Файл:Sinking of SS Lusitania (1915) - Letter regarding sinking of ship (17139350249).jpg

On 7 May 1915, the SS Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk off the South West of Ireland by the German submarine, U20. There were 1,959 passengers and crew aboard and 1,195 of them lost their lives. The ship sank 18 minutes after it was hit. Among the passengers were two New Zealanders, Joseph Cochrane Macky and Mary Birrell Macky, who were travelling to England via New York to visit their daughter and her husband: Isabella and William Jellie, who lived in Southport, near Liverpool. Joseph Macky had served as Mayor of Devonport from 1896 to 1900.

The image here is a typed copy of a letter from William Jellie to his brother-in-law Thomas Hugh Macky, Joseph’s eldest son. This letter is included in the probate file for Joseph Macky. William had visited Ada Manby, a survivor of the disaster, who had been with the couple just before the ship sank. William’s letter recounts Ada’s “three pictures” of his parents-in-law. Firstly in the ship’s dining room at the moment of impact, as people rushed to the boat deck. Then on the boat deck, with the ship listing badly, “Some men tried to launch the boats that were slung out, and among them was Father”. There were no lifebelts on deck, and no time to go to cabins for them. Finally “There are other things I was told about general unpreparedness and so forth, heroism of passengers, stewards and stewardesses. But none of it helps us to picture our own. The picture, however, is complete - - - - Father helping others onto the boats to the last, and Mother refusing to follow the other ladies - - - - because she chose to die with Father.”

The probate file includes an affidavit of Percy Draper, 2nd Purser of the SS Lusitania, who affirmed that Mr and Mrs J Macky of New Zealand were on the list of passengers, but not on the list of passengers who were saved - “I therefore verily believe that both of them were drowned.” There is also a typed copy of a letter from Joseph, dated 29 April, but not finished until the morning of embarkation. At the end of this letter Joseph wrote “There is a warning from the German Govt., just published here this morning, not to travel across the Atlantic, but we think we are safe in this good and fast ship. Anyway, we are in God’s hands, and are content to leave with him, our going out, and our coming in.”

With thanks to Family Search volunteer Frank Brunson for bringing this to our attention.

Image from probate file for Joseph Cochrane Macky BBAE 1569/10192 held at Auckland Regional Office

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