John Almond was born on the 3rd April 1889 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England, the son of John and Alice Almond (née Harwood), of 66, Cherry Street, Blackburn. He was the eldest of eight children, and his parents were cotton weavers. The family had previously resided at 4. Plymouth Street, Blackburn.
After completing his education, he followed in his parents’ footsteps by becoming a cotton weaver, however, after a few years he abandoned this profession for a life as a merchant seaman. He joined the Blue Funnel Line as a steward, before moving on to the Cunard Steam Ship Company.
On 12th April 1915, he engaged as a first class waiter in the Stewards Department on board the Lusitania at Liverpool, at a monthly rate of pay of £4-5s-0d., (£4.25p.). He then reported for duty on the early morning of 17th April 1915 before she left Liverpool Pierhead for the very last time and one week later, he arrived safely at her New York destination.
He was serving in the same capacity on the great liner’s return voyage and was killed after she was torpedoed on the 7th May 1915. He was aged 26 years.
A report in the 15th May 1915 edition of the Blackburn Times stated: -
‘..when last seen Mr. Almond was in the water. He had a life-belt around him, and was keeping himself afloat with the aid of a deck chair.’
John Almond was never seen alive again and his body was not recovered and identified after the sinking. As a consequence, he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Lancashire England Church of England Births and Baptisms 1813 – 1911, 1891 Census of England, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Blackburn Times (Photo), PRO BT 334, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 2nd December 2022.