Fred Lewis was born in Bolton, Lancashire, England, in 1877, the son and eldest of eight children of Thomas and Alice Lewis (née Wardley) of 579, Bury Road, Bolton. His father was employed in the offices of The Bolton Co-operative Society. Whilst a boy, Fred Lewis was a regular attendee at Bank Street Unitarian Sunday School, Bolton. He also found employment as a spindle maker on completion of his education.
He first joined the crew of the Lusitania on her maiden voyage in September 1907, as a waiter in the Steward’s Department and he continued to serve on board her until the day she was sunk.
On the 15th April 1915, at Liverpool, whilst living at 37, Manor Road, Liscard, Wallasey, Cheshire, he signed on as a second class waiter on the Cunarder, at a monthly wage of £4-5s.-0d. (£4.25p.). He reported for duty at 7 a.m. on the 17th April - the day that the Cunarder left the River Mersey for the very last time. One of his duties on board was that of doctors’ steward.
He was killed three weeks later when the liner was sunk, and his body was never found and identified afterwards.
As a consequence, he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London. He was aged 38 years.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1881 Census of England, 1891 Census of England, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, Liverpool England Crew Lists 1861 – 1919, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Bolton Evening News, Wallasey News, PRO BT 100/345, 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 – 3rd March 2024.