Nursing Sister Henrietta Mellett, died 10 October 1918 in the sinking of RMS Leinster. The ship torpedoed in the Irish Sea, 16 miles east of Dublin, in the morning, while travelling from Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire), Dublin, to Holyhead, Anglesey, North Wales. Three torpedoes fired at the ship by German submarine, UB-123, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Bernd Wegener.
The first torpedo missed, but the second hit the mail room, and the third hit the engine room. With over 770 people on board, comprising crew, civilians, military personnel (including medical staff of doctors and nurses), and postal sorters, furthermore, 550 became fatal casualties.
Canada
Henrietta Mellett came to Canada on the Empress of Britain later in August 1908, travelling with Rev Richard Bowen, his wife Susan and son Richard Jr, headed to London, Ontario, and listed as Hetty Mellet.
Henrietta the daughter of John and Elizabeth Mellett (nee Conway) who ran The Ivy House, a hotel/boarding house at Roundstone, Galway, Ireland. Born 21 October 1883 in Galway. In addition, a sister Susan K (Mrs R J Bowen) of 218 St George Street, London, Ontario, and brother Walter J Mellett of same address.
Eighteen months previous service with the Red Cross in Egypt and ten months in Turnbridge.
Enlistment
Nursing Sister Henrietta Mellett enlisted 13 November 1917 in London, England. At this time, standing 5′ 7″ tall, 130 pounds and good physical development. Later served with No.15 Canadian General Hospital – Canadian Army Medical Corps from 22 January 1918.
No. 15 Canadian General Hospital
Offer by Major and Mrs Waldorf Astor of use of buildings at Clivedon for a hospital accepted earlier in November 1914. Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor, DL an American-born English politician and newspaper proprietor.
Designated as the Duchess of Connaught’s Red Cross Hospital later on 16 December 1914 with equipment supplied by Canadian Red Cross, maintained by War Office, staff supplied by Canadian Army Medical Corps. Redesignated as No.15 Canadian General Hospital later on 10 September 1917.
Sir George and Lady Perley inspected the hospital later on 24 January 1918. Then, the next day, Colonel Mewburn inspected the hospital on 25 January 1918.
On 5 February 1918, Nursing Sister Henrietta Mellett T.o.S. of the Canadian Military Hospital in Taplow.
The Edward Terry Concert Party gave a performance in the Recreation Hall later on 13 March 1918.
Then on 9 March 1918, a baseball game held between the Canadian Forestry Corps and the Canadian Representative Team, result, Canada 13, CFC 6.
Though 14 of the 52 men attached to the unit appeared in Orderly Room for various offenses during the month of March the Regimental Sergeant Major deems the discipline of the unit to be good. 562 patients admitted during March, with 112 being local admissions.
Final leave
Nursing Sister Henrietta Mellett granted leave from 4 September 1918 to 10 October 1918. Henrietta Mellett drowned in the sinking of the RMS Leinster, torpedoed by UB-123 off the coast of Ireland mere hours before her return from leave.
Over 500 men and women died in the sinking, with 14 Canadian soldiers and one nurse on the Leinster – only five of them survived.
Sergeant Gavin Francis Andrew
Canadian troops killed included Sergeant Gavin Francis Andrew 86273 (Grange Gorman Military Cemetery), Private Michael Daniel Biggane 2738 (Ballylaneen (St. Anne) Cemetery).
Captain Edward Ramsay Milne MC, DCM & Bar
Furthermore, Captain Edward Ramsay Milne MC, DCM & Bar (Galway (Bohermore) New Cemetery) the second Canadian officer killed.
In addition, Gunner William Robert Burns 86504 (Grange Gorman Military Cemetery), Private James Maurice Finleon 3135908 (Grange Gorman Military Cemetery), Lieutenant Donald Stodart Gwyn MC (Grange Gorman Military Cemetery), and Private Thomas Higgins 922799 (Grange Gorman Military Cemetery).
Mount Jerome Cemetery
The cemetery near the Grand Canal, facing Harold’s Cross Park – it belonged to the General Cemetery company of Dublin from 1835 until 1984 and now taken over by a private company. It covers about 20 hectares, with 35 Commonwealth burials of the Great War, in addition, 39 of the Second World War.
Nursing Sister Hettie Mellett buried at Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin, Irish Republic.
Sinking of the R.M.S. Leinster
New York Times
Saturday, October 12, 1918
Special Cable to The New York Times
LONDON. Oct.. 12—T. P. O’Connor, in an article In The Daily Chronicle on the torpedoing of the Leinster. “It takes an Irishman accustomed to cross the Irish Channel to realize in all its poignancy the tragedy just faced in the Irish Seas. On these packet boats you found all. Ireland in microcosm. Superior, landlord, priest, merchant, politician. And, often you looked with something of a renewed call of the blood to some Madonna face of a little Irish girl returning from the sanctuary of a convent school. Or, if the passage from Ireland to England, you saw a bride beginning her honeymoon ‘with lovelight in her eye,’ to quote from one of our most popular of Irish ballads.
Babes often sat in their mothers’ laps. Probably young officers’ wife or some young Irishman starting out. As I did myself, from Ireland’s poverty and hopelessness. As in old Ireland now passed away. And, opening its little eyes on this strange, sinister disturbing portent of the sea.
Women and children onboard
Such was doubtless the kind of boatload that the Leinster carried on the morning, of last Thursday. I see by the reports that there were many women and children on board. Stealthily, murderously, the, German submarine approached and fired first one bomb. Which, might still leave possibility of the vessel’s struggling to land or at least surviving long enough to save its passengers. And then, to make the devilish, murderous work sure, there came a second explosion. And, they were all thrown on the surging cold waves. Men and women and babes. Left to die amid their helpless screams.
“Irish men, Irish- women, Irish babes and their blood have now been added to the proud ‘conquest of German culture.’
London
LONDON, Oct. 12.—All the London newspapers today were filled, with indignant condemnation of the “cold-blooded murder and massacre” in the sinking of the Channel steamer Leinster by a German submarine. Described as one of the most shocking pieces of wickedness in the German record.
Committed at the moment when Germany is talking peace. The immediate effect of this outrage will be completely to defeat Germany’s purpose. For it is now obvious there has been no real change in Government. Or, if so, the new German authorities are ineffective.
No notice, therefore, the newspapers say, can henceforth be taken of anything uttered or written by Chancellor Maximilian except “unconditional surrender.”
Sir Edward Carson
Sir Edward Carson, head of the War Aims Committee, writes to the press asking that the Government insist before any further notes are received from German sources, that the authors of this ‘‘diabolical crime should be delivered up and brought to justice.”
The Daily Mail says: “Every German submarine and merchantman must be surrendered as one of the peace conditions.”
The Daily News, with equal energy, calls for punishment of the German criminal. It says that to talk peace while Germany is thus murdering women and children would be a nauseating mockery. The newspaper adds the “abdication of the Kaiser would not satisfy the Allies, for that criminal’s responsibility cannot be cast off like a worn-out coat.”
Viscount French
Viscount French, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, in a message to the Irish people. Says he is certain the Irish will rise as one man to help bring swift retribution to the people who employ such barbarous methods of warfare.
Kapitänleutnant Bernd Wegener
Did Kapitänleutnant Wegener realize he had targeted a vessel with so many women and children onboard? Indeed, he counted on it. Submarines normally sunk ships after stopping them, and guaranteeing the safety of crew and passengers in the Great War. That is, until the Final German Spring Offensive of 1918. Bombing hospitals, and sinking hospital ships, a deliberate policy of the German High Command intended to sway public opinion in Britain in favor of accepting the German Peace Proposals.