James Jenkins was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, on the 21st July 1879, the son of James and Sarah Ann Jenkins (née Messenger). He was one of eleven children; however, by 1911, seven of his siblings had died. His father was a carter.
He joined the Mercantile Marine as a fireman and trimmer on steam ships after finishing his education.
On the 22nd January 1910, he married Anne Reynolds in Liverpool, and they lived at 142, Wolfe Street, Toxteth, Liverpool, with James’ parents.
He engaged as a fireman in the Engineering Department on board the Lusitania, at Liverpool, at a monthly rate of pay was £6-10s.-0d. (£6.50p.), £1-0s.-0d. of which was advanced to him at the time. He reported for duty at 8 a.m. on the 17th April 1915 in time for the liner’s last ever voyage out of the River Mersey.
Three weeks later, he was dead, killed after the liner was torpedoed and sunk within sight of the Irish coast and only hours away from her Liverpool destination. As his body was never recovered and identified afterwards, he has no known grave.
As a consequence, his name is embossed on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London. He was aged 35 years.
Register of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, Liverpool England Catholic Baptisms 1741 – 1919, 1881 Census of England, 1891 Census of England, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 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 – 22nd January 2024.