Robert George McCready – known as “Bob” - was born in Ballymogane More, Magherafelt, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, on the 7th April 1886, the son of William John and Margaret McCready (née Glover), who in 1915, were living at 43. Oldpark Road, Belfast. His father was a clerk, and later a commercial traveller..
Bob McCready was a photographer by trade, having been employed by Messrs. Charles and Russell, photographers, Royal Avenue, Belfast, for some twelve years.
In 1913, he had immigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in search of his fortune. At least one of his brothers, Thomas, was already working and living there.
He intended to return to his home in May 1915 and, travelling from Canada, he booked third class passage from New York to Liverpool on the Lusitania for the sailing which subsequently left the North River at mid-day on 1st May 1915. Accompanying him on the journey was fellow Belfast man, Thomas McAfee, who
was returning to his native city for a short holiday before enlisting in the British Army. Perhaps Bob McCready intended to enlist also.
Unfortunately, Bob never saw Belfast again, for he was killed exactly six days later when the ship was torpedoed and sunk.
As his body was never subsequently recovered and identified, he has no known grave.
Soon after the sinking, his dependant parents and sister applied to The Lusitania Relief Fund, for financial help. This fund had been set up immediately after news of the liner’s sinking had reached Liverpool, by The Lord Mayor and other local business dignitaries to help second and third class passenger survivors and the relatives of those who had perished, who had suffered as a result of the sinking. It was thought that saloon class passengers were wealthy enough not to need help.
Each claim was met on its own merits and the awards committee deferred an immediate payment, as the family, his parents and sister, had already received an insurance pay-out of £11-11s-0d.
Thomas McAfee also lost his life in the sinking.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1901 Census of Ireland, 1911 Census of Ireland, UK Outward passenger Lists 1890 – 1960, Canadian Passenger Lists 1865 – 1935, Cunard Records, Belfast Weekly Telegraph, Larne Times, Northern Whig, Liverpool Record Office, PRO BT 100/345, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.