GREAT BRITAIN. Germany - Great Britain - United States. Sinking of the Lusitania Cast Iron Medal, 1915. cf Kie-156. English copy. Lusitania sinking, legend above with five line inscription in exergue, date "5 May 1915"; Reverse: Cunard line ticket office with patrons. The Lusitania first entered passenger service in 1907 with the Cunard Line and continued the lines heavily-traveled service between Liverpool and New York City. Great Britain and Germanys relationship dwindled after the outbreak of World War I, as the two became enemies within the conflict. This lead to Germanys declaration of submarine warfare upon the British Isles and a no-sail zone for any vessel flying the British flag. On 7 May 1915, the Lusitania was identified by a German U-Boat, torpedoed, and sank in 18 minutes, killing 1,198 of the 1,951 passengers. The vessel went down 11 miles off the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland, and instantly became an iconic symbol for American involvement into the war. The copies, originally instigated by Gordon Selfridge, were sold to raise funds for St Dunstans and similar charitable bodies.
