Bridget Gately, always known as ‘Delia’, was born on the 23rd April 1879, in Dysart, County Roscommon, Ireland, the eldest daughter, and one of fourteen children, of William and Bridget Gately (née Mulligan). The family later moved to the nearby townland of Carrownadurly where they engaged in farming.
On the 26th April 1899, she boarded the Cephalonia in Queenstown, and disembarked in Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States of America on the 7th May. Her destination was the home of her sister, Margaret, who resided in Roxbury, a suburb of Boston.
She quickly found employment as a domestic servant for the Stephan family, who resided at 104. Brook Avenue, Boston, before moving onto New York City a few years later, where she again found work as a domestic servant – this time for the Eggleston family in Manhattan.
She married John F. Lambert, a stable man, in 1907, and the family home was at 184. East 38th Street in the Manhattan area of New York City. In July 1908, the couple had a daughter, Margaret Mary, followed in February 1910, by a son named William Patrick. Unfortunately, in March 1910, baby Margaret died.
In the spring of 1915, Delia Lambert decided to return home to Britain, probably for a holiday, and consequently booked third class passage for herself and young William on the May sailing of the Lusitania from New York to Liverpool. Their ticket number was 1681. Her brother, John Gately, who had followed her to the United States of America in 1906, and who was at that time living with Delia and her family, decided to accompany them.
Having arrived at the Cunard berth at Pier 54 in New York harbour on 1st May 1915, in time to board the liner for her scheduled 10.00 a.m. departure, they had to wait until the early afternoon for what would have been their last glimpse of their adopted city. The delay was caused because the liner had to take on board passengers, crew and cargo from the recently requisitioned Anchor Liner Cameronia, which the British Admiralty had taken from trade as a troop ship.
Six days later, on the afternoon of 7th May 1915, the Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20 off The Old Head of Kinsale in southern Ireland and only a few hours away from her ultimate destination.
Both Delia Lambert and her son were killed as a result of this action; however, John Gately did manage to survive.
On 21st May 1915, a letter was received at the Cunard office in Queenstown describing both of the missing family members, probably instigated by John Lambert. The description of Delia Lambert stated: -
Height 5 ft 2 in dark hair, brown eyes. Gold watch with initials D.G. Twenty pounds in gold 1 pound pieces sewed into abdominal belt in linen bag with black thread. Age 31 years. Possibly wore a black dress trimmed with black lace.
A photograph of Delia and William Lambert was also enclosed with the letter, but despite this, none of the recovered bodies matched the photograph or the description, and as a result, Delia Lambert has no known grave. Even though, her husband stated that she was aged 31 years at the time of her death, she was actually aged 36 years.
Delia’s husband, John Lambert, had been born in Ontario, Canada, and although residing and working as a labourer in the United States of America, he lodged a claim for compensation with the Canadian Commission seeking compensation for the loss of the money and personal possessions his wife had on the voyage, and also for the loss of her life. In August 1926, the Commission awarded him $500 for the loss of the money she had in her possession, $250 for the loss of her personal belongings, and $3,000 in compensation for the loss of her life. He had not submitted any claim in respect of the loss of his son.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, New York Extracted Birth Index 1878 – 1909, 1900 U.S. Federal Census, 1905 New York State Census, 1910 U.S. Federal Census, UK Outward Passenger Lists 1890 – 1960, Massachusetts Passenger Lists 1820 – 1963, Cunard Records, Canadian Claims Case No. 824, Freeman’s Journal, PRO BT 100/345, UniLiv D92/2/99, Deaths at Sea 1871 - 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Stuart Williamson, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.