Harry Heap was born in Salford, Lancashire, England, on the 21st January 1890, the eldest child of Thomas and Ellen Bertha Louise Heap (née Voight). His father was a railway van driver before becoming a police constable with the Manchester Police Force. In 1900, Harry’s mother died, leaving Thomas Heap to raise four young children. Unfortunately, Thomas Heap died in 1905, which meant the family was divided up between relatives to be raised.
Harry married Florence Elizabeth Kennedy in Liverpool in 1914, and the couple lived at 89, Geraint Street, Toxteth, Liverpool, Lancashire, where they had a daughter named Ada Bertha who was born in December 1914.
He served as a “boots” in the Stewards' Department on board the Lusitania and he was killed when she was sunk. He was aged 25 years.
His body was never found and identified afterwards, and as a result, he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine War Memorial at Tower Hill, London.
By the time the memorial register had been compiled, Florence Heap had moved to 188. Upper Warwick Street, Toxteth, Liverpool, Lancashire, which was the home of her parents. In 1918, she married Richard Swinnerton, who was a ship’s painter, and he
moved in with his wife’s family.
In keeping with all crew members, survived, or perished, Cunard paid Harry Heap’s wages from the 17th April until the 8th May, 24 hours after the sinking, and eventually, in August 1915, the balance of wages owing to him, was forwarded to his widow Florence, in respect of his service on the Lusitania’s last voyage. In addition, The Liverpool and London War Risks Insurance Association Limited also granted a yearly pension to Florence Swinnerton to compensate her for the loss of her husband which amounted to £57-16s.-2d. (£57.81p.) which was payable at the rate of £4-16s.-5d. (£4.82p.) per month.
Register of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1891 Census of England, 1901 Census of England, 1921 Census of England, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, National School Admissions Registers and Log Books 1870 – 1914, , UniLiv. PR 13/24, PRO BT 100/345, PRO BT 334, PRO BT 351/1/60807, 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 January 2024.