Last living link to a marine tragedy

It ends with the funeral of Mrs Yvonne Pugh, who has lived in the city for more than 20 years and is believed to be the last survivor of the maritime disaster which befell the 'Queen of the Seas' off the coast of Ireland in 1915.

Yvonne was just six, a passenger with her family on the ill-fated vessel and for nearly 80 years was haunted by the scenes of devastation as people fought for their lives.

The ship had taken a direct hit from a German U-boat. Debris and bodies littered the sea and in 18 minutes the Lusitania went down.

Mrs Pugh, better known in Hereford as Eve, was saved with her parents, brother and sister when they were thrown into a small fishing boat while others perished.

Eve, who was to face two more major tragedies, rarely spoke of the sinking which led to rioting in many cities in Britain, and, indirectly, to the United States becoming involved in the First World War.

But her daughter, Rita Couling, said her mother was haunted by the memories throughout her life.

Eve, who lived in Broad Street, died in the Weir Nursing Home on Saturday aged 92. Her funeral is at Hereford Crematorium tomorrow (Friday) at 12-40pm and she has requested her ashes remain in Hereford, her adopted home.

Eve was in Canada when the First World War started, her father, a Frenchman, was teaching English.

But with war in Europe they decided to return home and set sail from New York on May 1, 1915, knowing the risk of German attack.

As they approached the Irish coast Joseph Marichal and his wife Jessie believed they, and their children Yvonne, Maurice, aged four and Phyllis, two, were safe.

Perished

But at lunchtime on May 7 a torpedo brought disaster. Mrs Marichal later recalled crashing glass, china and chandeliers and the immediate tilting of the liner.

The family was together because the parents insisted the children should dine with them rather than in the nursery of the luxury liner.

It was the right decision. Of the 129 children on board 94 perished.

The Marichals lost everything. Mr Marichal, saying life was more important than property, got his family to the side of the ship.

His wife, who was pregnant, and his children were thrown into a fishing boat. But men were not allowed and he jumped into the water, swimming alongside until they reached land.

The sights were horrific and terrifying. Of 1,918 on board, 1,195 perished, either going down with the liner or dying in the icy waters.

The Marichals moved to live with other family near Worcester and Joseph went to war in Europe.

On May 7, 1916, exactly a year after the Lusitania went down, he was killed in the Battle of the Somme. Eve was just seven.

Mrs Marichal was left to bring up her family and eventually Eve married Eric Vincent Pugh whose father was High Sheriff, magistrate and businessman in Worcester.

They had one daughter, Rita, who now lives in France with her husband John.

During the last war Eric Pugh became a Captain in the Army and got his wings flying with the tactical air force.

He was shot down in France on D-Day and is buried in Normandy. Like her mother Eve before her, Rita was just seven when she lost her father.

In following years Eve made many friends in Herefordshire, including actress the late Noele Gordon of Ross-on-Wye, and Mildred and Harry Packard, licensees of the Queens Arms in Broad Street. She was a regular worshipper at the Cathedral.

A close friend for 40 years is Peter Jordan of Hereford who said Eve had the shadow of the Lusitania always hanging over her, but rarely spoke about it and enjoyed life.

Her family will be in Hereford for the funeral. They have no mementoes of the Lusitania disaster, all the family the possessions they had then are at the bottom of the sea.

Eve never 'dined out' on her own terrifying memories. With the death of the last survivor it is left to books and history to recount the violent ending of a mighty Cunard liner and its heavy loss of life which helped change the course of the First World War.