World War II seaman to receive posthumous honour

A LIMERICK seaman who lost his life when serving with the merchant navy during World War II will finally be honoured on Sunday.

Sixteen Limerick seamen lost their lives during the war, and all but Hector Young were posthumously awarded the Mercantile Marine Service Medal by the Irish Government after the war.

Historian Pat McNamara was conducting research when he discovered that Hector Young had not been honoured for his service.

Mr McNamara said: “He was one of eight Limerick seamen who lost their lives when the SS Irish Pine was sunk on November 15, 1942.”

Seaman Young was only 19 when he died at sea.

His sister, Rebecca Clarke, from Ardnacrusha, will accept the medal on his behalf.

The navy ship LE Eimear will dock in Limerick for the ceremony.

A plaque with the names of all 16 Limerick merchant seamen will also be unveiled to commemorate their service.

“During the emergency, Ireland as an island nation was solely dependent on her small Mercantile Marine and Fishing fleet to sustain her with the necessities of life during the war years,” said Mr McNamara.

“It is worth recording that all these men were volunteers and the service in which they served was a civilian service.

“These were the men who manned the ships that supplied the country with the food and fuel that helped to sustain this island nation during the dark days of World War II.”

In all, 149 men attached to the merchant navy and the fishing fleet died when their vessels were sunk by the Germans.

The Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Michael Hourigan, and members of ONE, Slua Muire and the British Legion will also attend Sunday’s ceremony which commences at 11.30am.