THE names of two men who did not appear on a memorial to those killed in a Co Antrim ferry disaster were finally added yesterday on the 65th anniversary of the sea tragedy.
A plaque with the names of Gordon Wright and Thomas Saunders was dedicated at the memorial in Larne, which honours those who died in the Princess Victoria disaster on January 31 1953.
A service was held at Larne harbour to mark the anniversary that claimed the lives of more than 130 people.
The car ferry had been making the short journey between Stranraer and Larne when its stern doors smashed open by huge waves. Water flooded in and the ship rolled onto its side, sinking within sight of the Co Down coast.
At the time it was regarded as the deadliest maritime disaster in UK waters since World War II, with 27 of the victims hailing from Larne. The Donaghadee lifeboat, Sir Samuel Kelly, rescued 33 of the 44 survivors from the wreck and brought in many bodies on the following day.
To mark the 65th anniversary yesterday, services were held in Larne and Stranraer and wreaths were laid at memorials in both towns by several organisations and relatives of the passengers and crew.
During the service at the Princess Victoria Memorial near Larne Harbour, a plaque was unveiled to the two servicemen whose names did not appear on the original memorial.
It came after research by Larne historian Liam Kelly identified the names of Mr Wright and Mr Saunders, who he believed should be added to the memorial.
Mr Wright was found to have been listed among service personnel who died in the tragedy. Mr Saunders, an English airman, was mentioned in a newspaper article in which his family said he had been returning to barracks after a home visit when the ferry sank.
The Ulster Historical Foundation investigated further and discovered paperwork that confirmed both men died at sea on January 31 1953, the date of the Princess Victoria disaster.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council subsequently agreed to inscribe the names onto the memorial, with the plaque to be dedicated on the 65th anniversary. It was officially unveiled by Lord Lieutenant Joan Christie during yesterday's service.
During the service in Stranraer, Elaine Murray, the leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council, said: "We still admire the valiant efforts of the crew and their fellow seafarers, who risked, and in some cases sacrificed, their own lives to save others."
