Owen McCann was born in Glenmore, Riverstown, Carlingford, County Louth, Ireland, on the 24th December 1884, the son of Patrick and Catherine McCann (née Hanlon).
He grew up on a farm, which he worked on with his family. It is not known if he became a professional seaman with the Mercantile Marine, or was a casual labourer, but whatever the case, he engaged as a trimmer in the Engineering Department on board the Lusitania on the 12th April 1915 at Liverpool at a monthly wage of £6-0s.-0d. and was killed when she was sunk.
His body was not recovered and identified after the sinking and as a result, he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London. He was aged 30 years.
The address he gave when he signed on for the voyage was 12. Blackstone Street, Liverpool, which was a boarding house.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1901 Census of Ireland, 1911 Census of Ireland, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Grave Commission, 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 – 11th November 2024.