John Montgomery
John Montgomery, was a quartermaster on the Valencia. He died attempting to get into lifeboat No.5. Communitystories.ca tells the tragic story beautifully, “ During the morning of Tuesday, January 23rd, the Valencia started to break apart. At 8:00 am Captain Johnson called for a volunteer crew to launch the last lifeboat #5. Manned by Boatswain Timothy J. McCarthy it was lowered down the side by ropes called falls. John Montgomery also to have gone in this boat had remained on deck to help in its dangerous lowering. As the lifeboat descended rapidly and its launch appeared hopeful John quickly attempted to join the others by sliding down the fall. Tragically, he was not quick enough and due to the cold and wet conditions likely lost his grip, fell into the water and was swept to his death. Victoria's Daily Colonist for February 6, 1906, reported that the tug Lorne had returned from the search the previous day with the bodies of 9 men and 3 women. Four bodies had been definitely identified and two tentatively. One of the latter was likely that of quartermaster John Montgomery. The description was similar to that given by Mr. Griffith: 'Male - 5 feet 8 inches, long hair, features unrecognizable: no clothing. On left arm a British and Danish shield tattooed in blue and red, also a star with blue border tattooed on same arm. On right arm, three cross fishes tattooed in blue.' Montgomery's naval record showed his actual height to be 5 feet 7 inches which is very close to the description of the recovered body. The most distinguishing feature, however, is that of the tattoo showing three crossed fish. This unusual feature is actually the coat of arms for the Town of Peebles, Scotland where John was born and raised. This evidence strongly implies that the body was indeed that of John Montgomery. This body along with many others, mostly unidentified, was interned at Ross Bay Cemetery in Victoria. Although never positively identified, it appears that Montgomery was buried in the grave marked 'Number 11, Unknown'. Based on a review of many of the original records of this disaster, this grave can be safely said to be his final resting place."