Catherine Glenn was born in Rockcorry, County Monaghan, Ireland, on the 9th April 1870, the daughter of Patrick and Ann Glenn (née Sherry). She was one of at least eleven children, and her father was a labourer.
It is believed Catherine immigrated to the United States of America in the mid-1890’s with her parents and a number of her siblings. The family settled in Taunton, Massachusetts, and on completion of her education, Catherine found employment as a maid in New York City. While working and residing in New York City, she met Edward Dingley, who worked as a machinist with a railway company, and the couple were married in Manhattan, New York City, on the 7th February 1910. The couple, who were childless, later set up home in Taunton, Massachusetts. Edward Dingley was originally from Warwickshire, England, but by the time of the marriage was a naturalized American citizen, and therefore Catherine became a U.S. citizen on her marriage to him.
In late February 1915, Edward Dingley, perhaps because of a feeling of patriotic duty, returned to Great Britain and found employment as an engineer with G. & J. Weir at Cathcart, Glasgow, Scotland. Catherine had been suffering from ill health for some months, and her husband suggested to her that she might join him in Scotland, as perhaps a sea voyage and the Scottish air might improve her health.
Being in agreement, Catherine Dingley booked a second class ticket from New York to Glasgow on the Anchor Liner S.S. Cameronia. Then at the end of April, the British Admiralty requisitioned her for war service as a troop ship, and on the morning of 1st May, transferred her passengers, some crew and her cargo to the Lusitania. Catherine Dingley therefore joined the vessel at the Cunard berth at Pier 54 in New York. The Lusitania then left port just after mid-day. Her New York address was given as 242, West 142nd Street.
She was killed just six days later, however, when the liner was torpedoed and sunk, by the German submarine U-20, only hours away from her Liverpool destination and within sight of Catherine Dingley’s native land. She was aged 45 years.
Her husband, Edward Dingley, was aware that his wife had booked her passage on the Cameronia, and was unconcerned when he learned about the sinking of the Lusitania late on the evening of the 7th May. However, as the evening went on, he became uneasy and sent a telegram to New York City for reassurance. He was horrified to receive an answer to his telegram on the morning of Saturday, 8th May, informing him that his wife had, in fact, sailed on the Lusitania.
Edward Dingley immediately proceeded to Queenstown to search for his wife, having to borrow the sum of £20-0s-0d to do so, and was no doubt heartbroken on his arrival to discover her body in one of the temporary mortuaries that had been set up in the town. She must have been one of the first bodies to have been recovered, as her remains were given the reference number 70. She was buried on the 10th May 1915, in Private Grave 16, Row 18, in The Old Church Cemetery, Queenstown. It was on that day that most of the victims of the disaster were buried, following a long funeral procession which started at the Cunard Offices at Lynch's Quay, on the waterfront in Queenstown.
Her remains still lie there today, although the grave reference has been re-designated as Section B, Grave 591. There is a concrete headstone with a rounded top over her grave, which bears the inscription:-
DROWNED ON LUSITANIA
MAY 7. 1915.
KATHERINE S. GLENN
OF TAUNTON MASS. U.S.A.
BELOVED WIFE OF
EDWARD DINGLEY
AGED 38 YEARS.
R.I.P.
Catherine’s forename has been erroneously spelt with a “K”, instead of the correct “C”. Also her age is incorrect by seven years!
A report in 11th May 1915 edition of the Fall River Daily Evening News newspaper in Fall River, Massachusetts, stated that Edward Dingley had sent a telegram to Catherine’s sister, Mrs. Mackenzie, 788, Davol Street, Fall River, stating: -
“Found Katie’s body, buried Queenstown to-day tenth. Letter following. Heart-broken.”
Property taken from her body was handed over at Queenstown to her husband, Edward Dingley, whose address at the time was shown to be c/o a Mrs Heard, of 334, Holmlea Road, Cathcart, Glasgow, Lanarkshire.
He later applied to The Lusitania Relief Fund, (set up and administered by The Lord Mayor of Liverpool to help alleviate distress caused by the sinking, to both survivors and relatives of victims), for a refund of the £20-0s-0d borrowed. The fund refused his application, however, without giving grounds for its decision.
The official list of passenger victims published by Cunard in March 1916 lists Catherine Dingley as Catherine Bingley, but this is clearly an error. Also, it is implied that she had a second forename that began with the letter “S”, but there is no evidence of her ever having a second forename.
In February 1924, the Mixed Claims Commission awarded Edward Dingley the sum of $7,500.00 for the loss of his wife, and a further $1,770.00 for the loss of her personal effects and cash which she had with her when she set out on her voyage.
Edward Dingley died in May 1960, in Florida, in the United States of America.
Ireland Select Births and Baptisms 1620 – 1911, New York Extracted Marriage Index 1866 – 1937, 1900 U.S. Federal Census, 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Cunard Records, Mixed Claims Commission Docket No. 291, Liverpool Record Office, PRO BT 100/345, Daily Record, Fall River Daily Evening News, Cork Examiner, White Star Journal, UniLiv D92/2/450, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.