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Goliath's capsize claims 570 lives

By Trevor Temple

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'In a Foreign shore he sleeps to-day,

A mother's pride and joy;

He did his part with manly heart,

My brave, my noble boy.'

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These words were published in a Derry newspaper in memory of a Derry man, Seaman Gunner Dennis, who was one of 570 men who lost their lives when the battleship, HMS Goliath, sank after being struck by torpedoes.

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Commanded by Captain Thomas Lawrie Shelford, Goliath was part of the Allied fleet during naval operations in the Dardanelles campaign, supporting the landing at X Beach during the landing at Cape Helles on April 25, 1915.

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On the night of May 12-13, 1915, she was stationed in Morto Bay off Cape Helles, along with HMS Cornwallis and a screen of five destroyers. Around 1 am on May 13, the Turkish torpedo boat Muavenet, which was manned by a combined German and Turkish crew, eluded the destroyers HMS Beagle and HMS Bulldog and closed on the battleships. Muavenet fired three torpedoes which struck Goliath causing a massive explosion – the ship capsized almost immediately taking 570 of the 700-strong crew to the bottom.

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Among those who died onboard the Goliath were three Derry men: Leading Seaman John Doherty, 197551; Private Robert Hutchinson, PLY/10742; and Seaman Gunner John Joseph (Jack) Dennis, 5711A. Their names are commemorated on the Plymouth Naval War Memorial, Devon, and on the Diamond War Memorial.Ìý

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Thirty-four-year-old, Leading Seaman Doherty was the son of John and Bridget Doherty, Daisy Hill Cottages, Boom Hall, Culmore Road, Londonderry.

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Private Robert Hutchinson, aged 32, was a member of Great James Street Presbyterian Church, and the son of Mrs Fanny Hutchinson, 125, Creggan Road, Rosemount. She was a shopkeeper who was born in County Londonderry, around 1867/68, died on November 28, 1929, and was interred in Londonderry City Cemetery. Her husband, Robert Hutchinson was born in County Londonderry around 1845/46, and worked as a carpenter circa 1901.

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Private Robert Hutchinson had been in a previous engagement off the German South West African Coast on board the Goliath.Ìý His name was read out during a memorial service held in St Columb's (Church of Ireland) Cathedral, Londonderry, on Sunday, August 1, 1915, to commemorate the officers and men of the city of Derry, who had died during the first year of the Great War. His name was also read aloud during a special memorial service held in First Derry Presbyterian Church, on Friday, August 4, 1916, to pay tribute to the Presbyterian soldiers of the city of Londonderry, who had died during the first two years of the First World War.Ìý

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Seaman Gunner Dennis was born around 1894/95, a native of Larne, County Antrim. He was the son of James, who was born in Armagh, 1865/66, worked as a railway engine driver for the Midland Railway, died on April 1, 1919, and was interred in Ardmore Burying Ground. James' wife Mary was born in Antrim around 1874/75. Both resided at 43, Clooney Terrace, Waterside, Derry.

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Seaman Dennis was in addition brother of Mary Florence (who possibly married Jack, second son of John Noble, cattle dealer, 21, Chamberlain Street, Derry, at St Columb's RC Church, Waterside Derry, on January 31, 1924) and Stewart Gerald Dennis.

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Seaman Dennis was engaged for over four years with the Cunard Company, and his last position, before being transferred to the Goliath, was wireless operator on the Asquitania.

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