8 British soldiers among 9 dead in Co. Down ferryboat tragedy
Down, 10 February 1923 - Eight British soldiers and the son of a ferryman lost their lives in a boating tragedy in Dundrum Bay, Co. Down that occurred on the 3rd of February.
The soldiers, all belonging to the Royal West Kent and Cheshire Regiments, had been attempting to make their return to Ballykinlar Camp where they were stationed when the ferryboat capsized. At an inquest into the tragedy, a member of the Coastguard Service expressed the opinion that the boat was overloaded. The inquest jury agreed, returning a verdict of accidental death.
It is understood that a party of ten soldiers had spent the day in Dundrum and in Newcastle and engaged a local boatman at 10.30 pm to row them across the Inner Bay to Ballykinlar Point.
The boat had only progressed about 150 yards from the quayside when cries of distress could be heard from the shore and two more boats immediately set out to help. One of these boats was responsible for saving the lives of two soldiers and one ferryman.
The deceased were all young men. The eight soldiers were all aged between 19 years and 23, while the youngest of those to perish was the 17 year-old son of the boatman, who has been named as Robert Lowey Junior.
The bodies of six of the soldiers, their coffins covered with Union Jacks, have since been taken to Belfast and from there returned to England, five by the Fleetwood steamer and one by the Liverpool boat.
Meanwhile, the funerals of the two other military personnel have taken place in Ireland, the first being that of Private A. H. Bellingham, 2nd West Kent. He was buried in Tyrella Burying ground on the 8th of February. Full military honours were given with the regimental band in attendance, as well as a firing party and guard of honour. A detachment of the RUC also attended. The funeral of the other soldier, Private R.W Wellard, took place on the 9th.
[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]
