Peter Donoghue was born in Ormskirk, Lancashire, in 1865, the son of Peter and Ann Donoghue (née Bradley). His father was a labourer.
In 1915, he lived at 26, Elm Road, Walton, Liverpool, Lancashire, with a number of his unmarried siblings, their parents being deceased.
He was a professional seaman in the British Mercantile Marine and in April 1915, signed on as a greaser in the Engineering Department on board the Lusitania at Liverpool for what would be the liner’s last ever voyage to America, reporting for duty at 8 a.m. on the 17th April, the day she left the River Mersey. He was killed when she was sunk on her return voyage from New York on the 7th May. He was aged 50 years.
His body was never recovered and identified afterwards and as a consequence, he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London.
When his will was proven on the 23rd December 1915, administration was granted to his older brother, John Donoghue, whose occupation was also given as 'greaser'. Peter Donoghue's effects amounted to £200.
1871 Census of England, 1881 Census of England, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Probate Records, PRO BT 334, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, David Irving, Robert O'Brien, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated –20th March 2023.