Henry Ernest Needham was born in Sidcup, Kent, England, on the 25th October 1884, the son of William and Rebecca Needham (née Godber). His father was a policeman, and Henry was the middle of five children in the family. By 1911, the family home was at Crombie Lodge, 40. Hatherley Road, Sidcup.
On finishing his schooling, Henry became a wharf freight clerk, before moving into the building trade, also as a clerk. He then became a company director, but nothing is known about the nature of business he was engaged in.
It is not known when or why he went to the United States of America, but in April 1915 he booked to return to England on the May Day sailing of the Lusitania.
Having arrived at the Cunard berth at Pier 54 in New York port on the morning of 1st May 1915 in time for the liner’s scheduled 10.00 a.m. sailing, he then had to wait until 12.27 p.m. before the liner actually sailed because she had to embark passengers, cargo and crew from the Anchor Liner Cameronia, which had been requisitioned by the British Admiralty for war service as a troop ship.
Then, six days later, on the afternoon of 7th May, the Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Walther Schwieger within sight of the coast of southern Ireland and only about twelve to fourteen hours steaming time away from the safety of her Liverpool home port. Fortunately, however, Henry Needham survived this action and having been rescued from the sea and landed at Queenstown, he was eventually able to get back home.
One fellow second cabin passenger who was killed and whose body was never recovered from the sea and identified afterwards was Richard Preston Pritchard, who originally came from Ramsgate in Kent. In an attempt to learn more of his fate, his brother Mostyn first went to Queenstown to search in vain for him or his body. Then, his mother wrote to many surviving passengers and crew members seeking any information about him.
One of these was Henry Needham and on 20th May 1915, he first replied to Mrs. Pritchard about her son and his own experiences of escape which stated: -
Crombie Lodge
Hatherley Road
Sidcup
20th May 1915
Dear Mrs. Prichard,
Replying to your letter of the 17th inst., I distinctly remember your son on the Lusitania although I did not come into personal contact with him.
He was a great favourite on board, he arranged the whist drives, and seemed to do most of the work.
I remember looking for him at Queenstown, but could not find him among the saved. From what I saw of him on board, you may be sure he met his end helping some poor helpless woman or child.
He was sitting near to me just before luncheon engaged in a sweepstake for the day’s run, but after that I saw no more of him. That I am alive is a very kindly act of providence. I am a very weak swimmer, & had no lifebelt. I remained on the ship until she went down, then came up on an upturned boat on which I sat for four hours. I regret that this information is so scanty, please accept my heartfelt sympathy. I realize what my mother’s feelings would have been had God not spared me.
This is a terrible blow to you & this terrible war is taking the best young blood of our nation, & draining the hearts blood of our women dry. It is a righteous cause we are fighting for & may God have you & so many others sensitively placed in his keeping.
Yours very sincerely
Henry E. Needham.
He then followed this up on 9th July with another letter which stated: -
9th July 1915
Dear Mrs. Prichard,
Replying to your letter of the 7th inst., re. the terrible loss of your son. I am sorry to say that I cannot give you much news. I only made one friend on the voyage & he was drowned.
I have quite a good recollection of seeing your son on board & I think it was he who organized one or two whist drives.
He seemed very popular & I am sure that at the last moment he was doing his best to help the many unfortunate women & children.
If he had been in his cabin at the moment the torpedo struck the ship, there would have been sufficient time to reach one of the decks.
The boat took a list immediately & although the stairs were tilted & crowded, it was possible to make way.
I was at lunch at the time, & I think your son was also, but I managed to reach A deck, & from there I climbed on the outside of the ship to the bridge at the stern.
Many people were in the water without lifebelts, I was one of the number, for my cabin was on D deck, & I thought it was not advisable to go down for it.
As to people realizing this danger, I think they did not, especially as I heard someone who came from the direction of the Captain’s bridge, say, “The Captain says the boat will not sink”.
The remark was greeted with cheers & I noticed many people who had been endeavouring to get a place in the boats, turn away in apparent contentment.
I regret I cannot give you the names or addresses of any of the passengers or crew for as I have said, my only friend was drowned.
I mourn with you in your sad loss, & those horrible hours will ever be stamped in my memory. I am sorry I cannot be of more service to you, for I realize to a certain extent what my mother’s feelings would have been, had I not been so favoured.
Yours sincerely
H. E. Needham
In May 1917, Henry was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th Bn. The Queens Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), however his service record was likely destroyed in fires caused by German air raids on London during the Second World War, so no details of his service are known except that he was honourably discharged in 1919.
Presumably, he returned to his business after his discharge, and he continued to live at Crombie Lodge with his two older, unmarried brothers, but also resided at “The Red Hut, Tumbling Bay, Fordbridge Road, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex.
On the 4th July 1944, a German V-1 rocket landed and exploded in the vicinity of Tumbling Bay weir, damaging and destroying a number of homes, including Henry’s residence. Henry was seriously injured in the outrage and taken to Staines County Hospital, where he died of his injuries on the same day. He was aged 59 years.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1891 Census of England & Wales, 1901 Census of England & Wales, 1911 Census of England & Wales, 1939 Register, Cunard Records, UK British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards 1914 – 1920, IWM GB62, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, PRO BT 100/345, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.