John Thomas Orange was born in Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, Ireland, on the 3rd February 1890, the son of Joseph and Mary Anne Orange (née Maguire) of 12, Chapel Street, Balbriggan, County Dublin, Ireland. He was one of eight children, and his father was a hosier.
After leaving school, he became a hosier, like his father.
It is not known when he arrived in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, but he engaged as a fireman in the Engineering Department on board the Lusitania, at Liverpool, on the 12th April 1915, at a monthly rate of pay of £6-10s.-0d. (£6.50p.). and was killed when she was sunk.
His body was not found and identified afterwards and as a result, his name is embossed on the Mercantile Marine War Memorial at Tower Hill, London. He was aged 25 years.
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 – 31st January 2025.