Lusitania Sinking: Eyewitness Accounts from Survivors

The Lusitania Sinking tells the story of the 1915 sinking of the Lusitania, a British passenger ship, from the perspective of a family looking for information on their son's death. The ship was torpedoed by a German submarine and sank rapidly, killing 1,198 people, including Preston Prichard, a 29-year-old student. His family searched for information and received responses from survivors, including Grace French, who recalled him helping her to safety. Prichard had put his papers in order before embarking and had told a fellow student where to find his will.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 280 pages
\n Publication date: 04 March 2019
\n Publisher: Greenhill Books
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The sinking of the Lusitania is an event that has been predominantly discussed from a political or maritime perspective. For the first time, The Lusitania Sinking tells the story in the emotive framework of a family looking for information on their son's death.

On 1 May 1915, the 29-year-old student Preston Prichard embarked as a Second Class passenger on the Lusitania, bound from New York for Liverpool. By 2pm on the afternoon of 7 May, the liner was approaching the coast of Ireland when she was sighted by the German submarine U-20. A single torpedo caused a massive explosion in the Lusitania's hold, and the ship began to sink rapidly. Within 20 minutes, she disappeared, and 1,198 men, women, and children, including Preston, died.

Uncertain of Preston's fate, his family leaped into action. His brother Mostyn, who lived in Ramsgate, traveled to Queenstown to search morgues but could find nothing. Preston's mother wrote hundreds of letters to survivors to find out more about what might have happened in his last moments. The Lusitania Sinking compiles the responses received.

Perhaps sensing his fate, Prichard had put his papers in order before embarking and told a fellow student where to find his will if anything happened to him. During the voyage, he was often seen in the company of Grace French, quoted above. Alice Middleton, who had a crush on him but was too shy to speak to him throughout the entire voyage, remembered that he helped her carry her luggage to her cabin.

Despite the tragedy, the sinking of the Lusitania remains a significant event in the history of World War I. It led to increased public awareness of the dangers of submarine warfare and contributed to the United States' entry into the war. The Lusitania Sinking also highlights the bravery and resilience of the survivors, who faced incredible hardship and loss.

In conclusion, The Lusitania Sinking is a powerful and emotional account of the sinking of the Lusitania and the family's search for information on their son's death. It provides a new perspective on this historic event and sheds light on the human cost of war.

\n Weight: 572g\n
Dimension: 166 x 241 x 24 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781784383015\n \n