George Scott was born in Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland, on the 23rd July 1887, the son of George Walter and Isabella Scott (née Murphy). He was one of three children, and at the time of his birth, his father was described as a merchant. While he was still a child, the family moved to Clontarf, a suburb to the north of Dublin City, and his father became a building contractor.
Around 1913, George had moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where he worked as a clerk, and in the spring of 1915, he decided to return to Ireland for a holiday.
As a result, he booked second cabin passage on the May sailing of the Lusitania from New York to Liverpool and having left Ontario some time in April, he arrived at the Cunard berth at Pier 54 on the west side of New York, on the morning of 1st May 1915, in time for the liner’s scheduled 10. o’clock departure. Once on board, he then had to wait until 12.27 p.m. before the liner actually sailed, because she had to embark passengers, some crew and some of the cargo from the Anchor Liner the S.S. Cameronia which the British Admiralty had requisitioned for war service as a troop ship at the end of April.
After a fairly uneventful Atlantic crossing, six days out of New York on the afternoon of 7th May, and within sight of the coast of southern Ireland, the Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20, only about fourteen hours steaming time away from the safety of her home port.
George Scott was fortunate to survive the disaster, and having landed in Queenstown, he travelled to Dublin by train the following day.
On reaching his home, he was interviewed by a reporter for the Irish Times, the interview being published in the 10th May 1915 edition. The report stated: -
At the time the Lusitania was torpedoed, Mr. Scott, with about 200 others, was lunching in one of the dining apartments. ‘When we were about halfway through our lunch,’ he said, ‘we heard a terrible crash. The vessel trembled first and then listed to one side. Everyone jumped from their seats and rushed on deck. The women and children shrieked wildly, and when we got on deck there was a great deal of panic.
‘Men, women and children rushed about on all sides. We were not sure at the time if the disaster had been caused by a floating mine or a submarine, and indeed, the only concern uppermost in our mind was what our fate was to be. It was evident at this time that the vessel must perish, for she was sinking fast by the head.
‘Two ladies approached me, appealing for help. I got them two lifepreserving jackets and did all I could to see them securely in one of the lifeboats. I remained on board till the water was almost washing the deck, and rendered what assistance I could to the women and children, who were crying piteously for help.’
Mr. Scott next went on to describe his own struggle for life. He explained that, having procured a lifebelt, he climbed the railings of the vessel and plunged into the water. ‘’I was in the water only a short while when the Lusitania sank, and the suction of the vessel brought me down. I don’t know how long I was under the water, but it seemed to me to be something like an hour.
‘On coming to the surface I felt very much exhausted, and was tangled up in a mass of wreckage. I struggled there for a few minutes, and an upturned boat drifted towards me. I got onto it with the assistance of an oar, which was thrown out by one of the men. About ten minutes after, we were taken into another boat.
‘Several others – men and women – were taken into our boat, which was taken in tow by a fishing smack about a half-hour afterwards. Later we were taken onto a trawler, and started the voyage to Queenstown, where we arrived at eight o’clock.
‘The scene was a terrible one,’ exclaimed Mr. Scott in tones of deep emotion. ‘The whole thing appears to me now as a terrible nightmare. The cries of the hundreds struggling with death in the sea were distressing beyond all description, and I shall never forget the awful scenes I witnessed’.
It is not known if George Scott ever returned to Canada, but if so, he didn’t remain there for very long as on the 8th March 1922, he married Emily Price in Sandyford, County Dublin. By this time, George was working as a building contractor, most likely with his father.
George Scott died of heart failure at his home, 129. Clontarf Road, Clontarf, County Dublin, on 2nd June 1961, aged 73 years.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1901 Census of Ireland, 1911 Census of Ireland, Cunard Records, Irish Times, Probate Records, PRO BT 100/345, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.