Noel's Story.
Noel was born on 16th December 1890 in Bolton, Lancashire to parents John, who worked for the Excise Branch of the Inland Revenue, and Mary Finucane.In 1891, Noel still lived in Bolton with his parents, four brothers and two sisters. Sometime during the 1890’s the family moved to Liverpool, as John Finucane died in 1898 in West Derby.
The 1901 census records the family at 81 Botanic Road, Liverpool. Noel was with his widowed mother and three of his siblings.
By 1911 the family had moved to Sudworth Road, Liscard, where Noel worked as a clerk for a coal exporter. A year later he had become a merchant seaman sailing on the Cunard ships RMS Campania and Laconia.
After that Noel joined the crew of the RMS Lusitania as a First-Class waiter and made 26 voyages on this ship. On the 7th May 1915 the Lusitania was returning from America and was about eight miles off the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland when she was torpedoed by a German U-Boat and was sunk with a loss of approximately 1200 lives. For more information on the sinking of the Lusitania click here.
Although initially reported as drowned, as the picture from the local paper indicated, Noel survived the sinking. Some of his recollections of the event were outlined in the local newspaper –
"It was gleaned that he gave up his lifebelt to a lady passenger. An incident that stands out in his recollection of the disaster was a piano sliding down the deck owing to the boat’s list and the crash of the notes as the instrument crashed up against the bulkhead. When the boat began to settle down, Mr. Finucane dived over the side, telling one of the stewards, - Fred Gorst, of Poulton - to do the same. That was the last he saw of his comrade. It appeared that Mr. Finucane took the plunge only just in time, for as he did so, the Lusitania heeled over, and the funnels struck the water with a crash, the impact sending up a huge wave, lifting him completely out of the water. For some time, he swam about and came upon an oar which he used to support himself. After swimming for some time he came alongside a collapsible boat, into which 40 to 50 people were eventually assisted. At this time, Mr. Finucane’s clothing was reduced to collar and tie and his socks, he having divested himself of the rest of his attire while swimming. Mr. Finucane gave his shirt to bind up the wound of one of the rescued crew."
Fred Gorst was a casualty of the sinking and his body was never recovered.
Noel remained in the Merchant Navy and served on the RMS Aquitania, which had been converted into a troop transport and hospital ship. He stayed with the Aquitania until the evacuation of Gallipoli in late 1915.
On the 12th December 1915 Noel enlisted in the 10th Battalion King’s Liverpool Regiment (Liverpool Scottish). He spent the next seven months initially in the reserves until he was mobilised on the 7th July 1916. He underwent home service until November 1916 and arrived in France on the 13th of that month. The battalion war diaries record that on the 25th November a draft of 77 men arrived from England. It is likely that Noel was amongst that number.
Following the battalion’s participation in the Battle of the Somme they were moved back to Belgium in October 1916, based near the village of Wieltje.
The battalion war diary for the day Noel was killed recorded the following -
‘Jan 4th, the enemy sighted a small party working under the 1/4th South Lancs in DURHAM trench causing a casualty of 1 O/R killed by machine gun fire.’
As this was the only casualty recorded that day it is assumed to be Noel Finucane. His death was reported in the local newspaper, and is reproduced below -
Wallasey News 27 January 1917
Lusitania Survivor Killed
Shot Through the Heart
The death is announced in action of Pte. Noel Finucane of the Bombers Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regt., who previous to his enlistment resided at 117, Manor Road, Liscard. The gallant soldier was a member of the crew of the Lusitania at the time of the disaster and was reported drowned. It subsequently transpired, however, that he was amongst the saved. He joined the King’s Liverpool Regt., and the tributes which have been paid to his services denote the fact that he had become an efficient and fearless soldier. Mrs. Finucane has received the following letters of condolence from the Officer Commanding the Bombers -
“Dear Mrs. Finucane – One of his friends has already written to you of your son’s death in action. Will you please accept my most sincere sympathies. Your son had only been in my section for a few weeks, but he had already revealed a stout heart and a willing hand. He was recommended to me because of his success in grenade work in England, and that success I am sure would have been amplified out here.
The blow to you must be exceedingly heavy. It is difficult to try and lessen that grief, but may I suggest these consolations, that he died the most honourable death it is given to man to die, and he was killed as all of us would wish, if it is to be our fate, to be killed – a bullet clean through the heart.
Again, please accept my deepest sympathy. If there is anything I can do for you, please let me know – Yours faithfully (Signed) Arnold Gledsdale, O.C. Bombers, K.L.R.”
Later,
“I have returned from your son’s funeral. He was buried by a Church of Scotland padre in a military cemetery at _____, the battalion being represented by a number of the men, a company officer, the officer who was in charge of the working party when he was hit and myself.”
Private Noel Finucane was buried at Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery, Belgium.
He is remembered on the Wallasey War Memorial, and also remembered on the St. Mary and St. Columba Parishioners Roll of Honour, Liscard.
In recognition of his war service Noel was awarded the Victory and British Medals, and the Mercantile Marine Medal.
After his death a couple of obituaries appeared in the newspaper.
From his family
From his fiancé Annie Urinowski.
Annie not only lost her fiancé in the First World War but also her brother, Second Lieutenant Alexander Urinowski who died of wounds on 25th August 1918.
Annie Urinowski died in 1931, aged 42 and is buried in Rake Lane Cemetery, Wallasey.
Note: Second Lieutenant Arnold Gledsdale was killed in action on the 31st July 1917, and is commemorated on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial.
Research, Noel Finucane’s photograph and newspaper article by Chris Booth