Thomas Connaughton was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, on the 6th January 1892, the son of Joseph and Ellen Connaughton (née Barron) of 38, Lennox Street, Liverpool. His father was a dock labourer, and later worked in a soap factory as a soap cutter and packer. Thomas was the eldest of five surviving children, five of his
siblings having died by 1911.
On completing his education, he became a telephone operator and then joined the Mercantile Marine as a cook on steam ships.
He served as Extra Third Cook in the Stewards' Department on board the final voyage of the Lusitania and was killed when she was sunk. He was aged 23 years.
His body was not amongst those recovered from the sea an identified and as a result his name is embossed on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London.
Cunard records show one of the missing to have been Extra Third Cook Thomas Connertin and this is certainly the same man, the disparity of spelling probably occurring when his name was written down as he engaged for service. Also, according to the 1901 and 1911 English Census, the family surname is spelt as Connorton, which is also incorrect.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Liverpool England Catholic Baptisms 1741 – 1919, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, PRO BT 334, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 14th January 2023.