The names of 134 Irish merchant navy and fishing fleet seamen have been added to the official roll of those who died in the Second World War. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), which maintains records of British and Commonwealth deaths from the First and Second World Wars, has officially recognized these deaths as war fatalities.
Recognition Decades Later
The inclusion of these men is due to Ireland’s status as part of the Commonwealth until 1949. Despite Ireland’s official neutrality during the war, Irish merchant ships and fishing vessels were frequently targeted by German warships, submarines, and British mines.
Among the losses, thirty-three men perished when the SS Irish Pine was sunk on November 16th, 1942. The Irish Pine had been purchased by the Irish government in 1941 to ensure the continued supply of vital goods. Eighteen men died when the SS Kyleclare was sunk by a German U-boat on February 21st, 1943, with the U-boat captain claiming he could not identify the ship’s neutrality markings.
Other vessels lost included the MV Cymric, which disappeared on February 24th, 1944, with eleven men aboard while carrying coal from Scotland to Lisbon, and the ST Leukos, an Irish fishing trawler sunk by a German U-boat on March 9th, 1940, off the coast of Donegal, resulting in eleven deaths. Twenty-four men died when the SS Ardmore struck British mines on November 12th, 1940.
The addition of the 134 names to the CWGC roll is the result of nine years of advocacy by the In From the Cold Project (IFCP). Terry Denham, founder of the IFCP, stated, “Persistence pays.” He explained that the oversight stemmed from a failure to recognize Ireland’s Commonwealth status at the time.
Commemoration and Ongoing Efforts
The CWGC has arranged for the Irish Seaman’s Memorial in Dublin to serve as the official commemoration location for these casualties, and their names will be maintained indefinitely by the commission. To date, the IFCP has secured commemoration for 8,451 previously forgotten casualties, locating the graves of approximately half of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were these Irish seamen not previously recognized?
Terry Denham, founder of the IFCP, stated that it “simply seems as if everyone at the time overlooked the fact that Ireland, despite its neutral status in the war, was still a member of the Commonwealth until 1949 and so these men properly qualified for CWGC commemoration.”
What is the role of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission?
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records all British and Commonwealth deaths in the first and second World Wars and maintains the graves and places of commemoration for those who died.
What happened to the SS Irish Pine?
The SS Irish Pine was sunk by a German U-boat on November 16th, 1942, despite being clearly marked as a neutral ship. Thirty-three men were lost in the incident.
Considering the long-delayed recognition of these sailors, what does it mean to ensure that all contributions to wartime efforts, regardless of a nation’s official stance, are appropriately remembered?
