Nothing is known about Annie D. Cross, except that she was probably born around 1892, and in early 1915 she was living in Minitonas, Manitoba, Canada.
Her address was the Post Office in Minitonas, and it is possible she also worked there. She became romantically involved with Robert Matthews, who was a farmer, and also a Lieutenant in the 60th Rifles, Canadian Infantry. Mr. Matthews was a married man with two daughters, and lived with his family in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. He also had a farm near Minitonas, where he spent the winter of 1914 – 1915, leaving his wife and daughters in Moose jaw, and it is likely he struck up his relationship with Annie Cross during this period.
In early 1915, Robert Matthews had requested a transfer to the 46th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry, as they were mobilising to be sent to Europe to fight on the Western Front, but when his request was denied, he resigned his commission and
decided to go to England and try to obtain a commission in the British Army. Annie Cross decided to accompany him.
Consequently, they booked as second cabin passengers on the May Day sailing of the Lusitania from New York to Liverpool, purchasing their tickets in Swan River, the nearest town to Minitonas.
Cunard records show that Annie and Robert Matthews boarded the Lusitania as second cabin passengers, posing as ‘man and wife’, at the Cunard berth at Pier 54 in New York, on the morning of 1st May 1915, before the liner left on her delayed last departure from that port, just after mid-day.
Six days after leaving New York, on the afternoon of 7th May, the liner was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20, off the coast of southern Ireland and only about 250 miles away from the safety of her Liverpool home port.
Both Robert Matthews and Annie Cross were killed as a result, and although the body of Robert Matthews was later recovered and identified, hers never was, and as a result, she has no known grave. She was aged 22 years.
On Lieutenant Matthews’ body, which was recovered from the sea at Kinsale, were two badges of the Lusitania with a slip of paper marked "First prize Potato race Ladies Mrs. Matthews". Obviously Annie Cross had taken part in and won this light hearted competition, presumably watched by her “husband”.
According to Cunard records, property recovered from the body of Lieutenant R. Matthews was sent to a Mr. W. Ingle of 4, Parliament Street, Cork, "on behalf of widow, Mrs. Matthews, Victoria Apartment, Moose Jaw, Canada", on August 9th. Confirmation that Annie Cross was not his lawful wife!
In reply to a letter from the Secretary of The Imperial War Graves Commission requesting details of the next of kin of the late Lieutenant Matthews, Major Clyde R. Scott, Assistant Director of Records wrote on 16th May 1928: -
Adverting to your letter FV.9/C28/23/3 undated, which is believed to concern the marginally noted ex-officer of the Canadian Active Militia, as the result of enquiries made it has been ascertained that his next of kin (wife) is at present residing with her daughter: -
Mrs. O.K. Davis
No. 1. Firehall,
Lethbridge, Alberta,
Canada.
The body of Lieutenant Robert Matthews was one of those landed at Kinsale and taken to the mortuary at the British Army barracks there and shortly after the sinking, local newspaper The Cork Examiner reported: -
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 cannot have been the lady who accompanied the young lieutenant, as her body was never recovered and identified, and was later identified to be that of second cabin passenger Mrs. Margaret Shinneman, whose body was landed at Kinsale. Her maiden name was Margaret McKenzie and could account for why the initials “M.M” were found inscribed inside a ring!
Annie Cross left $400 in a bank account in Swan River, and also owned land valued at $3,200. She had no known living relatives, and in 1916, administration of her estate was granted to the Toronto General Trusts Company, who was acting on behalf of the Province of Manitoba. Presumably, the proceeds from her estate were given to the Province of Manitoba.
Cunard Records, Canadian National Archive, Cork Examiner, Probate Records, PRO BT 100/345, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Peter Engberg-Klarström, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.