Patrick Campbell was born in Fisher Hill, Castlebar, County Mayo, in February 1880, the son of Thomas and Julia Campbell (née Flynn). His family were farmers and Patrick was one six known children in the family.
Patrick and many of his siblings emigrated from Ireland, and Patrick moved to Liverpool, Lancashire, England, where he became a dock labourer. Occasionally, he found employment as a fireman on steam ships operating out of the port of Liverpool.
In mid-1908, in Liverpool, he married Elizabeth Foley (née Rice), who was also from Castlebar, and who was a widow with young children. They resided at 16. Kent Square in Liverpool, but by 1915, the family were residing at 52. Duke Street, Liverpool.
He signed on as a fireman in the Engineering Department on board the RMS Lusitania when she departed from Pier 54 in New York harbour on the 1st May 1915. He was killed six days later after she was torpedoed off the southern coast of his native island. He was aged 35 years.
His body was not recovered and identified afterwards and as he has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London.
The Liverpool and London War Risks Insurance Association Limited also granted a yearly pension to Elizabeth Campbell to compensate her for the loss of her husband which amounted to £60-14s-10d. (£60.74p.), which was payable at the rate of £5-1s-3d. (£5.06p.) per month.
Elizabeth Campbell later moved to Clontigora Post Office, Flurrybridge, Newry, County Down, Ireland.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Ireland Catholic Parish Registers 1655 – 1915, 1901 Census of Ireland, 1911 Census of Ireland, 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 351/1/20640, UniLiv. PR 13/24, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 30th December 2022.