According to surviving records, Harry Lockett was born in Crewe, Cheshire, England, on the 1st January 1878, however, his birth appears to have been registered at the end of 1877 which suggests that at some point in his life he decided to use this date. Nothing is known of his parents or family.
He was a professional seaman in the Mercantile Marine and in 1915, lived at 12, Alexander Street, Walton, Liverpool, Lancashire. This was also the home of fellow seaman Peter McNally, so it might have been a lodging house, or simply McNally’s home.
According to an article in the 8th June 1915 edition of the Nantwich Guardian, he was married with two children, but this cannot be verified.
On the 12th April 1915, he engaged as an able seaman in the Deck Department on board the Lusitania, at a monthly rate of pay of £5-10s.-0d. (£5.50p.), £1-10s-0d. (£1.50p.) of which
was advanced to him at the time. He reported for duty on board the liner at 7 a.m. on the 17th April before she left Princes Landing Stage at Liverpool, for the very last time. It was not his first service on the vessel.
Having been on board when the Lusitania arrived at New York, he also served on her return journey which began on the 1st May 1915. Six days later, on the afternoon of the 7th May 1915, he survived her sinking after she had been torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20. At that time, she was only twelve miles off the coast of Ireland and only hours away from her home port.
Having been rescued from the sea, he was landed at Queenstown from where he eventually made it back to Liverpool, and where he was officially discharged from the Lusitania's final voyage. He was also paid the sum of £3-8s.-8d. (£3.43p.), which was the balance of pay owing to him in respect of his service on the liner from the 17th April 1915, until the 8th May, 24 hours after she had gone down.
In the summer of 1915, he married Annie Healey in Liverpool, and they had no children. The resided for a time at 69. Bamber Street, Liverpool, and later at 53. Peach Street, Liverpool.
Harry Lockett continued to serve as an Able Seaman in the Mercantile Marine for many years after, serving on such vessels as the Carmania. He was serving up to the eve of the Second World War; however, nothing further is known about him.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1921 Census of England, 1939 Register, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, Nantwich Guardian, PRO ADM 337/104/207, PRO BT 100/345, PRO BT 348, PRO BT 349, PRO BT 350, PRO BT 351/1/83335, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 8th March 2024.