Alfred Aloysius Kelly was born in Seaforth, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, in 1895, the son of John and Elizabeth Kelly (née Ronan). He was the youngest of four children, and his father’s occupation was described as a stationary engine driver! In 1915, the family home was at 7, Juvenal Street Dwellings, Liverpool.
After completing his education, Alfred Kelly became a grocer’s errand boy before joining the Mercantile Marine as a waiter and steward.
He served as a scullion in the Stewards' Department on board the final voyage of the Lusitania and was killed when she was sunk. His body was not amongst those recovered and identified afterwards. He was aged 20 years.
As he has no known grave, his name is embossed on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London.
The records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission show Alfred Kelly's rank to be
that of a waiter, but Cunard records, published in March 1916 are more likely to be reliable.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, PRO BT 334, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 4th February 2024.