Henry “Harry” Edwards was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, on the 3rd December 1897, the son of Henry “Harry” and Mary Alice Edwards (née Ashcroft). His father was merchant seaman, serving as a fireman on steam ships and Harry was the
eldest of five children. By 1915, the family were living at 152, Marsh Lane, Bootle, Liverpool.
In April 1915, Harry Edwards engaged as a scullery man in the Stewards' Department on board the Lusitania at Liverpool at a monthly rate of pay of £3-15s.-0d. (£3.75p). He joined the vessel at her berth at Liverpool Pier Head on the morning of the 17th April 1915; in time for what would become her last ever voyage out of the River Mersey. He was only seventeen years old at the time.
He was serving in the same capacity on the return voyage when the Lusitania departed from New York harbour on Saturday, 1st May. When the great liner was sunk on the 7th May, while off the Old Head of Kinsale in southern Ireland, Harry Edwards was listed as being one of the 1,198 casualties.
His body was never recovered and identified afterwards and as a consequence, he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London.
He is also commemorated on the municipal war memorial in Stanley Road, Bootle, Merseyside. His name is not on a bronze panel on the main memorial, but on a semi-circular wall around it, where later additions are displayed.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, England Select Births and Christenings 1538 – 1975, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, UK Campaign Medals Awarded to World War I Merchant Seamen 1914 – 1925, PRO BT 334, PRO BT 351/1/40426, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 31st March 2023.