Nothing is known about J. Heyes except in April 1915; he signed on as an able seaman on board the Lusitania in the Deck Department. His monthly wage was £5-10s.-0d. (£5.50p.).
Having reported on board the liner on the morning of the 17th April, he was on the crossing from Liverpool to New York, and was still on board when the vessel departed for her return to Liverpool on the 1st May.
When the Lusitania sank on the afternoon of the 7th May, while steaming off the coast of southern Ireland, Able Seaman Heyes was fortunate enough to be counted amongst the survivors and was landed at Queenstown. From there, he managed to make his way back to Liverpool.
On reporting to the Cunard offices, he was officially discharged from his service on the Lusitania and paid the balance of wages owed to him in respect of it, which amounted to £4-18s.-8d. (£4.93p.). Like all crew members, survived or perished, this service was counted from the 17th April 1915 until the 8th May; 24 hours after the liner had gone down.
As far as is known, he gave no interviews about his experience.
Cunard Records, PRO BT 100/345, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 9th January 2024.