John Ennis was born in Liverpool, on the 21st March 1878, the son of William and Catherine Ennis (née Toole). His father, who was born in Ireland, was at various times a hair dresser and dock labourer. No record of his parents’ marriage has been found and it would appear that he was registered as “John Toole” when he was born. He was one of six known children in the family.
He began his working life as a dock labourer before joining the British Mercantile Marine as a trimmer and fireman in the engineering department of steam ships, eventually becoming a ‘greaser’ – the highest paid position for unskilled workers in the engine rooms of steam ships.
On the 15th January 1905, he married Mary Guthrie in Liverpool, and in 1915, they lived at of 12, Court, 7, House, Burlington Street, Everton, Liverpool, with their children. The couple had at least four children; however, by 1915, only one of them was still alive!
John Ennis was employed as a greaser in the Engineering Department on board the final voyage of the Lusitania and was killed when she was sunk. He was aged 37 years, although when he signed on for the voyage, he stated his age as being 34 years!
His body was never recovered and identified afterwards and consequently, he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London.
In August 1915, he was officially discharged from the last voyage of the Lusitania and his widow Mary was paid the balance of wages owing to him for the voyage, calculated from the 17th April until the 8th May 1915, 24 hours after the liner had foundered.
The Liverpool and London War Risks Insurance Association Limited granted a yearly pension to Mary Ennis to compensate her for the loss of her husband. This amounted to £36-2s.-3d. (£36.11p.) which was payable at the rate of £3-0s.-3d. (£3.01p.) per month.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Liverpool England Catholic Baptisms 1741 – 1919, Liverpool England Catholic Marriages 1754 – 1933, 1881 Census of England, 1891 Census of England, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, Liverpool England Crew Lists 1861 – 1919, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, UniLiv. PR 13/24, 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 – 4th May 2023.