Percy Draper was born in Bootle, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, on the 17th October 1885, the son of Alfred and Christina Scott Draper (née Anderson). Alfred Draper was a book keeper, and later a cargo superintendent, which suggest he worked for shipping companies. Percy is believed to have been the eldest of seven children in the family.
On completing his education, he became a commercial clerk before joining the British Mercantile Marine as a junior purser on passenger liners operating out of the port of Liverpool.
On the 14th August 1913, he married Annie Elizabeth “Dot” Zinck in Liverpool, and by 1915, they resided at 4, Bedford Road, Liscard, Wallasey, Cheshire.
Percy signed on board the Lusitania in the Deck Department, as Second Purser, at Liverpool on the 16th May 1915 for what would be the Cunarder’s final voyage, at a monthly rate of pay of £5-1s.-0d. (£5.05p.). He reported for duty the following day at 7 a.m. and was on board when the Lusitania left the River Mersey for the last time ever. His previous ship had been the Cunarder Ascania.
He survived the sinking three weeks later, although he suffered in the ordeal. Second Cabin passenger Mrs. Ellen Hogg in an interview published in The St. Helens Reporter in the edition of the 11th May 1915, related: -
“At last we got away from it all and then we came across a boat in which were two men, one of whom was bailing the water out. Some of us got into the boat. I was the first to be put into it and the assistant purser got in with us. Blood and froth were pouring out of his mouth, and he told me he had gone under with the Lusitania and come up again by the greatest of fortune.”
It is most likely that Mrs. Hogg was referring to Second Purser Draper in view of the
fact that Assistant Purser William Harkness is known to have jumped into a lifeboat with an infant survivor, without touching the sea.
Draper was one of only two officers from the pursers’ section to survive, the other being Assistant Purser W. H. Harkness. The Purser, J.A. McCubbin, his other Assistant Purser, A.H. Burden, and his three Junior Assistant Pursers, G.W. Beesley, A.H. Harrod and L.H. Sloane were all killed.
Percy and “Dot” Draper’s only child, a daughter named Irene Annie, always known as “Queenie”, was born on the 15th May 1915, a week after the sinking of the Lusitania, and it is likely that Percy had just made it back to his home and was recovering from his ordeal.
Percy continued to serve as a purser in the Mercantile Marine for many years after his ordeal before he became a secretary’s clerk in a shipping company. The family resided at 174a. Aigburth Road, Liverpool.
Percy Draper died in a Liverpool hospital on the 17th December 1953, aged 68 years, and was buried in Allerton Cemetery, Liverpool on the 21st December 1953, in Section 38, Grave 387. His wife died on the 5th December 1960, and was buried beside him.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Liverpool England Church of England Baptisms 1813 – 1919, Liverpool England Church of England Marriages and Banns 1754 – 1935, 1891 Census of England, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, 1921 Census of England, 1939 Register, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, UK Campaign Medals Awarded to World War I Merchant Seamen 1914 – 1925, Liverpool Echo, St. Helens Reporter, Wallasey News, PRO BT 350, PRO BT 351/1/38145, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 25th March 2023.