[Leica] IMG: The Saving of Dorothy

[Howard Ritter]

Thanks for expanding on the story, Douglas. 

Immersion in the Irish Sea in October must be rapidly lethal. To survive what must have been at least several minutes of immersion, and then exposure on a life raft for as long as it took be be rescued by naval vessels, seems to have been almost miraculous. 

—howard

> On Feb15, 2022, at 0808, Douglas Barry <imra at iol.ie> wrote:
> 
> Thanks Howard and Don.
> There's an accompanying notice beside the mural on Haigh Terrace which explains that Dun Laoghaire local William Maher - a fireman on the ship - and Dorothy Toppin were on a life raft after the RMS Leinster went down. The sea was extremely rough and a wave swept Dorothy off the raft and into the sea. Maher dived in after her at considerable risk to his own life and brought her back to the raft from which they were rescued. She was only 13 and, in gratitude, she presented William Maher with a silver watch. He also received a medal for bravery. Both of these items are now on display in the National maritime Museum on Haigh Terrace. I must go into it again now that things are easing up.
> 
> Douglas
> 
> On 15/02/2022 10:23, Don Dory via LUG wrote:
>> Of course I liked the mural; the story behind ices the cake.
>> 
>> On Mon, Feb 14, 2022 at 8:00 PM Douglas Barry <imra at iol.ie> wrote:
>> 
>>> A mural across from the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire
>>> depicting the rescue of Dorothy Toppin by William Maher following the
>>> torpedoing of the steam packet  RMS Leinster as she sailed towards the
>>> harbour in 1918.
>>> 564 people drowned from the 771 on board as the fatally holed Leinster
>>> went under from the three torpedoes of the German submarine UB-123. It
>>> was the largest loss of life in one event in the Irish Sea.
>>> 
>>> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DouglasBray/The+Saving+of+Dorothy.jpg.html
>>> 
>>> Sony A7II with Sonnar FE 55/1.8.
>>> Can be seen Larger if so desired.
>>> 
>>> Douglas
>>> 
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> 
> 
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