John Dimond was born at Southport, Lancashire, England, in late 1898, the son of William Henry and Annie Dimond (née Cadwell). His father was a boot maker and John was the middle of five children. By 1915, the family resided at 11, Murdock Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, England.
He engaged on the Lusitania as a scullion in the Stewards' Department at New York, on the 30th April 1915, at a monthly rate of pay of £3-15s-0d. (£3.75). It proved to be a tragic move for him, as he was killed just one week later, when the ship was sunk. He was only 16 years of age at the time, although upon engagement, he had improperly given his age as 18!
His body was never recovered and identified afterwards and as a consequence, he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission records show his rank as that of a waiter, but a crew list published by The Cunard Steam Ship Company in March 1916, states that he served as a scullion. By the time that the Tower Hill Memorial register was compiled, the family home was at 7, Bridge Road, Edge Hill, Liverpool.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Lancashire England Church of England Baptisms 1813 – 1911, 1901 Census of England, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, PRO BT 334, UniLiv D92/6/1, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated –25th February 2023.