired the headstone, at their own expense, when the cross fell off the base. I will post another photo shortly of the entire headstone, showing the cross.
In my opinion, this headstone is second only to the one erected over the graves of George & Inez Vernon in Queenstown, which is a beautiful cross.
I do not have any documentation to hand which describes the condition of Charles Learoyd's body when recovered, but as he was buried on 22nd July, I do not imagine he was in the best of shape.
Regards,
Peter Gerard Kelly.
Does this answer your question, Mike? |
Michael Poirier
Member
Username: mike_poirier
Post Number: 80
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 18, 2005 - 3:49 pm: |
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Yes Peter
It does answer my question. I'll email mine off
board. What interests me is the depth of research you've done on the quality of the grave stones. It is fascinating to me. It's a shame
Alfred Witherbee, jr.'s is in need of a cleaning
Mike
" God will get you for that Walter! "
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Peter Kelly
Member
Username: pgk1
Post Number: 24
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 18, 2005 - 6:28 pm: |
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Hi Mike,
I look forward, as always, to hearing from you.
As this is a thread for Australian Connections, I do not feel it is right to clog it up with other material so I might start a thread showing the grave stones I do have, and discussing the ones that have disappeared, provided there is an interest.
Regards,
Peter |
