One hundred years ago today the Lusitania set sail from New York. Oldham Council archivists have unearthed details of a maritime tragedy 100 years ago that claimed the lives of local residents.

On May 7, 1915 the steamship Lusitaniawas sunk by a German submarine, U-20, off the coast of Ireland. 


Of the 1,962 passengers and crew onboard at the time of the sinking, 1,191 lost their lives. The incident caused outrage around the world and the episode has been mired in controversy ever since.


The Lusitania had left New York shortly after noon on May 1 despite a warning from the German embassy warning passengers not to travel. 


On board were 1,265 passengers with a crew of 694, of which only 45 were seamen. 


There were a number of people from the Oldham area aboard the ship. 


Among them were Mr and Mrs Cyrus Crossley who were on a visit to Mrs Crossley’s sister, the wife of police sergeant Jackson in Shaw.


Mr Arthur Dixon, an agent in New Zealand for Messrs Hirst Bros and Co Ltd, wholesale jewellers of Roscoe Street, Oldham. 

He was returning to Oldham for a five week visit together with his wife Bertha and son, Stanley.


Also on board was Handel Hawkins, a cello player in the ship’s orchestra, formerly a member of the orchestra at the Palace Theatre, Oldham.


Mrs Dixon was on deck when the torpedo struck at 2.10pm on May 7.

Although her husband managed to get her and Stanley, into one of the lifeboats there was nobody to let the boat down into the water. 


As they sat waiting the boat got so crowded they decided to get out. Mr Dixon then went below to get some lifebelts. 

There was then another explosion and the ship began to list until it was quite near to the water. 

Mrs Dixon’s husband then said: ‘When I say jump we must all jump together. It’s our only chance’ 

He called out ‘jump’ and they jumped into the water just as the ship was going down. Mr Dixon had hold of his son when they jumped – they were never seen again. 


Mrs Dixon then described what happened next: 

“I went down and down in the water but then after a while I began to come up and when I got to the surface I could not get my head out of the water on account of the quantity of wreckage of all sorts which was floating on the water. 

“I had a dreadful struggle before I could get my head free, but at last I managed to scrape the pieces of wood and so on away with my hands and I was able to get my head out, and when I did I looked around and the ship had absolutely gone. 

“There was not a sign to be seen of her. All around were hundreds of people struggling and screaming in the water…I was in the water for four hours. 

“I looked round for my husband and Stanley, but I could not see them. Something hard hit me on the arm, and I grabbed at it, and I found it was the top of a packing case, and I stuck to it and never left hold of it again until I was saved…”


Mrs Dixon was rescued by torpedo boat C25 and taken to Queenstown. She landed at 9.40pm and was taken to the Cunard office, and then to the Queens Hotel. 


The Hotel was completely full with up to four people sharing a bed. However a Major and his wife took her to their home. 


As she was leaving for Dublin an American doctor who attended her at Queenstown shook hands with her saying: ‘You are the bravest woman I ever met’.


Among those who died on the Lusitania were Miss Sarah Emma Woodcock of 189 Oldham Road, Royton who was returning from a visit to the United States, and Mrs Bishop of Turf Lane, Heyside.


For those wanting to know more about the Lusitania the Oldham Historical Research Group is hosting a talk ‘Oldhamers on the Luisitania’ on Wednesday, May 20 at 7pm at Oldham Local Studies and Archives, 84 Union St

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