Joseph James Bostock was born in Checkley, near Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, in 1872, the son of Herbert and Mary Bostock (née Warren). His father was a master carpenter and Joseph was one of seven known children in the family.
On completing his education, he worked as a solicitor’s clerk and on the 17th August 1899, he married Harriette French in Tallaght, County Dublin, Ireland. In 1915, the family lived at 52, Havelock Street, Stoke-on-Trent. The couple had three children.
Sometime after his marriage, Joseph Bostock became a professional steward in the British Mercantile Marine, and whilst going to sea, he lived at 70, Leinster Road, Wavertree, Liverpool, Lancashire, where he probably had lodgings.
Having served on the Lusitania before, he engaged at Liverpool as an assistant engineer's mess steward in the Stewards' Department for her final voyage out of the River Mersey on the 12th April 1915, at a monthly wage of £4-5s-0d., (£4.25p.). He reported for duty five days later on the morning of the 17th May.
He was killed three weeks later, when the vessel was sunk on her return to Liverpool, by the German submarine U-20. At that time, she was some twelve to fourteen hours sailing away from her home port, off The Old Head of Kinsale in southern Ireland.
As his body was never found and identified, his name is embossed on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London. He was aged 42 years.
Cunard records show his rank to be that of assistant engineers' mess steward, whilst those of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission show it as waiter.
However, in a tragic letter written after the sinking by Harriette Bostock, his status as assistant engineers' mess steward is confirmed. The letter, which sought information about Steward Bostock states: -
"52, Havelock St
Stoke on Trent
May .8. 15
Bostock
Sirs
Will you (if possible) let me know if J. Bostock, Steward, Engineers Mess, is a survivor of the Lusitania. I have waited till I can wait no longer for news of him. I am his wife so if it lies in your power to give me any information about him I would be so thankful.
Yours
(Mrs) H Bostock"
Mrs. Bostock was visited by a Cunard official on the 11th May 1915, but no doubt, only to be given the worst possible news concerning her husband's fate!
Joseph Bostock's brother, Leonard Herbert Bostock, and his sister, Mrs. Appleby, both lived in Scarborough, Yorkshire, and Joseph had sent a postcard from on board the liner on her outward journey, to his sister in law from "at sea" to her home in Britannia Street, on the 23rd April 1915. It simply stated: -
I am just letting you know we are still going across in spite of all. We are now about 300 miles from New York, but expect to make that city about midnight tonight. We leave again on Saturday, May 1st, and are due back to Liverpool on Friday, the 7th. We had decent weather this trip.
Tragically, the postcard arrived after the news that the Lusitania would never put in her Liverpool home port again!
According to The Scarborough Mercury, of Friday, the 12th May, Mrs. Appleby also received a post card from her sister in law, Harriette Bostock, on Sunday, the 9th May which said pathetically: -
No news of any sort. What am I to do? I cannot believe it is true. I know if he was safe he would let me know. It is too terrible. I feel so much alone in the world now.
At that time, Mrs. Appleby lived at Adamson’s Cottage, Burr Bank.
Eventually, in August 1915, Harriette Bostock was paid the residue of the wages owing to him for the liner’s last voyage. The Liverpool and London War Risks Insurance Association Limited also granted a yearly pension to Harriette Bostock to compensate her for the loss of her husband which amounted to £44-6s-4d. (£44.31p.), which was payable at the rate of £3-13s-11d. (£3.69p.) per month.
Register of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1881 Census of England, 1891 Census of England, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Hull Times, Newcastle Daily Chronicle, Scarborough Mercury, PRO BT 334, UniLiv. PR 13/16, UniLiv. PR 13/24, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Lawrence Evans, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 17th December 2022.