Tragic Irish Naval Disaster Sinking of M.V. Leinster, 1918: A manuscript transcript of evidence at the inquest in Dublin on persons drowned in October 1918, shortly after leaving Dun Laoghaire...

Tragic Irish Naval Disaster Sinking of M.V. Leinster, 1918: A manuscript transcript of evidence at the inquest in Dublin on persons drowned in October 1918, shortly after leaving Dun Laoghaire Harbour bound for Hollyhead. The 'Leinster' was used (though not exclusively) as a troop transport, and the 771 persons on board when it sank included 489 British and Allied Military personnel. About 270 passengers and crew were rescued by a flotilla of small boats; the remaining 501 died in the explosion or drowned thereafter. The inquest jury found no blame attached to the shipping company, but censured the Admiralty for not providing a military escort. The transcript includes about 320pp in pencilled longhand on reporter's copy paper, in two alternating hands, carefully numbered 1 - 41 (final day) and 1 - 278, with a few pages in typescript. it includes opening statements, evidence to the jury, coroner's summing up, and an exchange with members of the jury on the final day as to whether they wished to 'censure' or 'blame' the Admiralty. A few pages towards rear are frayed with some loss. Probably this is a transcript of the original shorthand record. * An intriguing and valuable historical record of a significant and tragic wartime event. (1)

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