DROGHEDA SAILORS PERISH DURING WW1. In St. Peters R.C. churchyard at Drogheda, Co. Louth stands an oblong shaped headstone topped with a Celtic cross and dedicated to the Farrell family. But, at the bottom there is mentioned Richard Moonan who was killed at Jutland 31st May 1916. Richard was a stoker with the Royal Navy Reserve on the HMS “Queen Mary” battlecruiser during the 1st World War. This was the only ship in the Royal Navy ever to be named the “Queen Mary” named for the wife of King George V. During the Battle of Jutland she was hit twice by the German ship “Seydlitz” with uncertain results, however, as smoke cleared the “Derfflinger” fired on the “Queen Mary” with devastating consequences. One shell caused her magazine to explode and split the ship in half before a second explosion rocked the ship causing her to break and sink within 90 seconds. Many of her crew died from the effects of deadly fumes and a total of 1,266 officers and men died as a result of her destruction. Only 18 survived and were picked up by other ships. One of those who lost their lives was Richard Moonan from Scarlet Street in Drogheda who was 44 years old. One of Richards neighbours was also killed on the “Queen Mary”, he was 43 year old Bernard Tumelty also a stoker, who was married to Elizabeth from 2 James Terrace, Scarlet Street, Drogheda. Both men are commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. The only man to have a grave on land is Humphrey Durrent, who died at home and is buried at Dalmeny, S. Queensferry, Scotland. The wreck of the ship was discovered in 1991 lying in pieces in sand on the floor of the North Sea and is now a protected grave site. “We said goodbye to loved ones, we bade them fond adieu, And left old Irelands green fields, for seas of a different hue. In the final days of May, some miles off the Denmark shore, Our ships were locked in battle with a thunderous mighty roar. A victory no one dared to claim as ships and men both died, And the ones we loved so dearly at home in Ireland. Cried. “(© Eileen Frizzell) In a terrible twist of fate Richards brother Michael Moonan was killed while serving on the HMS “Tervani” when it was on mine-sweeping duty and struck a mine which had been laid in the Sperre minefield by UC-4 commanded by Hans Howaldt. The wreck of the “Tervani” lies east north east of Orfordness, Suffolk, and the names of the dead are also on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. In addition they are remembered on the War Memorial in Mary Street in their home town of Drogheda, Co. Louth. Ireland.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 13:41:44 +0000