Paul O'Neill was born in Cork City, County Cork, Ireland, in 1871, but nothing is known about his family or early life.
He had emigrated to London, England, in search of work and joined the British Mercantile Marine as a fireman on steam ships. He lodged at at 46, Swanscombe Street, Canning Town, London, for many years.
He was engaged to serve on board the Lusitania as a fireman in the Engineering Department at New York on the 30th April 1915, for her final fateful voyage. His rate of pay was £6-10s.-0d. (£6.50p.) per month.
He was on board when the Lusitania departed from Pier 54 in New York harbour on the afternoon of the 1st May, and survived the sinking of the liner on the afternoon of the 7th May, when the Lusitania was off the southern coast of Ireland, not far from where he was born.
On his return to London, he was interviewed by a representative from The Essex Times, an account of which was published in the edition of the 22nd May 1915: -
… He had, he said, concluded his turn on duty at noon on the fateful day, and turned into his bunk for a rest just before 2pm. Suddenly, and without the slightest warning, there was a terrific explosion “just like the Beckton Gasworks and Woolwich Arsenal going up together.” O’Neill scrambled up
on deck, and found all the crew standing beside their respective boat stations. There were no signs of panic, but a number of women and children were quietly crying. The vessel immediately took on a list to starboard, and it was apparent to all that she was fast settling down. Those who were not engaged in lowering boats were busy in putting over side anything that would float and make supports for those in the water. As fast as the boats could be lowered they were filled with women and children, and it was an appalling sight, said Mr. O’Neill, to see the number of women with infants in arms. There were over a hundred of them, and they waited whilst the vessel was sinking under them for places to be found for them in the boats. … O’Neill spent a few minutes between the torpedoing and the sinking of the ship in throwing beer crates into the water. “I reserved one for myself,” he said, “but when the time came for me to go over the side I forgot all about it, and went without.” Being a strong swimmer, he quickly put as much distance between himself and the ship, in order to avoid the suction. “I could not say how long I was in the water,” he added, “but it seemed a long time before someone hauled me into one of the ship’s boats.” Speaking in indignant tones, O’Neill characterised the outrage as “the dirtiest blow struck during the war.” “If they had only left the women and children get away first,” he said, “they could then have torpedoed the ship, and let the men take their chance.”.
Paul O’Neill continued to serve in the British Mercantile Marine after his survival, but nothing further is known about him.
Cunard Records, East End News and London Shipping Chronicle, Essex Times, PRO BT 100/345, PRO BT 349, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 31st January 2025.