James Benedict Haybyrne was born in Walton, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, on the 26th April 1884, the son of James Joseph and Margaret Anne Haybyrne (née Roche). He was one of five known children, and his father was a hairdresser.
After leaving school, he became an apprentice pattern maker before he joined the Mercantile Marine as a waiter on passenger ships operating out of Liverpool. After his parents died, he lodged at the home of Harry and Winifred Simmonite at 8. Adelaide Road, Seaforth, Liverpool, with his youngest sister, Eileen. Winifred Simmonite was a sister of their mother and therefore their aunt.
On the 14th April 1915, James Haybyrne married Bridget ’Bridie’ Mary Harte in Dublin, Ireland, and they lived at 10. Rutledge Terrace, South Circular Road, Dublin. His wife was described as an accountant.
He engaged as a first class waiter in the Stewards' Department, on the Lusitania at Liverpool, on the 12th April 1915, presumably before leaving for Dublin to get married, at a monthly wage of £4-5s.-0d. (£4.25p.), and reported for duty at 7 a.m. on the 17th, before the liner slipped her mooring from the River Mersey for the last time. It was not the first time he had served on the vessel.
He was killed three weeks later when she was sunk, however, and as his body was never found and identified afterwards, he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine War Memorial at Tower Hill, London. He was aged 31 years.
In keeping with all crew members, survived, or perished, Cunard paid James Haybyrne’s wages from the 17th April until the 8th May, 24 hours after the sinking, and eventually, in August 1915, the balance of wages owing to him, was forwarded to his widow Bridget, in respect of his service on the Lusitania’s last voyage. In addition, The Liverpool and London War Risks Insurance Association Limited also granted a yearly pension to Bridie Haybyrne to compensate her for the loss of her husband which amounted to £31-8s.-0d. (£31.40p.) which was payable at the rate of £2-12s.-4d. (£2.61½p.) per month.
The records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission state that Bridget Haybyrne’s family name before her marriage was “Doyle”, but this is incorrect. Also, their address is given as 21, Bedford Place, Seaforth, Liverpool, which was most likely a temporary address.
Register of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, Liverpool England Catholic Baptisms 1741 – 1919, 1891 Census of England, 1901 Census of England, Liverpool England Crew Lists 1861 – 1919, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, UniLiv. PR 13/24, PRO BT 334, PRO BT 351/1/60322, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 2nd January 2024.