Martin Mannion was born in Parkbawn, Glenamaddy, County Galway, Ireland, on the 16th January 1889, the son of Lawrence and Bridget Mannion (née Mannion). His father was a farmer, and his mother died when he was aged 4 years.
He was a jockey and rode for the popular trainer Michael Dawson, who had his stables at the Curragh, in County Kildare. However, in February 1911, he left Ireland, no doubt hoping to find fame and fortune in the ‘New World’, and sailed to the United States of America on the White Star liner Laurentic.
In early 1915, he was so severely injured in an accident in America, that he had to have a leg amputated, and this made him decide to return home to Dublin. At that time, he was living in Troy, New York. Consequently he booked a third class ticket on the Lusitania's scheduled sailing from New York to Liverpool, which was supposed to begin on the morning of 1st May 1915 although the sailing was actually delayed until after mid-day, whilst the liner embarked passengers, some crew and the cargo from the Anchor Lines vessel the S.S. Cameronia, which the British Admiralty requisitioned for war service as a troop ship.
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Six days later, on the afternoon of 7th May, whilst in sight of the coast of Ireland and only hours away from Liverpool, the liner was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20, but despite a very high percentage loss of life amongst the third class passengers, Martin Mannion managed to survive, although he was injured in the course of the sinking.
He gave an interview to a press representative, which was reported in southern Irish newspaper The Cork Examiner on 21st May 1915. It stated:-
"I was in the smoke room of the Lusitania, speaking to Mr. Turpin, of Maryborough, when the disaster occurred. The cry immediately arose that the ship had been torpedoed; but I said I had no chance when asked to move to the boats as unfortunately, I had been severely injured in an accident a few weeks previously in America and was then wearing an artificial leg. I told Mr. Turpin also, at the time, that I would stand no chance.
The scene on the ship I will make no attempt to describe, but when the final turn and the list of the Lusitania came, I found myself in the water, and even before I had realised the plunge, I was swimming. I have fortunately always been a good swimmer. I went down with the ship, but, thank God, I am saved.
After going down with the Lusitania, I had to struggle in the water, and you can understand what it means - the swimming in the open sea for such a long time, but I can always remember the experience as a sorrowful one in every way, and one which will be (no matter how long my life may be) always with me!"
The Mr. Turpin mentioned was Thomas K. Turpin, a second cabin passenger, like Martin Mannion, who was travelling with his wife Maud from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. They both survived the sinking.
In the 1950s, Martin Mannion told his story again to the writers Adolf and Mary Hoehling, when they were researching for their book The Last Voyage of the Lusitania and his memory of events after the passage of forty years was slightly different.
Then, he said that as the boat was struck, he had been playing poker in the second class smoking saloon and his card companions soon deserted him to make their escape, leaving just him and the bartender. Failing to persuade this member of the crew to join him in a drink and watching him also make a dash for the deck; Martin
Mannion went round the bar and began to help himself to the alcohol which now presented itself!
He then said that this must have anaesthetised his senses, for despite being injured during the sinking, and managing to get into a lifeboat from which he was later rescued, he had no recollection of any of these events later in the day, - or at any time thereafter!
After his rescue from the lifeboat, he was landed at Queenstown, before finally getting back to the Curragh - probably by rail. Once there, however, he needed hospital treatment and was later awarded a grant of £5-10s-0d., from The Lusitania Relief Fund, in respect of his injuries.
This fund had been set up after the liner had gone down, by The Lord Mayor of Liverpool and other local worthy citizens, to provide monetary aid to second and third class passengers who found themselves in financial difficulties as a result of the sinking. The fund also distributed help to dependant relatives of those who had lost their lives.
The Laurentic which had taken Martin Mannion to New York in 1911 had first come to the attention of the public that year, when she brought the infamous Dr. Crippen from Canada to England to face trial for the murder of his wife. Crippen - later executed for the crime, was the first man to be arrested through the use of wireless telegraphy.
The Laurentic was herself sunk on January 25th 1917, when she struck a mine laid by the German submarine U-80, off Malin Head, whilst serving as an armed merchant cruiser, and sank with considerable loss of life!
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1901 Census of Ireland, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, Cork Examiner, Daily Mirror, Last Voyage of the Lusitania, Ships of the Royal Navy, Liverpool Record Office, PRO BT 100/345, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.