William Herbert Harkness was born in Bootle, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, on the 18th June 1885, the son of John and Mary Ann Harriet Huntley Harkness (née Tindall). He was one of eight children in the family, although two of his siblings had died before 1911, and his father was a coal stevedore in the shipping industry. In 1915, he lived at 112, St. Domingo Vale, Everton, Liverpool.
While still a teenager, William completed his education and became a mercantile clerk and joined the Mercantile Marine, working as an assistant purser on board passenger ships.
He signed on as Assistant Purser in the Deck Department for the Lusitania's final
voyage at Liverpool, at a rate of £10-0s.-0d. per month, in April 1915. He reported for duty at 7am. on the morning of the 17th April, as the Cunarder left the River Mersey the last time ever.
After an uneventful voyage to New York, Assistant Purser Harkness was still on board on the 1st May when the Cunarder set off on her return voyage to Liverpool. On the afternoon of the 7th May, as the Lusitania was off the southern coast of Ireland, within sight of the Old Head of Kinsale, she was sunk by a torpedo from the German submarine U-20. Fortunately, he survived this action.
After helping other passengers to get into the boats, just before the liner went down, he was able to rescue Barbara Anderson, the two year old infant daughter of second cabin passenger, Mrs. Roland Anderson, and get her safely into a lifeboat. This rescue and his own escape are described in the book, The Tragedy of the Lusitania, published privately in America not long after the disaster. Its author Captain Frederick D. Ellis reported: -
Assistant Purser W. Harkness busied himself helping others until the Lusitania was about to settle beneath the water. Then, seeing a lifeboat striking the water, one that was not overcrowded, he made a rush for it. The only person he encountered was little Barbara Anderson standing alone and clinging to the rail. Gathering her up into his arms, he leaped over the rail into the boat and this without injuring the child.
Although the Anderson family was British, they were travelling to England from Bridgeport Connecticut, U.S.A..
Assistant Purser Harkness was one of only two officers from the pursers’ section to survive the sinking, the other being Second Purser P. Draper. The Purser, J.A. McCubbin, his other Assistant Purser, A.H. Burden and his three Junior Assistant Pursers, G.W. Beesley, A.H. Harrod and L.H. Sloane were all killed.
On the 26th December 1917, William married Muriel Irene Howarth at Anfield Wesleyan Chapel, West Derby, Liverpool. They had four children: Ronald William, Muriel Cecile, Colin John, and Sheila.
William Harkness continued to serve as a purser on ocean-going liners, until he died at the age of 52 years at Liverpool, Lancashire, England, on the 13th July 1938. His address at the time of his death was ‘Mayfair’, Orient Drive, Liverpool. On the 22nd August 1938, administration of his estate was granted to his wife, Muriel, and his effects amounted to £551-2s.-3d. (£551.11p.).
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, England and Scotland Select Cemetery Registers 1800 – 2022, 1891 Census of England, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, 1921 Census of the Isle of Man, 1939 Register, Liverpool England Crew Lists 1861 – 1919, Cunard Records, Liverpool Echo, Washington Post, The Tragedy of the Lusitania, Probate Records, PRO BT 100/345, PRO BT 348, PRO BT 349, PRO BT 350, PRO BT 351/1/58190, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 31st December 2023.