According to the crew manifest, Edward Fayle was born in Peel, Isle of Man, but nothing further can be determined about him.
He signed on as an Able Seaman in the Deck Branch on board the Lusitania and reported for duty on the morning of the 17th April 1915 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, Edward Fayle was lucky to be counted amongst the survivors.
In an article concerning the sinking, printed in the Isle of Man Times on the 15th May 1915, Able Seaman Fayle was reported missing. Fortunately for him and his family, this proved to be an error.
Cunard Records, Isle of Man Times, 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.