Calls for Limerick plaque to seamen

Calls have been made to honour Limerick merchant seamen lost at sea during the second World War.

Calls have been made to honour Limerick merchant seamen lost at sea during the second World War.

While a monument stands at Bishop's Quay in Limerick in remembrance of the lost Shannon Estuary seamen, it is not specific to wartime casualties.

It has been suggested that a commemorative plaque with their names should be placed there.

During the "Emergency", in August 1940, the Kerry Head, which was owned by Limerick ship brokers and stevedores Mullock and Sons, was the first Irish-registered ship to be attacked by Germany.

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It survived the assault but in October was bombed by aircraft off the Cork coast with the loss of all 12 crew.

Five of the men on board came from the city including brothers George and James Naughton whose sister, Josie, was due to marry the chief engineer of the ship, William Davidson, from Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, who also perished.

Ms Barbara Naughton, a niece of the dead men, who lives in Brighton, recalled yesterday that both of the boys wanted to go on the Kerry Head, but only one got a place.

"It was only when another sailor was forced to pull out that my other uncle got the call," she said.

Limerick priest Father Joe Young, whose uncle Hector was on the Irish Pine in November 1942 when it was sunk by a German U-boat, also supports the call for a commemorative plaque.

A total of 33 merchant seamen were lost including Hector Young and seven others from Limerick.

Local historian and author, Patrick J McNamara, pointed out that Ireland was dependent on her small mercantile marine and fishing fleet.

He told the Limerick Leader it was worth recording that these men were volunteers and the service in which they served was a civilian one.

The author, currently finishing a book on Limerick casualties both civilian and military in the second World War, added that while Irishmen who served with the British Merchant Navy were commemorated at Tower Hill in London, Limerick men who died while employed with Irish shipping companies should be commemorated in their home port.

Mr John Dundon, of Mullock and Sons, said his company would be happy to be associated with any attempt to have a plaque or memorial erected.