Christopher Evans ‘Chris’ McConkey was born in Hillsborough, County Down, Ireland, on the 7th August 1853, the son of John and Bessie McConkey. On completing his education, he travelled to Liverpool where he became an assistant in a grocer’s shop.
He later returned to Ireland where he worked as a clerk and later a commercial traveller. On the 7th June 1880, he married Annie Peirce at Christ Church, Leeson Park, Dublin, Ireland, and they resided at 16. Chelmsford Road, Ranelagh, south of Dublin city centre.
Chris McConkey later moved with his family back to Liverpool, where he became a salesman, and in 1915 they lived at 25, St. Ambrose Grove, Liverpool, Lancashire, England. The couple had nine children.
He became a professional seaman in the British Mercantile Marine and engaged as a second class waiter in the Stewards' Department on board the Lusitania at Liverpool on the 12th April 1915 at a monthly rate of pay of £4-5s.-0d., (£4.25p.), and reported for duty three days later at 7 a.m., in time for the liner’s last ever voyage out of the River Mersey.
Having completed the liner’s crossing to New York without mishap, he was still serving as a second class waiter when the liner left New York just after mid-day on the 1st May for the return voyage to her home port.
Six days later, he was killed when the Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Walther Schwieger. At that time, she was within sight of the coast of southern Ireland and about 250 miles from her home port. As his body was not recovered and identified afterwards, he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London.
He is also commemorated on the family grave in Anfield Cemetery, Liverpool, the inscription on the headstone reading: -
CHRISTOPHER EVANS McCONKEY,
WHO LOST HIS LIFE IN THE SINKING OF
THE LUSITANIA 7TH MAY 1915, AGED 62 YEARS
In the archives of the Cunard Steamship Company held in the University of Liverpool, there is a letter sent to Queenstown from the parent company in Liverpool and dated the 29th July 1915. It reads as follows: -
Dear Sirs,
The following is a description of 2nd Cabin Steward McConkey, which please record in your identification book, in case the body is recovered :-
McConkey (Christopher)
2nd Cabin Steward
60
Bald
Scar on Jaw
Short build
Somewhat thin
False teeth
Last seen on deck as ship went down
Name "Chris" would be found on his clothes
Yours faithfully,
THE CUNARD STEAM SHIP COMPANY LIMITED
Upon engagement, he gave his age as 45 years, although this was not true, but the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission which would have been taken from the original Particulars of Engagement ledger, which McConkey signed on the 12th April 1915, naturally still show the same age at death. In view of the age shown on the gravestone inscription and in the above letter, however, the Commission’s information must be considered to be erroneous.
In August 1915, Chris McConkey’s widow, Annie, received the balance of wages owing to him in respect of the Lusitania’s final voyage. His service was reckoned from the 17th April until the 8th May 1915, 24 hours after the liner had foundered. In addition, The Liverpool and London War Risks Insurance Association Limited granted a yearly pension to his widow to compensate her for the loss of her husband. This
amounted to £26-18s.-9d. (£26.94p.) which was payable at the rate of £2-4s.-11d. (£2.24½p.) per month.
Annie McConkey died in June 1932 aged 69 years. She was still residing at 25, St. Ambrose Grove, Liverpool, at the time of her death.
Chris McConkey’s son, Christopher, also served as a steward on passenger liners from the time he finished his education until his death in 1944, aged 52 years, and it is possible that he encouraged his father to join the Mercantile Marine. Chris McConkey Jnr. also joined the British Army in January 1915 and as 49626 Private C. McConkey, served on the Western Front with the 72nd Field Ambulance of the Royal Army Medical Corps from September 1915 until June 1919, when he returned to England and was demobilised.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1871 Census of England, 1891 Census of England, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Grave Commission, UK British Army World War I Service Records 1914 – 1920, Belfast Newsletter, PRO BT 100/345, PRO BT 334, PRO BT 351/1/91405, UniLiv. PR 13/24, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Maurice Rigby, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 25th November 2024.