A MEMORIAL to an unknown sailor who died when the RMS Lusitania when sank by a German U-boat has been unveiled at Barry Cemetery, a century later.

The huge liner Lusitania departed New York on route for Liverpool on May 1, 2015 during the First World War, but got destroyed by a German U20 torpedo 11 miles off the old Head of Kinsale lighthouse killing around 1200 passengers and crew.

But when the steamship Kyleford arrived at Barry on May 12 its’ Master; Captain Duncan Graham reported they had recovered two bodies whilst on their normal route - one male and one female.

The man was in a lifebelt with the word – Lusitania on it and he reported that the woman had been found floating face upwards.

Police Inspector Thomas and several constables had the bodies removed to the town mortuary, shortly afterwards.

It was reported a large crowd had gathered on the quayside and on hearing that they were victims of the Lusitania, dock workmen bared their heads and many broke down.

The bodies were moved by Messrs James Jones and Co, of Barry Dock, by a funeral carriage.

At a resumed coroner’s hearing William Barnes, the chief bedroom steward onboard the Lusitania gave evidence.

He said he had seen the body of the man and believed he was one of the passage workers who wasn’t a regular hand, but could not name him.

The coroner was unable to close for the man and nobody was ever able to establish his identity.

The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against the person who fired the torpedo.

The accomplices were the officers of the submarine and the Kaiser under whose orders this particular act was carried out.

Baruc ward Vale and town councillor and chairman of the Friends of Merthyr Dyfan cemetery, Nic Hodges said: “His (the unknown sailor) description given at the inquiry was male, 28 to 30 years, medium build, light brown hair, light ginger moustache, one tooth missing front upper jaw, had at one time fractured his skull, height 5’8. He was wearing blue serge trousers, pink merino vests and white merino pants, both lined with wool, striped cotton shirt marked “Anderson Bros., Makers, 27 Bridge Street, Glasgow, light lace-up boots, stamped inside Holober Bros., 501 West 14th Street, New York, gray socks that had been footed with light bluish-coloured wool, light colour braces with the word “Hague” on the buckle. He also wore a plain leather belt with a nickel buckle.”

He was buried in our Merthyr Dyfan cemetery on May 18 – 11 days after Lusitania was torpedoed and was laid to rest in grave A1083.

The grave cost 18 shillings to buy and was a common grave later followed by four other bodies ranging from a 95 year old lady in 1935, 2 stillborns and a four day old girl.

Records mark him as an unknown person picked up off Kinsale Island from the RMS Lusitania.

Long-standing council member, the Reverend Longdon officiated.