George Cross Recipient. On 30th May 1918, the SS Ausonia was 620 miles W xS3/4S from Fastnett, on a passage from London to New York when it was torpedoed and at once began to settle down and finally disappeared twenty minutes after being struck. Lister (aged 16) and a pantry boy (Matthew Robinson, aged 17 from Seaforth), both of whom were on their first voyage, were below in a cooling chamber when the explosion occurred, and they both received serious injuries. When Lister regained, consciousness he found that both his ankles were helpless. He made his way to the top of the stairs, but found that the door was jammed. There was, however, a hatchway opening overhead, and Lister placed some of the planking, which had been blown up, against this opening in order to clamber up the planking and escape. Hearing cries of distress at this moment, however, he returned and searched the chamber on his hands and knees until he found Robinson with both legs broken, and managed by half dragging and half supporting him to get him up the planking to the steps leading to the deck. Other members of the crew then assisted both boys into boats, which were picked up after several days. The pantry boy, after being taken to hospital, succumbed to his injuries.
George Cross Recipient. On 30th May 1918, the SS Ausonia was 620 miles W xS3/4S from Fastnett, on a passage from London to New York when it was torpedoed and at once began to settle down and finally disappeared twenty minutes after being struck. Lister (aged 16) and a pantry boy (Matthew Robinson, aged 17 from Seaforth), both of whom were on their first voyage, were below in a cooling chamber when the explosion occurred, and they both received serious injuries. When Lister regained, consciousness he found that both his ankles were helpless. He made his way to the top of the stairs, but found that the door was jammed. There was, however, a hatchway opening overhead, and Lister placed some of the planking, which had been blown up, against this opening in order to clamber up the planking and escape. Hearing cries of distress at this moment, however, he returned and searched the chamber on his hands and knees until he found Robinson with both legs broken, and managed by half dragging and half supporting him to get him up the planking to the steps leading to the deck. Other members of the crew then assisted both boys into boats, which were picked up after several days. The pantry boy, after being taken to hospital, succumbed to his injuries.
Bio by: Paul Barnett
Gravesite Details
Ashes scattered
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