John McKenna was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, on the 4th May 1887, the son of Owen and Johanna McKenna (née Sullivan). His father was a labourer, and John was one of three known children in the family.
His mother died in 1891, and nothing is known of his childhood or early years, but he was unmarried, and the only address known for him was in 1911 at the home of his married sister, Ellen Walsh, at 52. Ashfield Cottages, Liverpool.
He engaged as a trimmer in the Engineering Department on board the Lusitania on the 12th April 1915 at Liverpool at a monthly wage of £6-0s.-0d., and did not survive the sinking. His brother-in-law, Richard Walsh, who was married to his sister, and whose home he resided in, was also on board the Lusitania, serving as a greaser, and he was fortunate to survive.
John McKenna’s body was not recovered and identified afterwards and consequently, he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London. He was aged 28 years, although he gave his age when signing on for the voyage as being 26 years!
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Liverpool England Catholic Baptisms 1741 – 1919, 1911 Census of England, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, PRO BT 100/345, PRO BT 334, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, John Murphy, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 2nd January 2025.