James Andrew Johnstone was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, on the 17th April 1892, the son of James and Mary Frances Johnstone (née Pennington). In 1915, the family resided at 96. Church Road, West Derby, Liverpool. James was the eldest of six children, and James Snr. was a Ship’s Steward.
On completing his education, James followed his father by joining the Mercantile Marine as a boy steward on passenger ships.
He engaged at Liverpool as an assistant engineer's mess steward in the Stewards' Department on what would prove to be the final voyage of the Lusitania at a monthly wage of £4-5s.-0d. (£4.25p.) and reported for duty on the morning of the 17th April 1915.
Having arrived safely in New York, he was killed three weeks later when the vessel was sunk on her return to Liverpool, by the German submarine, U-20. At that time, she was some twelve to fourteen hours sailing away from her home port, off the Old Head of Kinsale in southern Ireland.
As his body was never found and identified, his name is embossed on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London. He was aged 23 years.
Register of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, Liverpool England Catholic Baptisms 1741 – 1919, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, PRO BT 100/345, PRO BT 334, PRO BT 351/1/71791, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 23rd January 2024.