James Henry Beckett, always known as “Henry”, was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, on the 27th July 1876, the son of James Henry and Amelia Emma Beckett (née Sydebotham). His father was a mariner, while his mother was a milliner, and the family resided in the Kirkdale area of Liverpool. He was the younger of two children, having an older brother named Charles.
On completing his education, Henry Beckett joined the Mercantile Marine as a ship’s cook.
On the 31st August 1898, he married Margaret Reid in Liverpool, and by 1911, the family resided at 17. Arvon Street, Bootle, Liverpool, where they lived for many years. The couple had seven children.
Henry Beckett served as Passenger Cook in the Stewards' Department on board the final voyage of the Lusitania. When the great liner sank on the afternoon of the 7th May 1915, off the southern coast of Ireland, Henry Beckett was lucky to be counted among the survivors who were rescued and landed at Queenstown. From there, he eventually made his way back to his wife and family in Liverpool. In keeping with all the other crew survivors, he was paid off for the voyage, up until the 8th May 1915.
Henry Beckett continued to serve as a cook on passenger liners following his survival.
The family later moved to 58. Hartwell Street, Bootle, Liverpool. James Henry Beckett died in Liverpool on the 1st December 1940, aged 64 years.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, England Select Marriages 1538 – 1975, 1881 Census of England, 1891 Census of England, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, 1921 Census of England, 1939 Register, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, UK Campaign Medals Awarded to World War I Merchant Seamen 1914 – 1925, PRO BT 348, PRO BT 350, PRO BT 351/1/9033, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Lawrence Evans, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff
Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 13th December 2022.