SS Connemara - Holyhead Crew Members Lost
SS Connemara was a 1,106-ton steam passenger/cargo ship built in 1897 by William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton, Scotland for London & North Western Railway Company. On 3 November 1916 she sank in a severe gale following a collision with a 496 ton Collier, SS Retriever, which was also lost. The tragedy happened off Carlingford Bar, while voyaging from Greenore to Holyhead with passengers, general cargo and cattle. The Connemara sank quickly and all 31 crew and 51 passengers aboard the Connemara were lost. Of the 9 crew members of the Retriever, only one survived - James Boyle, Seaman of Summerhill, Warrenpoint, Co. Down.Although the loss was not attributed to enemy action the town felt deeply enough for the local crew's names to be included on the Town War Memorial.
The builder's model of the SS Connemara is available for viewing at the Holyhead Maritime Museum
Edward Cartwright, Coal Trimmer
Stanislaus M J Cooke, Steward
George Herbert Doeg, Commander
David Charles James Evans, Steward
Robert Evans, Quartermaster
William Francis Hambley, Steward (Galley Boy)
Michael Flaherty, Able Seaman
John Hughes, Luggage Guard
Joseph Hughes, Quartermaster
William Evan Hughes, 3rd Engineer
Hugh Jones, Chief Engineer
John Robert Jones, Able Seaman
William Jones, Greaser
William Humphrey Jones, Deck Boy
George Owen, 2nd Engineer
George Stephen Owen, Quartermaster
Richard Owen, Fireman
William Owen, Cook
George Roberts, Leading Stoker
Owen Smith, Carpenter
John Williams, Seaman
Margaret Williams, Stewardess
Owen Thomas Williams, Fireman
Richard Williams, Fireman
William Prys Williams, Chief Officer
Isaac Woodall, Fireman