Dorothy Lancaster was born at The Manor House, Keelby, Lincolnshire, England, in June 1888, the daughter and seventh child of eight, of William and Eleanor Jane Lancaster (née Fisher). She had four sisters and three brothers. She was baptised in the Parish Church of St. Bartholomew, Keelby, on the 19th July 1888.
In September 1913, she and her older sister, Annie, had gone to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where they were both serving as governesses, and in the spring of 1915, probably because of the war, they decided to return home. Consequently, they booked as second cabin passengers on the Lusitania, which sailed from New York to Liverpool, just after mid-day on the 1st May 1915..
Six days later, on the afternoon of 7th May 1915, the liner was sunk by the German submarine U-20, off the coast of southern Ireland and only hours away from her ultimate destination. Both Dorothy Lancaster and her sister were killed as a result of this action.
According to an account published in The Grimsby News of 28th May 1915: -
Mr and Mrs. Lancaster of the Manor, have received trustworthy information respecting the fate of their daughters. It seems that they actually got into a boat, but got out to secure lifebelts and so lost their places.
Neither of their bodies was ever found and identified afterwards and consequently, neither has a known grave. Dorothy Lancaster was aged 27 years.
A memorial service was held at St. Bartholomew’s Church for the two sisters, on the afternoon of Sunday 23rd May, when all their relatives and many of the gentry of the neighbourhood were present and the church was packed with other mourners. Oh Rest in the Lord and Mendelssohn's Funeral March were played on the church organ and the hymns Peace, Perfect Peace and Abide With Me were sung by the congregation. A brass plaque still commemorates their loss in the church today. Under a cross, is written the inscription: -
In Loving Memory of
Annie Lancaster,
and
Dorothy Lancaster,
of Keelby Manor,
WHO LOST THEIR LIVES THROUGH
THE SINKING OF THE “LUSITANIA”
7TH MAY 1915.
Both are also commemorated on the parish war memorial in Keelby village itself which states: -
AND OF
ANNIE AND DOROTHY
LANCASTER
OF THE MANOR
WHO LOST THEIR LIVES
THROUGH THE TORPEDOING
OF THE LUSITANIA
7TH MAY 1915
The double tragedy affected the family very badly and brought about the early death of
their father William. As a result of this and the loss of his sisters, their brother Frank Eustace Lancaster, the youngest member of the family was so outraged and grief stricken that he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery in the summer of 1915, to try and avenge the deaths. He, fortunately, survived the war.
Furthermore, as a result of the sinking, at least two other men from the parish joined the colours. One of these, Wilfred Walkley was the subject of an article in The Hull and Lincolnshire Times in September 1918, along with his younger brother, which stated: -
Pte. Wilf Walkley, Canadian Forces, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Walkley of Keelby, is officially reported killed in action. He had been wounded twice previously. His enlistment was somewhat dramatic. He saw a list of the Lusitania victims included the names of two ladies belonging to his native village and at once volunteered. Mr. and Mrs. Walkley’s second son, Sydney has been missing five months. They have the greatest sympathy of the parishioners in their loss and anxiety respecting Sydney.
It was eventually learned that 30624 Private Sydney Osborne Walkley, of The 4th Battalion, The Grenadier Guards, had been killed in action on 13th April 1918, in Belgium, but better news was eventually received about Wilf Walkley. It transpired that he had not been killed in action after all, but captured, and he eventually turned up in a Germans prisoner of war camp. The good news of his survival only arrived in Keelby after his will had been processed, and a memorial service had been held for him!
On 17th April 1916, administration of Dorothy Lancaster’s estate was granted jointly at Lincoln, to William Tulloch Lancaster and Angus Humphrey Lancaster both named as farmers - who were two of her brothers. Her effects amounted to £142-12s-3d., (£164.50p.).
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Lincolnshire Baptisms, 1891 Census of England & Wales, 1901 Census of England & Wales, 1911 Census of England & Wales, Canadian Passenger Lists 1865 – 1935, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Hull and Lincolnshire Times, Grimsby News, Scunthorpe Star, Probate Records, PRO BT 100/345, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Roger Lancaster, Mary Leitch, Chris Bailey, David Irving, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.