Although no record of his birth can be found, Henry Devlin is believed to have been born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, in 1875, the son of Peter and Elizabeth Devlin (née McLaren). Both of his parents were born in Scotland and his father was a professional seaman, working as a fireman on steam ships. He was one of the youngest children in the family and had at least three older siblings – Martha, William, and Peter.
He became a professional seaman in the British Mercantile Marine, and like his father, became a fireman.
On the 12th June 1906, he married Isabella Devlin, (née McShane) in Liverpool, and in 1915, they lived at 15, Dallas Grove, Aintree, Liverpool, Lancashire. The couple had four children – Henry, Hubert, Emily Josephine, and Charles. Unfortunately, Hubert died within a year of his birth.
In April 1915, Henry Devlin engaged as a fireman in the Engineering Department on board the Lusitania at Liverpool, at a monthly rate of pay of £6-10s.-0d. (£6.50p.), £1-0s.-0d. of which was advanced to him at the time. He reported for duty early on the morning of the 17th April; in time for the vessels last ever voyage out of the River Mersey.
Three weeks later, he was killed when the Cunarder was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of southern Ireland and only hours away from her home port. He was aged 40 years, although he gave his age on engagement as 38! His body was never recovered and identified afterwards and as a consequence, he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial to The Missing, at Tower Hill, London.
The balance of wages owing to him was later paid to his widow, Isabella, at Liverpool in respect of his sea service from the 17th April to the 8th May 1915; 24 hours after the liner had gone down.
The Liverpool and London War Risks Insurance Association Limited also granted a yearly pension to Isabella Devlin to compensate her for the loss of her husband which amounted to £55-2s.-1d. (£55.10½p.) which was payable at the rate of £4-11s.-11d. (£4.59½p.) per month.
His family continued to live at 15. Dallas Grove for many years.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Liverpool England Catholic Marriages 1754 – 1933, 1881 Census of England, 1891 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, 1921 Census of England, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, UK Campaign Medals Awarded to World War I Merchant Seamen 1914 – 1925, PRO BT 334, PRO BT 351/1/157279, UniLiv. PR 13/24, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, George Donnison, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated –24th February 2023.