Mariners’ Service Marks 112 Years of Remembrance for Worst Marine Disaster to Hit the Great Lakes

“Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them.” – George Eliot

Gordon Lightfoot’s song The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald shed light on tragic sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which happened on Lake Superior.

Yet many people may not be aware of the worst marine disaster right here in our own backyard.

The Great Storm, also known as the ‘White Hurricane’, the ‘Big Blow’ and the ‘blackest day in Canadian marine history’ occurred November 7 until November 9 in 1913.

It sank 12 ships with all hands, eight of these on Lake Huron alone, stranded 19 others and killed an estimated 250 sailors. Exact numbers will never be known since many of the storm’s deaths didn’t surface and record keeping was poor at the time.

Five who did surface on Goderich beach and five more on Kincardine beach were never identified and are buried in these communities’ Maitland and Union Cemeteries “known only to God”.

Three local sailors aboard the Wexford died, including young cousins Donald and Murdoch McDonald of Goderich and new Scottish immigrant James Glen of Clinton. It is believed that it was Wexford, which Goderich citizens could hear blowing its horn in vain all day as it searched for the safety of our harbour.

The ill-fated ship wasn’t found until August of 2000, lying at the bottom of Lake Huron, 22 nautical miles southwest of Goderich in 85 feet of water.

On Sunday, November 16, 1913, the Rev. Dr. George Ross of Knox Presbyterian Church, along with other members of this community’s clergy, conducted an interdenominational memorial service for all those who died in the Great Storm.

Fourteen hundred people crammed the old church building of the day, and money was collected for the widows and orphans of sailors lost.

One hundred and twelve years later, the tradition continues at Knox Goderich with the Mariners’ Service held the last Sunday of every February.

Since 1913, it has evolved from a simple “Sailors & Fishermen’s Service” - to pray for safety before ships set out each spring - into a memorial tribute to the victims of the Great Storm. Re-named the Mariners’ Service in 1914, it has since become one of the oldest traditions at Knox Goderich and perhaps in the entire community.

Everyone is invited to this year’s service on Sunday, February 22 at 10 a.m. Guest speaker is Keith Hudson. There will be special music and a Moments of Remembrance bell ringing ceremony.

Knox sanctuary will be decorated with flags and marine memorabilia to add to a moving experience.