According to the crew manifest, John Farrell was born in Waterford, County Waterford, Ireland, in 1877. He lived in Dundee Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, England; however, no records can be found to identify him any further.
He signed on as a fireman in the Engineering Branch on board the Lusitania on the 12th April 1915 at a monthly rate of £6-10s.-0d., (£6.50p).
He reported for duty on the morning of the 17th April when the Lusitania departed for New York for the last time. He was still working in the same capacity for the return voyage to Liverpool on the 1st May, and when the great liner was sunk by the German submarine, U-20, on the afternoon of the 7th May, while she was off the Old Head of Kinsale, John Farrell was lucky to be counted amongst the survivors.
Having been rescued from the sea, he was landed in Queenstown and presumably made
his way back to Liverpool. He was aged 38 years at the time.
Cunard Records, PRO BT 100/345, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 11th November 2023.