Lusitania commemoration

7 May 2024 marks the 109th anniversary of the sinking of RMS Lusitania, torpedoed by German submarine U20, off the coast of southern Ireland.

Each year, on 7 May, we usually gather alongside the ship’s propeller (one of three salvaged from the wreck) and take part in commemorating those who were lost, how their loss affected their loved ones, and their legacy which still felt by family members who attend.

The story of Lusitania is one of our most significant here at the Maritime Museum. Our gallery Lusitania: life, loss, legacy has people at the heart of the story. The sinking of the ship touched lives across the world but was felt particularly strongly in Merseyside due to the ship’s close connections with Liverpool, including many of her crew coming from the local area. For almost 8 years 'Lusi’ was a familiar sight at the landing stage during her regular crossings between Liverpool and New York.