Robert Williams was born within the British Empire in the latter half of the nineteenth century.
In 1915, his home was in Calgary, British Columbia, Canada, but little more is known about him except that in the spring of that year, he planned to travel to Great Britain, to take part in the war effort and consequently booked second cabin passage on the May sailing of the Lusitania, from New York to Liverpool.
Having left Calgary sometime in April, he arrived at the Cunard berth at Pier 54 in New York on the morning of 1st May 1915, in time for the liner’s scheduled 10.00 a.m. sailing. Having boarded, he had to wait until just after mid-day before the liner actually left the port, because of a delay caused because she had to load cargo and embark passengers and crew from Anchor Liner the S.S. Cameronia. This latter vessel had been requisitioned for use as a troop ship by the British Admiralty at the end of April.
Then, six days out of New York, on the afternoon of 7th May, the Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Walter Schwieger, only twelve miles off the coast of southern Ireland and only about fourteen hours steaming time away from her Liverpool destination.
Just under two thirds of all the second class passengers on board the vessel at that time were killed as a result of this action, but Robert Williams was one of the fortunate third who survived the sinking. After being rescued from the sea and landed at Queenstown, he eventually made it to England.
Within days of returning to England, he was residing at 79. Delaware Mansions, Delaware Road, Maida Vale, London, which may have been the home of a friend or relative, when he received a letter from the mother of another second cabin passenger, Richard Preston Prichard, of whom no trace had been found after the sinking. Mrs. Prichard and her son, Mostyn, wrote to all the survivors they could trace in an effort to learn anything about Richard Prichard. Mr. Williams replied: -
79. Delaware Mansions,
Maida Vale, W.
May 19th 1915
Dear Mrs. Prichard
I am very sorry I cannot give you any information about your son. There was such a great number of passengers in the second saloon, that it is very hard to remember all the faces.
However let me say this Mrs. Prichard that the men on the Lusitania behaved splendidly and met their end like gentlemen and Britons.
I had a marvellous escape myself and am now anxious by awaiting an appointment in the British Army.
Believe me Mrs. Prichard you have my sympathy and I hope that you may possibly get some definite information concerning your son.
I remain
Yours sincerely
Robt. Williams
No trace of Richard Preston Prichard was ever found.
Mr. Williams’ letter would indicate that he was expecting a commission in the British Army, but it is not known if this ever materialised, and if so, with which regiment he might have joined. Whatever happened to him after his survival is not known.
Cunard Records, IWM GB62, UniLiv D92/2/418, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.