Minute Silence for Centenary of Lusitania Sinking in World War One

100 years ago the Lusitania sank off the coast of Ireland less than 20 minutes after she was torpedoed by a German submarine – 1,200 people sadly lost their lives.

At the time one of the largest ships in the world, it was sailing to its home port of Liverpool from New York before being sunk.

A minute’s silence will be held at 14:10 BST today – the time of the attack – at a service in Liverpool.

Ian Murphy, from Merseyside Maritime Museum, said; “In 1915, Lusitania was the world’s most famous ship and the jewel in Liverpool’s crown. Her sinking sent shockwaves around the globe and was said to have influenced America’s entry to the war.”

The Reverend Dr Crispin Pailing, rector of Liverpool, said; “A significant number of the crew and passengers had Liverpool connections – there is hardly a street in the Vauxhall area that wasn’t affected.”

Cunard was the owner of the Lusitania and has commissioned a memorial plaque which will be dedicated during a service at Liverpool Parish Church.

Today Cunard posted on their Facebook page, commemorating the tragic event;

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