John McNeill “Jack” McIver was born at 3. Murray Street, Maryhill, Lanarkshire, Scotland, on the 2nd November 1888, the son of Malcolm and Margaret “Maggie” McIver (née McNeill). His father was a mason, and Jack was the eldest of seven known children in the family. In 1915, he lived at 127. York Drive, Hyndland, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
He was a professional seaman, and his usual ship was the Anchor Liner S.S. Cameronia upon which he engaged as an assistant steward at Glasgow on the 15th April 1915. However, the Admiralty requisitioned the Cameronia for war use as a troop ship at the end of April 1915 and on the 1st May 1915, nine crew members not needed for her new rôle, (stewards, stewardesses and a matron) were transferred to the Lusitania.
These included Jack McIver who transferred to the Stewards' Department, as a waiter for the Lusitania's final cross- Atlantic voyage, where he shared a cabin with a fellow Glaswegian, Steward James Glancy, who also transferred from the S.S. Cameronia.
Despite the ordeal of her sinking, Jack McIver survived and was landed at Queenstown. While there, he was able to identify the remains of one of his friends from the Cameronia, a fellow steward and Glaswegian, Thomas Edgar Stewart, who was body number 41. He was unable to locate James Glancy, who also lost his life.
On leaving Queenstown, Jack McIver eventually made it back to his Glasgow home.
He continued to serve in the Mercantile Marine for the remainder of his working life, primarily as a ship’s cook, and on the 17th April 1917, he married Catherine McDonald
in Glasgow. They had at least one child.
Jack McIver died on the 22nd June 1964 at the McKelvie Hospital, Oban, Argyllshire, Scotland, aged 75 years. He was residing at 39. Combie Street, Oban, at the time.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1891 Census of Scotland, 1901 Census of Scotland, Cunard Records, UniLiv D92/2/68, UniLiv D92/2/196, UniLiv. D92/6/1, PRO BT 100/345, .PRO BT 350, PRO BT 364, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 21st December 2024.