Margaret MacKenzie was born in Sheildaig, Applecross, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland, on the 25th December 1888, the daughter and eldest child of Donald and Euphemia MacKenzie (née MacDougall). Her father was a fisherman and general labourer, and later a postman.
Some time before the Great War, she left her native land for the United States of America and settled in Oil City, Wyoming, working for a Mrs. Grieve of Casper.
There she met American citizen James Shinneman, a farm labourer, and they fell in love and decided to marry. Their wedding took place in Casper on 23rd April 1915 and for their honeymoon, they determined to travel to Scotland without informing Margaret’s parents of their intentions, as a surprise visit for them.
As a consequence, they booked passage on the Anchor Liner Cameronia which was due to sail from New York at the end of April 1915. Instead, however, the vessel was requisitioned by the British Admiralty for war use, and all her passengers and some of her crew and cargo were transferred to the Lusitania. James and Margaret Shinneman were given second cabin passage on her and were on board when she left New York just after mid-day on 1st May.
What must have seemed to them as a stroke of good fortune unfortunately turned into a tragedy for them both, however, for six days later and 14 days after their wedding, they were both killed when the liner was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20, within sight of the coast of southern Ireland and only about fourteen hours steaming time away from the safety of her home port.
Even though they were so recently joined in life, they were soon separated in death, for although their bodies were both recovered from the sea and eventually buried, over two months and over one hundred miles across southern Ireland separated their funerals.
Margaret Shinneman’s body was picked out of the sea on the evening of the disaster by the Royal Naval patrol boat H.M.S. Heron and along with eleven survivors and four other bodies, it was landed at the fishing village of Kinsale, where it was taken to the mortuary at the British Army barracks there. At first it was unidentified and was simply given the reference number Kinsale No. 3 and described as: -
Woman - about 25 years, 5’7” high, dark hair, good front natural teeth, back teeth missing, wore button boots, black silk petticoat, black hose, white stays, white blouse with broad blue stripes and plaid skirt.
Property. 1 plain gold marriage ring on marriage finger of left hand, 1 keeper ring on marriage finger of left hand, 1 gentleman’s gold signet ring on second finger of right hand, initialled M.M. 1 gold spring bracelet bearing initial M., 1 gold locket with light chain, round neck containing two pictures, one of a small child and the other of a gentleman. Locket round with little brilliants appeared to be American Gold, 1 brooch black and brilliant centre.
The body of another second cabin Lusitania victim Canadian Army officer Lieutenant
Robert Matthews was also landed at Kinsale and taken to the same mortuary. Local newspaper The Cork Examiner in its report on him also stated: -
Lying on the same slab on which his body was placed, was the body of a beautiful young woman, and it is believed the body was that of Lieutenant Matthews' wife. Her wedding ring bears the initials "M.M." A white locket around her neck contained the photo of a gentleman who bears a remarkable resemblance, especially in facial features, to Lieutenant Matthews. The two bodies were picked up in different parts of the sea and it is remarkable, should they prove to be husband and wife, that their bodies should be found on the same slab in the same morgue. ..... It is intended to get the photograph enlarged, with a view to identification.
This was not the body of the lady who accompanied the lieutenant, however, as her body was never recovered and identified and was that of Margaret Shinneman. The initials “M.M”, found inscribed inside the ring - which was not a wedding ring, but a signet ring, would have referred to her maiden name!
As early as Saturday 8th May, an inquest was convened on the bodies landed at Kinsale by local lawyer and coroner Mr. John J. Horgan in The Market House in Kinsale itself. The verdict of the coroner’s jury, on all the bodies landed at Kinsale was eventually that: -
We find that this appalling crime was contrary to international law and the conventions of all civilised nations and we therefore charge the officers of the said submarine and the Emperor and Government of Germany under whose orders they acted with the wilful and wholesale murder before the tribunal of the civilised world!
On 10th May 1915, Margaret Shinneman’s body was buried in St. Multose Churchyard, Kinsale, and as, at that stage, its identity was still unknown, a simple granite kerb was put around the grave, on which was inscribed: -
AN UNKNOWN VICTIM ( WOMAN )
OF THE LUSITANIA OUTRAGE 7 MAY 1915
Although its identity was eventually established, no attempt has ever been made since, to amend this inscription, although on the centenary of the sinking, a tablet with Margaret’s name was added to her grave.
Two other victims of the sinking, landed at Kinsale, crew members Night Watchmen Richard Chamberlain and George Cranston are buried in the next grave to hers, with a similar kerb inscription, although Cranston’s name is erroneously inscribed as Craduck.
It was not until two months later that James Shinneman’s body was recovered from the sea off the west coast of Ireland near the Doolin and Arran Islands, in County Clare and buried on 20th July, in Kiltrillig Graveyard, Carrigholt.
The property recovered from this and Margaret Shinneman’s body was later sent to her mother, Mrs. D. McKenzie at her Shieldaig home on 25th November, 1915. How many times over the years that followed, must she have wished that her daughter and new son-in-law had not decided to embark upon their honeymoon of happy surprise which became such a desperate tragedy of despair!
The Mixed Claims Commission later considered a claim for compensation for the loss
of the Shinnemans and their personal belongings as a result of the sinking of the Lusitania. The application was made by the First Trust and Savings Bank, Casper, Wyoming, who were administrators of their estates. As Margaret Shinneman’s relatives were all British subjects, the Commission refused to consider any claim on behalf of her estate, but did award the sum of $750.00 in the case of James Shineman’s estate, in compensation for the loss of his personal property. The Commission made no award in respect of the loss of his life as he did not leave any dependants.
Cunard records, and the name on the tablet on Margaret’s grave spell her name Shineman, but the correct spelling is Shinneman.
1891 Census of Scotland, 1901 Census of Scotland, Cunard Records, Mixed Claims Commission Docket No. 2057, Cork Examiner, Natrona County Tribune, Last Voyage of the Lusitania, White Star Journal, PRO 22/71, PRO BT 100/345, UniLiv. D92/1/8 - 10, UniLiv D92/2/286, UniLiv. PR13/6, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.