John James Burns was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, in 1867, the son of John and Margaret Burns (née Cashen). He was one of nine known children in the family and his father was a general labourer.
John James Burns became a professional seaman in the British Mercantile Marine, serving in the engine rooms of steam ships out of the port of Liverpool.
In 1894, he married Janet Dickson and the couple had five children; however, one of their children died in infancy or early childhood. By 1915, the family lived at 7, Shakespeare Street, Mash Lane, Bootle, Liverpool.
He served as a leading fireman on board the final voyage of the Lusitania but for reasons best known to himself, under the assumed name of John James Brown. He was killed when the ship was sunk. He was aged 48 years.
His body was not recovered and identified afterwards and as a consequence, his name is embossed on the Mercantile Marine War Memorial at Tower Hill, London. He is also commemorated on a white marble plaque in St. James' Roman Catholic Church in Chestnut Grove, Bootle, Liverpool.
There is also a memorial to a John J. Byrnes in St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church, in Great Mersey Street, Kirkdale, Liverpool, and it is likely that this also commemorates John James Burns, but with an incorrect spelling of his surname.
The Liverpool and London War Risks Insurance Association Limited granted a yearly pension to Janet Burns to compensate her for the loss of her husband which amounted to £45-16s-10d. (£45.84p.) which was payable at the rate of £3-16s-5d. (£3.82p.) per month.
Register of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1871 Census of England, 1881 Census of England, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, PRO BT 351/1/18441, UniLiv. PR 13/24, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 27th December 2022.