Charles McDonald was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, on the 10th October 1889, the son of William and Mary Ann McDonald (née Gould). His father was a dock labourer, and Charles was the second youngest of ten children in the family.
On completing his education, Charles joined the Mercantile Marine as a waiter, working mainly for the Cunard Steam Ship Company on their passenger liners.
He joined as a first class waiter in the Stewards' Department on board the Lusitania in time for her departure to New York on the 17th April 1915, on what would be the great liner’s 201st trans-Atlantic voyage. Having reached New York, he was still serving in the same capacity when the Lusitania commenced her return voyage to Liverpool on the afternoon of the 1st May.
When the Lusitania was within sight of the Old Head of Kinsale in southern Ireland on the afternoon of the 7th May, she was intercepted by the German submarine, U-20, and sunk by a torpedo launched by her, sinking within eighteen minutes. Charles McDonald was fortunate to survive the action, and having been landed at Queenstown, he eventually made his way back to Liverpool.
He continued to serve in the Mercantile Marine for many years, and in the summer of 1
children.
By the early 1930’s, Charles and Elizabeth McDonald had emigrated to the United States of America, settling initially in Kearney, New Jersey, and later in New York City.
Charles continued to serve as a waiter and steward on passenger liners until the 1940’s, before taking up a position in a factory manufacturing metal plating.
It is known that he was living in New York City until at least 1950, but nothing further is known about him.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Liverpool England Catholic Baptisms 1741 – 1919, 1891 Census of England, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, 1940 U.S. Federal Census, 1950 U.S. Federal Census, Liverpool England Crew Lists 1861 – 1919, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards 1942, PRO BT 349, PRO BT 350, PRO BT 351/1/91909, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 5th December 2024.