110 years ago today, we witnessed a disaster that shocked the world

The Herald Scotland

07-05-2025

The ship gently eased out untethered into the Hudson River as the passengers joyfully waved farewell to those on shore.
Like all Scottish immigrants to America, James had come with great hope. In America he discovered and embraced abundant opportunities. Though he found what he sought, he never truly left Scotland. As he began this trans-Atlantic crossing at 36 years-old, images of loved ones and special places stirred within him.
A German submarine torpedo struck the Lusitania (Image: © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image) On May 7 in the early afternoon the Lusitania came to the southern coastline of Ireland about 12 miles away from Old Head of Kinsale. Excitement permeated through the ship as it prepared to edge around the coast up through St George Channel into the Irish Sea then to Liverpool.
Passengers then heard a loud explosive pop followed seconds later by a second that rocked the ship and made it list. A German submarine torpedo had struck. In a matter of seconds, the joy of cruising across Ireland and moving toward the final stages of the journey shifted to terror and fear.
The evacuation was chaotic as water rapidly filled the ship. Only 8 of the 22 wooden life boats made it into the water safely. James was one of the last to leave the ship. The images he saw in the water haunted him.
One in particular was a man and his 18-month old infant child. James described how the man had got hold of a hatch cover and had lifted the child on to it. The man was desperately trying to balance the child while holding on for his own life. The waters then swallowed the two up and they were gone. The Glasgow built Lusitania dipped below the water's surface and passed down to the sea's bottom - its final resting place. In all 1,198 passengers and crew perished.
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James Haldane was first reported dead, but survived. He was the only one to have seen both the birth of the Lusitania as a worker on the project at Clydebank and the death of it that tragic May day.
The event so outraged James that upon his return to America, he enlisted in the Canadian Army to avenge and honour those lost. He pledged his life to fight for their memory. James was brave in his faithful commitment to that pledge. While on the front in France this courageous Scot was killed in action in August 1918.
He is memorialised alongside many others at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial at Givenchy-en-Gohelle, France.
There are many ways we might consider the story of the Lusitania and the ship's eventual demise during this time of remembrance. I choose to remember those who built it, sailed on it, and those innocents who tragically lost their lives that horrible day in May of 1915. I am also reminded as I pondered the story of James Haldane that each day is a precious gift.
On certain days the current swings quickly from an unassuming calm to one of deep unrest – the wind shifts directions in an instant from joy to grief. Today I simply write this final sentence feeling gratitude for the day, the moments, and the remaining journey I have been granted alongside thoughtful and decent people.
Ian Houston is a regular writer for the Herald. He has spent his career as an advocate for diplomacy, trade, poverty alleviation, and intercultural dialogue. He promotes commercial, educational, artistic, and charitable linkages between Scotland, UK, and the US. He is an Honorary Professor at the University of the West of Scotland. He is located in the Washington, DC area. His views are his own.