The Donaghadee Lifeboat at the 12th

I took this photo on the 12th July at Portavogie, of LOL 836 Bro Henry Ferguson Memorial Orange Lodge from Donaghadee. As you can see their banner has a painting of the local lifeboat, with the message "Oh hear us when we cry to Thee, for those in peril on the sea"

New Poem Discovered!

My uncle John called round tonight with a photocopy of another one of Granda's poems, about the Princess Victoria disaster again, which was given to him by Roberta McKee of Ballyeasborough.

It had been printed in the Chronicle (obviously sometime between the sinking in 1953 and William's death in 1957). It's untitled, but here it is:

.........................

This motor vessel left Stranraer
To cross the short sea route to Larne
But very soon the mountainous seas
Had caused this noble ship much harm

She soon heeled over on her side
The SOS message told its tale
And ships went racing to her aid
Alas it was of no avail

And Coxswain Young from Cloughey shore
With brave Hugh Nelson from the 'Dee
A lifeboat from Portpatrick, too
Were out there on that angry sea

The call came to abandon ship
A few miles from the Irish coast
In spite of all the rescue work
A few were saved and many lost

Sir Walter Smiles was on the boat
And Major Maynard Sinclair too
Thus two of Ulster's noblest sons
Have passed on from our mortal view

The search went on and aeroplanes
Assisted by destroyers too
They searched the sea for miles around
Snow blizzards hiding all from view

And many victims of the sea
Were brought to shore from day to day
And Ulster mourns their tragic fate
And would its silent homage pay

We humbly commend to God
The many homes of grief and pain
When death divides, may He reunite
Where there is no more sea, again!