SS Formby(2nd Engineer William Lumley) was sunk 15th December with loss of all 37 crew and 2 passengers. Her sister ship ,SS Coningbeg(Captain,Joseph Lumley,father of William) was sunk by the same U boat (U62) two nights later with loss of all 40 crew and 4 passengers .Both were Waterford Steamers that ran regular trade route Waterford to Liverpool and both were on their way back to Waterford. Of the 83 victims 67 were from Waterford.Due to stormy weather the Waterford Office was unable to telegraph Liverpool to warn of the non arrival of the Formby. A memorial to the 83 was later erected on the Quay in Waterford. All were given Service Medals (Ireland was still part of Britain) and are listed in the War Graves Commission in London.
Both Ships sank within 3 minutes of being hit indicating both were hit in the boiler room. Due to stormy weather,the Waterford Office could not telegraph Liverpool to warn the Coningbeg of the non arrival of the Formby.
According to another site a John O'Brien, Cattleman died aboard the Formby. If that was your grandfather then he would have been awarded a Service Medal.
