Thomas Michael McCann, although no official record of his birth can be found, was born in Carrickbroad, Jonesboro, County Armagh, Ireland, in 1890, the son of Joseph and Bridget McCann (née McCrink). He was the second eldest of four children and his father was a labourer and farmer.
After leaving school, he emigrated to Liverpool, Lancashire, England, where he joined the Mercantile Marine serving as a trimmer and fireman on steam ships operating out of the port of Liverpool. In 1915, he resided at 97. Brook Street, Birkenhead, Cheshire.
He engaged as a fireman in the Engineering Department on board the Lusitania, at Liverpool, on the 12th April 1915, at a monthly rate of pay of £6-10s.-0d. (£6.50p.) and was killed when she was sunk. He was aged 25 years.
His body was not recovered and identified afterwards and as a consequence, he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London.
In keeping with all the crew who were killed, The Cunard Steam Ship Company paid him until the 8th May and eventually the balance of wages owing to him, £5, was sent to his mother Bridget, who at this time was residing at 32, Arthur Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire. In addition, The Liverpool and London War Risks Insurance Association Limited granted a yearly pension to his widowed mother to compensate her for the loss of her son on whom she must have been dependant. This amounted to £21-8s.-6d. (£21.42½p.) which was payable at the rate of £5-7s.-2d. (£5.36p.) per quarter.
1901 Census of Ireland, 1911 Census of Ireland, 1911 Census of England, Liverpool Crew Lists 1861 – 1919, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Grave Commission, UniLiv PR 13/24, 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 – 11th November 2024.