Waterford marine tragedy honoured
Over fifty people, including descendants of the victims, took part in the history walk.
On Sunday morning, December 15, over fifty people braved the crisp winter chill to help a good cause and learn about a major historical event.
Local historians Andrew Doherty (the man behind the Tides and Tales) and Cian Manning guided the group through Waterford City and told the story of the SS Formby and SS Coningbeg, sister merchant ships that were torpedoed by German U-boats during World War 1.
On December 15, 1917, the SS Formby was making her voyage from Liverpool to Waterford. The ship was attacked off the coast of Wales and sank within minutes. Only days later, the SS Coningbeg suffered the same fate.
According to Tides and Tales: "The Formby was due into Waterford the following morning, but when she did not arrive there was only a minor concern.
"As the fears grew it was decided to send word to Liverpool to halt the sailing on the Coningbeg. No telegrams could be sent, however, as all the lines were down following the storm."
Of the 83 people killed, 67 of them were from Waterford.
The group congregated on Keyser Street, to hear about the history of the Clyde Shipping Company Office in Waterford.
The building, today an opticians, was an integral part of Waterford commerce in the 20th century.
The rise of steam power made Waterford a thriving port city.
According to Tides and Tales: "The ships ran a twice-weekly service carrying passengers, livestock, foodstuff, and general cargo from Waterford and returning with passengers and general cargo from Liverpool. The trip was 16 hours one way and both ships had a reputation for strict timekeeping."
At Barronstrand Street, Cian spoke about the people on board the ships; 37 crew and two passengers on the Formby and 40 crew and four passengers on the Coningbeg. One passenger had a teddy bear among his possessions.
Cian said to the tour: "On the Formby , we would have had Tom Coffey, a man who was 28 years of age from Poleberry and a lovely little vignette on him is that he had brought a teddy bear for his son prior to Christmas."
Captain Joseph Lumley died on the SS Coningbeg, tragically unaware that his son William, an engineer, had died on the SS Formby two days earlier.
According to Cian, another father and son lost their lives in the tragedy. He said: "To compound the tragedy even more, you had two Hennebry's from Slieverue. One was a Donkeyman, the other was a fireman and they were father and son as well, on the one ship.
Cian added: "Seán Dunne wrote a lovely piece about the two ships to commemorate the 75th anniversary and he said that these were ordinary people whose ordinary lives were interrupted by the great tragedy and devastation of war."
It took weeks for the news about the tragedy to be confirmed officially. Families waited on the Quays for ships that never arrived, their beloved lost somewhere in the Irish Sea.
Looking out onto the Suir, as Andrew and Cian spoke, it was hard not to feel sorrow for the people who stood in the same spot, 107 years ago, looking at the same water.
A special fund was created to help the bereaved families of the tragedy. According to Tides and Tales: "A special appeal fund was created to fundraise and provide for the seamen’s families until such time as they could qualify for the Board of Trade War Loss Pension (1920 in some cases). The appeal fund was still in use in 1927."
Museum Curator Donnchadh Ó Ceallacháin and Head Curator at Waterford Treasures Clíona Purcell were present at the walk and revealed a remarkable artefact: a gold Formby ship sign.
Speaking on the significance of the event, Clíona said: "One of our great hopes for the museum is that we celebrate that maritime history a little more."
Donnchadh said: "I think it's significant that we have this here today, especially in the context of out next stop, the memorial, a connection to those who lost their life; the fathers, sons, brothers. A father and son did lose their life; one from the Formby, one from the Coningbeg."
The walk ended at the memorial pillars commemorating the tragedy. Descendants of the victims stood together with the Formby sign, a poignant tribute to the lost.
