James Elliott was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, on the 22nd December 1861, the son of William and Mary Elliott (née McGrady). His parents were Irish immigrants, and his father was a painter.
On completing his education, James Elliott worked as a carter and general labourer and on the 15th June 1890, he married Mary Elliott at the parish Church, Liverpool, and they lived at of 14, Bittern Street, Stoneycroft, Liverpool, Lancashire.
In April 1915, James Elliott engaged as a fireman in the Engineering Department on board the Lusitania at Liverpool, at a monthly rate of pay of £6-10s.-0d. (£6.50p.), £1-0s.-0d. of which was advanced to him at the time. He reported for duty early on the morning of the 17th April; in time for the vessels last ever voyage out of the River Mersey.
Three weeks later, he was killed when the Cunarder was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of southern Ireland and only hours away from her home port. He was aged 53 years. His body was never recovered and identified afterwards and as a consequence, he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial to The Missing, at Tower Hill, London.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Liverpool England Catholic Baptisms 1741 – 1919, Liverpool England Church of England Marriages and Banns 1754 – 1935, 1871 Census of England, 1881 Census of England, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated –2nd May 2023.