James O'Neill was born in Wigan, Lancashire, England, in 1871, but nothing is known of his early life or family.
In 1915, he lodged or lived at 4, Upper Bute Street, Liverpool City Centre, in Lancashire.
He was a professional Mercantile Marine fireman and engaged on board the Lusitania in the Engineering Department at Liverpool on the 12th April 1915, at a monthly rate of pay of £6-10s.-0d. (£6.50p.). He reported for duty at 8 a.m. five days later, before the liner departed on her last ever voyage out of the River Mersey. His previous ship had been the White Star Liner Arabic.
He survived the sinking and having been rescued from the sea; he was landed at Queenstown before making his way back to Liverpool. There, he was officially discharged from the Lusitania and paid the balance of wages owing to him, which amounted to £4-14s.-0d. (£4.70p.).
The Arabic was also torpedoed and sunk off the Old Head of Kinsale, on the 18th September 1915 by the German submarine U 24, when she was outward bound from Liverpool to New York.
In 1921, he was residing at 1. Wide Street, off Crown Street, Liverpool, but further than that, nothing further is known about him.
1921 Census of England, Liverpool England Crew Lists 1861 – 1919, Cunard Records, British Merchant Ships Sunk by U-Boats, PRO BT 100/345, PRO BT 348, PRO BT 349, PRO BT 351/1/106345, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 30th January 2025.