Nothing is known about John “Jack” D’Arcy except he was a professional seaman in the British Mercantile Marine, serving as a waiter and steward on passenger liners.
He was serving as a first class waiter in the Stewards' Department on board the Lusitania when she left Liverpool on the 17th April 1915 for what would prove to be her final voyage. Having safely arrived in New York on the 24th April, he called to his sister, Mrs. Bartholemew, who resided at Corona Avenue, Elmhurst, New York City, and also on a Mr. James Hayes.
According to a report in the 11th May 1915 edition of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle: -
Jack D’Arcy, a steward aboard the Lusitania, made the prediction that the giant ship would be sunk, and that this would be her last trip. D’Arcy visited his sister, Mrs. Bartholemew, who lives on Corona Avenue, Elmhurst, before leaving on that last trip.
Despite his fears, Waiter D’Arcy boarded the liner before she set out on her return voyage to her home port of Liverpool and was fortunate to be counted among the survivors when the Lusitania sank off the southern coast of Ireland on the 7th May, having been intercepted by the German submarine, U-20.
Having been rescued from the sea, he was landed at Queenstown, from where he managed to return to England. Nothing further is known about him.
New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Daily Star (Queens NY), PRO BT 100/345, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated –2nd February 2023.