Lord Mersey and the Lusitania Wreck Inquiry

A judicial inquiry into the reasons for the wreck was headed by Lord Mersey, a fair man.  By this time, however, Captain Turner was greatly reviled by many who thought he should have gone down with his ship.

A key part of the inquiry was whether the captain had disobeyed orders - or - whether he had acted reasonably under the circumstances.  The traumatized captain was questioned about instructions he no longer recalled.

Lord Mersey, less concerned about political implications than getting to the truth, was intent that the hearing would not castigate Turner unless the evidence required such a result.

Credits

This video clip is from the BBC’s recreation of the ship, and the story of her 1915 sinking, entitled Lusitania:  Murder on the Atlantic.