William “Will” Moffatt was born in Ardwick, Manchester, Lancashire, England, on the 30th November 1879, the son of John and Elizabeth Ann Moffatt (née Pimlott). His father was an agent for an Indian rubber manufacturer, and William was one of six children. He became a shipping clerk and warehouseman when he left school.
In 1910, he emigrated to the United States of America, to join his younger brother, Harry, in Winchester, Virginia. Like his brother, he found employment with the Shenandoah Valley Importing Company. It is also believed that he was a horse dealer.
In April 1915, he received word of the sudden death of his father, and immediately decided to return to Manchester. He consequently booked second cabin passage on the Lusitania which was scheduled to sail from New York for Liverpool on the morning of 1st May 1915. Leaving Winchester, he arrived at the Cunard berth at Pier 54 in New York harbour on the morning of her departure in time for her scheduled 10.00 a.m. sailing. This was then delayed until the afternoon as she had to embark passengers, crew and cargo from the Anchor Liner Cameronia, which had been requisitioned by the British Admiralty for service as a troop ship.
The Lusitania finally left port just after mid-day and just six days later, on the afternoon of 7th May; she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20. At that point, she was twelve miles off the coast of southern Ireland and only 250 miles away from her destination. Will Moffatt was killed as a result of this action. He was aged 35 years.
On 21st May 1915, a letter arrived at the Queenstown office of the Cunard Steam Ship Company giving a description of him which stated: -
Age 35 years. Height about 5’ 6”, light hair bald on the top. Blue eyes, fair complexion. Nail missing from left thumb. Wore gold signet ring with initials. English by birth, resident of Winchester, Va. Above information received from Miss K. E. Harris, 218 E. Water St., Winchester Va.
Despite this letter, no recovered body landed at Kinsale or Queenstown matched its description and as a consequence, William Moffatt has no known grave. Presumably Miss Harris was a close friend.
Cunard records show his surname to be spelled Moffat, but this is an error.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Manchester England Non-Conformist Births and Baptisms 1758 – 1912, 1881 Census of England & Wales, 1891 Census of England & Wales, 1901 Census of England & Wales, 1911 Census of England & Wales, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, The Winchester Star, PRO BT 100/345, UniLiv. PR13/6, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Ray Frantz, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.