Robert Potts Burdon was born on the 10th February 1914, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, the son of Andrew Thompson Burdon, and his wife, Ellen Mary Elizabeth (née Rickwood).. Both of his parents had been born in England, and his father was an accountant. The family home was at 647. Sherbrooke Street, Winnipeg.
In the spring of 1915, the family decided to return to England, probably for a holiday and to introduce Robert to his relatives there who had never met him, and as a consequence, second cabin passage was booked for mother and child on the May sailing of the Lusitania from New York to Liverpool. For some reason, Robert’s father decided to take a later sailing from New York.
The Lusitania’s sailing was scheduled to depart from Pier 54 in New York at 10.00 a.m. on 1st May but having boarded in time for this, the pair then had to wait until the early afternoon, before she left port, because she had to take on board passengers, cargo and crew from the Anchor Liner Cameronia, which had been taken up by the British Admiralty for war work as a troop ship. Then, six days later, on the afternoon of 7th May, the Cunarder was torpedoed twelve miles off the coast of southern Ireland by the German submarine U-20, and sank two miles closer inland. At that stage of her voyage, she was only hours away from her home port.
Both Robert Burdon and his mother survived the sinking, probably because they were able to get into one the few lifeboats which were successfully launched. Having been rescued from the sea, they were landed at Queenstown, from where they eventually made it to their original destination in England.
Having recovered from their ordeal, and having spent sufficient time with their relatives and friends, Robert and his mother returned to Canada on board the
Metagama on the 1st August 1915. By 1916, the family home was at 602. Agnes Street, Winnipeg.
Nellie later lodged a claim for personal injury, and for the loss of personal effects, money, and other property in the sinking of the
Lusitania. Whereas she suffered no specific physical injuries, it stated in her medical report that she had almost drowned and suffered from shock. Initially, the Canadian Commission, which had been established to decide on such claims, awarded her $7,500.00 for personal injuries, but later reduced the award to $3,000.00, and also awarded her $3,000.00 for the loss of her personal effects, money, and other property, with interest of 5% from the 7th May 1915. No specific claim was made in respect of Robert.
The Burdon family later moved to the city of Verdun, which is now part of Montreal, Quebec, first taking up residence at 34. Osborne Street, and later at 5770. Ballantyne, Avenue.
On completion of his education, Robert found employment as a machinist in the city, and on the 25th June 1938, he married Muriel Lucy Brighton in the Anglican Church of St. John the Devine, Verdun.
Robert Burdon died on the 29th January 1974, aged 59 years. His remains were interred at Cimetière Mont-Royal, Montreal, Quebec.
Manitoba, Canada, Birth Index, 1870 – 1917, 1916 Canada Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, 1921 Census of Canada, Quebec, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection) 1621 – 1968, Canadian Claims Case No. 840, Gateshead Northern Mail, Cunard Records, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.