John Morris was born in Stepney, London, England, in 1888, the son of John Daniel and Maria Morris (née Olive). His father was a labourer, and John was one of nine children in the family
The family home was at 61, Duckett Street, Mile End, London. His mother died in 1900, and his father re-married in 1901.
John Morris was a professional merchant seaman and was engaged as a trimmer in the Engineering Department on board the Lusitania at New York, on the 30th April 1915, just in time for her fateful voyage home. His monthly rate of pay was £6.-0s.-0d.
He was killed when the ship was sunk, and his body was not recovered and identified later. As a consequence, he is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing at Tower Hill, London. He was aged 27 years.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission records show his rank as fireman, but several Cunard sources show it to have been that of trimmer.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1891 Census of England, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves 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 – 16th January 2025.