John Ernest Keegan was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, on the 19th February 1889, the son of Patrick James and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Keegan (née Brayne). He was the youngest of four children in the family. His father, who was always known as ‘James’, was a Ship’s Cook.
The Keegan family resided in Admiral Place, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, for many years, and on completion of his education, John followed his father into the Mercantile Marine, working as a fireman and trimmer. On the 27th January 1912, he married Jane Davidson in Liverpool, and they lived with their two children at 47, Tay Street, Liverpool.
He engaged as a trimmer in the Engineering Department on board the Lusitania at Liverpool on the 12th April 1915, at a monthly wage of £6-0s.-0d. and joined the vessel at 8 a.m., on the morning of the 17th April, before the vessel left Princes Landing Stage for the last time.
He was killed, three weeks later when the vessel was torpedoed and sunk. He was aged 25 years.
As his body was never recovered and identified, he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London.
In August 1915, he was officially discharged from the last voyage of the Lusitania and his widow, Jane, was paid the balance of wages owed to him, in respect of his service on board the Lusitania from the 17th April 1915, until the 8th May, 24 hours after the vessel had gone down! In addition, The Liverpool and London War Risks Insurance Association Limited granted her a yearly pension to compensate her for the loss of her husband which amounted to £48-10s.-9d. (£48.54p.) which was payable at the rate of £4-0s.-11d. (£4.04½p.) per month.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Liverpool England Catholic Baptisms 1741 – 1919, Liverpool England Church of England Marriages and Banns 1754 – 1935, 1891 Census of England, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, UniLiv. PR 13/24, PRO BT 100/345, PRO BT 334, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 3rd February 2024.