Sophia Violet BARRETT

Sophie Violet BARRETT. Nurse VAD with St John Ambulance. (Mentioned in Despatches)

Born 21 February 1884 in Balintaua, Glenamaddy, County Galway to Samuel and Elizabeth Barrett.

She was a passenger R.M.S. "Leinster" was torpedoed in the Irish Sea, 16 miles east of Dublin, on the morning of 10th October 1918. The ship was travelling from Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire), Dublin, to Holyhead, Anglesey, North Wales. Three torpedoes were fired at the ship by a German submarine, UB-123. The first torpedo missed, but the second hit the mail room, and the third hit the engine room. There were over 770 people on board, comprising crew, civilians, military personnel (including medical staff of doctors and nurses), and postal sorters. It is now thought that of these, there were over 550 casualties.

She was killed that day aged 34. Her body was recovered, and she brought back to Carrickmines House, on Saturday 12th October 1918. On Monday 14th October, her coffin was taken to Kilternan Church, Dublin, for burial. A gratuity was granted 1 September 1919 to General George Henrey. At rest in Kilternan Church of Ireland Churchyard, County Dublin. Right of main path.
Photographs credited to John on Find a Grave.

Extract from The British Journal of Nursing dated 26 October 1918 -
Sophia Violet BARRETT. On the 10th Oct 1918, drowned through the sinking of the R.M.S. Leinster by a German submarine, when returning to duty in France, Sophia Violet, V.A.D., younger daughter of the late Samuel Barrett, J.P., Ba’lintava, Co. Galway, and beloved niece of Mrs. Wilson Carrickmines House, Carrickmines