Theodore Diamandis was born in Constantinople, Turkey, in 1874, the son, and one of nine children, of Theodorides and Agni Diamandis. His family were involved in the tobacco industry, primarily in the manufacture of cigarettes.
Theodore became involved in the family business, and in 1903, he married Mabel Woolley in Westminster, London. The couple had two children – Patroclos Charles, born in 1904, and Phokion Gordon, born in 1910. The family resided at 29, Walterton Road, Paddington, London.
From 1904, Theodore Diamandis was a regular trans-Atlantic traveller in connection with his business, and in February 1915, he had reason to travel to New York City to conduct business. He had sailed on the
Baltic, arriving in New York City on the 17th February. For his return journey to England, he joined the
Lusitania at Pier 54 on the 1st May as a third class passenger for the journey to Liverpool. He had attempted to purchase a second class ticket, but found that there were none available.
He survived the sinking three weeks later and after being rescued from the sea and landed at Queenstown, he was eventually able to make it back to London.
Shortly afterwards, he applied to The Lusitania Relief Fund for financial help to make up for some of the losses he had sustained by the sinking. The fund was administered principally by The Lord Mayor of Liverpool and it is not known whether or not his application was ever approved.
Theodore Diamandis was also called to give evidence at the enquiry conducted by Lord Mersey into the sinking of the
Lusitania, and in his evidence he claimed to have seen the periscope of the submarine disappearing beneath the waves.
It is believed that Theodore Diamandis died in Greece in 1926, at the age of 51 years, however; it has not been possible to verify this to date. His wife, Mabel, married for a second time in Bournemouth, Dorset, in 1932.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1911 Census of England & Wales, UK Outward Passenger Lists 1890 – 1960, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, Liverpool Record Office, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.