Cyril Grinsted was born in Rotherhithe, Surrey, England, on the 1st May 1888, the son of William Robert Hartridge and Emma Harriet Grinsted (née Riches). He was one of twelve children, and the family home was at 14. Old Road, Rotherhithe, London, Surrey. His father was a policeman at the time of his birth, but in later life was a furniture dealer.
After completing his education, Cyril became an assistant at a pawnbrokers shop, and then a clothing salesman.
On the 8th November 1913, Cyril boarded the St. Louis at Southampton and emigrated to the United States of America. It’s not known where he lived or worked while there, but in the Spring of 1915, he booked third class passage from New York to Liverpool on the May sailing of the Lusitania.
On the morning of 1st May 1915, he boarded the liner at the Cunard berth at Pier 54 in New York port, in time for her scheduled 10 o’clock departure. This was then postponed until just after mid-day, because the liner had to take on board cargo, and embark passengers and crew from the liner S.S. Cameronia which the British Admiralty had requisitioned for war service as a troop ship at the end of April.
Then, six days later, on the afternoon of 7th May, and within sight of The Old Head of Kinsale in southern Ireland, the
Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20. At that time, she was within 250 miles of her destination and home port.
Cyril Grinstead survived this action, however - although nearly two thirds of his fellow steerage passenger companions were killed - and having been rescued from the sea, he was landed at Queenstown, from where it is presumed he eventually made it to his original intended destination. He was aged 27 years at the time.
Not much is known of his life after his rescue except that in 1930, he became the landlord of
The Brewer’s Arms, 94. High Street, Margate, Kent, and successfully ran the establishment until at least 1939. He married Maud Grant in Lewisham, London, in 1940, although they had been living as man and wife for at least a year prior to their marriage. There were no children as a result of their marriage.
In 1953, his wife, Maud, died in Tonbridge, Kent, and Cyril died on the 27th October 1974, in New Forest, Hampshire, aged 86 years.
A cigarillo tin, containing a number of cigarillos, with a depiction of the
Lusitania on the lid, which was most likely acquired by Cyril Grinsted whilst he was on board, and was in his pocket when he was rescued after the sinking is on display in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.
Register of Births, Marriage and Deaths, London England Church of England Births and Baptisms 1813 – 1917, 1891 Census of England & Wales, 1901 Census of England & Wales, 1911 Census of England & Wales, 1939 Register, UK Outward Passenger Lists 1890 – 1960, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, National Maritime Museum, Dover Kent Archives, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.