Robert Ryan Marries Nora McGourty - 1915

On the 10th of December 1915, My great-grandparents, ROBERT RYAN and NORA McGOURTY married at the registry office in Hope Street, Glasgow. Robert was living at 31 Lumsden Street and working as an Ironturner, whilst Nora had been employed as a Grocery Clerk. Their son THOMAS DAVIS RYAN was born on the 12th of February 1916..!

Nora McGourty - SS Haverford 1923

Nora McGourty left the United Kingdom from Liverpool on the 21st of June 1923, aged 27. She sailed to a new life in America, disembarking in Philadelphia and residing at Westchester Pike, Westchester PA. She sailed 3rd Class on the White Star Line steamer SS Haverford, leaving behind her husband ROBERT RYAN and her 7 year old son THOMAS DAVIS RYAN.

The twin-screw sister ships 'Haverford' and 'Merion' were built by John Brown and Company of Clydebank. She sailed the American Line service between Liverpool and Philadelphia, USA. For many years both ships had American Line funnels and houseflags, but were officially owned and registered in Liverpool. Because of this they flew the British flag.
'Haverford' was a successful, if unglamorous, North Atlantic 'workhorse'. She could carry nearly 2,000 passengers, mainly third-class or steerage and 10,000 tons of cargo. During the First World War she served as a cargo and troop transport. She carried British troops to the Dardanelles and American troops to Europe. She survived two torpedo attacks from U-boats. After the war she returned to the Liverpool-Philadelphia service. She helped repatriate thousands of American troops and carried many emigrants to the USA. She was scrapped in Italy in 1925

Nora McGourty - SS Transylvania 1925

 

My great grandmother, NORA McGOURTY returned to Westchester, PA from Glasgow in 1925. She boarded the SS Transylvania on her maiden voyage on the 12th September 1925 aged 29. Her last address had been 964 Argyle Street, Glasgow and she was a Clerkess. This steamer was to become HMS Transylvania in 1939 and was sunk by U-Boat U-56 on 10th August 1940, with the loss of 36 men. Her wreck lies intact off the Irish coast, 40 miles north-west of Malin Head, Co. Donegal. Captained by Francis Nigel Miles,RN she was hit aft of the stack by one G7e torpedo from U-56. The Germans then left her behind having run out of torpedoes. As she was towed back she foundered and local trawlers rescued 300 officers and ratings. Here are a selection of photos of the Transylvania from her days as a cruise liner, and of U-96.

 

 

 

 

These photos are reproduced here courtesy of Leigh Bishop and Wikipedia as well as from sites such as http://www.gjenvick.com/HistoricalBrochures/AnchorLine/1926-NewAnchorLineFleet.html#axzz2GSzDmZgj and the wonderfully detailed story of the dives here : http://www.divernet.com/Wrecks/408322/the_subterranean_world_of_transylvania.html