Annie Lancaster was born at The Manor House, Keelby, Lincolnshire, England, in June 1883, the daughter and fifth child of eight, of William and Eleanor Jane Lancaster (née Fisher). Her family were farmers, and she had four sisters and three brothers. She was baptised in the Parish Church of St. Bartholomew, Keelby, on the 1st July 1883.
In September 1913, she and her younger sister, Dorothy, had gone to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where they were both serving as governesses, and in the spring of 1915, probably because of the war, they decided to return home. Consequently, they booked as second cabin passengers on the Lusitania, which sailed from New York to Liverpool, just after mid-day on the 1st May 1915.
When the ship was sunk six days later, on the afternoon of 7th May 1915, by the German submarine U-20, both she and Dorothy were killed and according to an account published in The Grimsby News of 28th May 1915: -
Mr and Mrs. Lancaster of the Manor, have received trustworthy information respecting the fate of their daughters. It seems that they actually got into a boat, but got out to secure lifebelts and so lost their places.
Neither of their bodies was found and identified afterwards. Annie Lancaster was aged 32 years.
A memorial service was held at St. Bartholomew’s Church at Keelby, for both of the sisters, on the afternoon of Sunday 23rd May 1915. All their relatives and many of the gentry of the neighbourhood were present and the church was packed with other mourners. Oh Rest in the Lord and Mendelssohn's Funeral March were played on the church organ and the hymns Peace, Perfect Peace and Abide With Me were sung by the congregation. A brass plaque in the church still commemorates their loss today. Under a cross, is written the inscription: -
In Loving Memory of
Annie Lancaster,
and
Dorothy Lancaster,
of Keelby Manor,
WHO LOST THEIR LIVES THROUGH
THE SINKING OF THE “LUSITANIA”
7TH MAY 1915.
Both sisters are also commemorated on the parish war memorial in Keelby village itself which states: -
AND OF
ANNIE AND DOROTHY
LANCASTER
OF THE MANOR
WHO LOST THEIR LIVES
THROUGH THE TORPEDOING
OF THE LUSITANIA
7TH MAY 1915
The loss of both sisters affected the family very badly and brought about the early death of their father William. As a result of this double blow, their brother Frank Eustace Lancaster, the youngest member of the family was so outraged and grief stricken that he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery in the summer of 1915, to attempt to avenge the deaths. He, fortunately, survived the war.
Furthermore, as a result of the sinking, at least two other men from the parish joined the colours. One of these, Wilfred Walkley was mentioned in The Hull and Lincolnshire Times in September 1918, along with his younger brother, in an article which stated: -
Pte. Wilf Walkley, Canadian Forces, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Walkley of Keelby, is officially reported killed in action. He had been wounded twice previously. His enlistment was somewhat dramatic. He saw a list of the Lusitania victims included the names of two ladies belonging to his native village and at once volunteered. Mr. and Mrs. Walkley’s second son, Sydney has been missing five months. They have the greatest sympathy of the parishioners in their loss and anxiety respecting Sydney.
Eventually, however, the Walkley family received good news about their son Wilf. Just after his will had been processed and a memorial service had been held for him, news arrived from Germany that he was a prisoner of war and had not been killed in action at all. The news concerning Sydney Walkley was not so positive, however, as it was eventually learned that 30624 Private Sydney Osborne Walkley, of The 4th Battalion, The Grenadier Guards, had been killed in action on 13th April 1918, in Belgium.
On 17th April 1916, administration of Annie Lancaster’s estate was granted jointly at Lincoln, to William Tulloch Lancaster and Angus Humphrey Lancaster both named as farmers - who were two of her brothers. Her effects amounted to £164-10s-3d., (£164.50p.).
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Lincolnshire Baptisms, 1891 Census of England & Wales, 1901 Census of England & Wales, 1911 Census of England & Wales, Canadian Passenger Lists 1865 – 1935, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Hull and Lincolnshire Times, Grimsby News, Scunthorpe Star, Probate Records, PRO BT 100/345, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Roger Lancaster, Mary Leitch, Chris Bailey, David Irving, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.