Joseph Duncan was born in Parkgate, Cheshire, England, on the 12th January 1893, the son of Thomas and Annie Duncan (née McConnell). He was one of twelve children, and his father was a labourer and carter. His mother died in 1907 and his father in early 1915.
After he left school, he worked as a farm labourer before joining the Merchant Navy as an assistant ship’s cook.
In April 1915, he engaged at Liverpool, as an assistant cook in the Victualling Department on board the Lusitania and reported for duty at 7 o’clock on the morning of the 17th April, before the liner left the River Mersey for the last time, on her voyage to New York. On signing on for the voyage, he stated that his residence was at Ryley's Castle, Parkgate, Cheshire, England.
Having arrived safely in New York, the Lusitania began her return leg to Liverpool on the early afternoon of the 1st May 1915, and six days out, when she was within sight of the Old Head of Kinsale on the southern coast of Ireland, she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine, U-20. At
safety of her home port.
Assistant Cook Duncan was fortunate enough to be counted among the survivors, and having been rescued from the sea, he was safely landed at Queenstown from where he continued his journey to his home. He was aged 22 years.
Although Cunard records show his rank as assistant steward, an article about him in the Birkenhead News and Advertiser for the 15th May 1915 stated that he was a cook on board ship and had made about seven trips.
The newspaper article continued: -
He was assisting to lower a boat when he was knocked overboard. He succeeded in scrambling into a boat but was subsequently washed over again on account of the boat capsizing. Many of the occupants were drowned as a result of this second disaster but Mr. Duncan was picked up by a steamer and taken ashore.
He continued to serve in the British Mercantile Marine until he was called up for military service on the 4th December 1916. As 187153 Private Joseph Duncan, he served as a driver in No. 2 Reserve Brigade Artillery, and was assigned to the Officer Cadet School in May 1918, where he performed his duties as a driver until he was demobilised on the 28th November 1919.
On the 10th February 1917, he had married Gertrude Davies in the Parish Church at Heswall, Cheshire, and the couple had no children.
Following his discharge from the British Army, Joseph Duncan became a process labourer at the oil refinery at Bromborough Port on the River Mersey for the Lever Brothers company.
The couple resided at Pear Tree Cottages, Telegraph Road, Heswall, for many years until Gertrude Duncan died in 1962.
Joseph Duncan died on the 6th December 1976, aged 83 years. His home at the time of his death was 106. Telegraph Road, Heswall, and he left an estate of £8,212.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Cheshire Diocese of Chester Parish Baptisms 1538 – 1911, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, 1921 Census of England, 1939 Register, Cunard Records, UK British Army World War I Service Records 1914 – 1920, UK Campaign Medals Awarded to World War I Merchant Seamen 1914 – 1925, Birkenhead News and Advertiser, Probate Records, PRO BT 100/345, PRO BT 351/1/39029, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 26th March 2023.