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On Friday, 7 May 1915, the RMS Lusitania - a civilian cruise liner – was bound for Liverpool, carrying 1,924 passengers and crew from New York. The ship was travelling despite threats of U-boat activity in the area.

As the Lusitania, or Lucy as she was more fondly known in her home port, reached the coast of Ireland, the German submarine U-20 fired a torpedo into the side of the ship.

Altogether, 1,119 people lost their lives – many from the city of Liverpool.

This prompted people back in the city to target German businesses and residents. Riots started in the north of Liverpool around Scotland Road – windows were smashed, shops destroyed and German people living in Liverpool were harmed. The riots spread to the south and the over the River Mersey into Wirral.

The riots lasted several days, and it is thought 200 businesses were targeted –causing an estimated £40,000 worth of damage.

Other cities also saw rioting, but none with such a personal connection to the RMS Lusitania as Liverpool.

Location: Scotland Road, Liverpool L5 5AE
Image: Anti-German riots following the sinking of the Lusitania, photograph from a newspaper article at the time

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