John Farrell was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, on the 1st January 1864, the son of Philip and Bridget Farrell (née Joyce). His parent were Irish immigrants and his father worked as a dock labourer. He was the eldest of three known children, having
two younger sisters – Mary and Winifrid, known as Winnie. It is likely he had other siblings who died in infancy or early childhood. As was common in the 1800’s, his family moved from tenement to tenement quite frequently.
John Farrell joined the Mercantile Marine as a trimmer and fireman on steam ships, serving on several trans-Atlantic liners, including the Cunard Steam Ship Company liners, Carmania, and Lusitania.
He served as a fireman in the Engineering Branch on board the Lusitania, having engaged at Liverpool on the 12th April 1915 at a monthly rate of £6-10s.-0d., (£6.50p). He was advanced £1-0s.-0d. of this, at the time. He gave his address on engagement as being 18A, Mount Vernon Street, Toxteth, Liverpool.
He left Liverpool on the Lusitania on the morning of the 17th April, and having completed the voyage to New York, he was again on board when the liner departed for Liverpool on the 1st May.
When the Lusitania was sunk off the southern coast of Ireland by the German submarine, U-20, on the afternoon of the 7th May, he survived the event and having been rescued from the sea, he was landed at Queenstown. He was aged 51 years at the time, although he had given his age on engagement as being 46 years.
John Farrell continued to work as a fireman for many years after his ordeal, and in 1921, he was residing with his married sister, Mrs. Mary Begley, at 74. Field Street, Liverpool. He was described as being widowed, but no record of his marriage, or whether or not he had children can be found.
No trace of him can be found after 1921.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Liverpool England Catholic Baptisms 1741 – 1919, 1871 Census of England, 1881 Census of England, 1891 Census of England, 1901 Census of England, 1921 Census of England, Cunard Records, PRO BT 100/345, PRO BT 351/1/43516, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 10th November 2023.