Today marks 100 years since the sinking of the Lusitania, a Cunard passenger ship carrying people across the Atlantic from Liverpool to America.
On 7th May 1915, during WWI, Lusitania was torpedoed by a German U-boat and 1,201 passengers and crew, many from Liverpool, lost their lives. What we have came to realise is not only did it have a huge affect on the people of Liverpool at the time but today, 100 years on, the people of Liverpool still remember.
On 7th May 1915, during WWI, Lusitania was torpedoed by a German U-boat and 1,201 passengers and crew, many from Liverpool, lost their lives. What we have came to realise is not only did it have a huge affect on the people of Liverpool at the time but today, 100 years on, the people of Liverpool still remember.
The ship was travelling from New York to Liverpool when it was torpedoes just 11 miles off the coast of island.There were many tributes paid today for those who lost their life that day and Beatles Liverpool and More wanted to pay our own tribute as today the work we have been doing researching the sinking of the Lusitania feels incredibly poignant.
In a couple of weeks we will be launching a new book commemorating 100 years since the sinking of the Lusitania, a book that has taken years to research. As a team we looked at newspaper articles, documentation, statements and interviews including those of the first rescuers on the scene and for the first time, the accounts of the German prospective. We have done this using the log book of the Captain of the U-boat that hunted and sunk the Lusitania.
‘Liverpool and the Lusitania – A City in Mourning’ will include the firsthand accounts of the witnesses who were on board the Lusitania that fateful day on the 7th May 1915 and most significantly it includes an extended passenger and crew list using the official list compiled by The Cunard Company in 1915. This list has taken years to painstakingly compile and as well as being a significant part of the book it is also something that we have donated to a few individuals and organisations around the world to be a part of their commemorations including 'Lusitania- Life, Loss, Legacy' at Liverpool Maritime Museum, 'Lusitania 100' at St George's Hall in Liverpool as well as memorials today in New York and in New South Wales, Australia.
It has been a humbling task compiling the list of passengers and crew and along the way we have got to hear many, many stories from members of the public, descendants of those on board and those who made up the rescue missions. What started as a list of names on many sheets of paper have since become real people, both victims and heroes of a terrible tragedy.
We wanted to share just one story we received, from a man who is incredibly proud to say that his grandfather was a part of that rescue mission, his name was noted on our original list compiled by Cunard in 1915 as Harkness, W H, survivor. Age unknown, Asst Purser, address unknown, nationality unknown. We we have discovered, thanks to his descendant is a brave story of an incredible man.
‘Liverpool and the Lusitania – A City in Mourning’ will include the firsthand accounts of the witnesses who were on board the Lusitania that fateful day on the 7th May 1915 and most significantly it includes an extended passenger and crew list using the official list compiled by The Cunard Company in 1915. This list has taken years to painstakingly compile and as well as being a significant part of the book it is also something that we have donated to a few individuals and organisations around the world to be a part of their commemorations including 'Lusitania- Life, Loss, Legacy' at Liverpool Maritime Museum, 'Lusitania 100' at St George's Hall in Liverpool as well as memorials today in New York and in New South Wales, Australia.
It has been a humbling task compiling the list of passengers and crew and along the way we have got to hear many, many stories from members of the public, descendants of those on board and those who made up the rescue missions. What started as a list of names on many sheets of paper have since become real people, both victims and heroes of a terrible tragedy.
We wanted to share just one story we received, from a man who is incredibly proud to say that his grandfather was a part of that rescue mission, his name was noted on our original list compiled by Cunard in 1915 as Harkness, W H, survivor. Age unknown, Asst Purser, address unknown, nationality unknown. We we have discovered, thanks to his descendant is a brave story of an incredible man.
Name Age Status Address Nationality Condition
Harkness, W H ? Asst. Purser Unknown Unknown Saved
Harkness, W H ? Asst. Purser Unknown Unknown Saved
| "William Harkness was my mother's father age 29 at the time of the sinking of the Lusitania. He was born in Liverpool and (he) saved the life of a young girl, Barbara Anderson, who was alone on the deck as he made his way to a lifeboat." Photograph of William Harkness with Barbara Anderson |  |
Barbara Anderson
Barbara Anderson, 2 at the time and on her way to visit her grandmother in England when the liner was torpedoed. She was eating lunch with her mother when the ship was hit and was ushered towards the lifeboats. A ship's purser, Harkness, saw the frightened little girl alone on the deck after being separated from her mother. Harkness scooped her up and the two fell backwards into a lifeboat, Boat number 15. After the sinking Barbara was reunited with her mother who was five months pregnant and the time of the sinking, and was herself pulled into a lifeboat from the water. Her mother gave birth to a son Frank a few months after, Frank unfortunately lived only 5 months and Barbara's mother Emily too died not to long after of tuberculosis.
In 1919, aged 7, she returned to America on board the Lusitania's sister ship the Mauretania returning to her father whom had worked as a draughtsman for a munitions factory. The First World War had created such demand for the factory's production that he was unable to accompany his family on their transatlantic voyage. It was in fact the sinking of the Lusitania and the death of many Americans that drew America in to the war.
Married and with 2 surviving children, Barbara McDermott as she became, died on April 12 aged 95, the penultimate surviving passenger from the sinking of the Lusitania, owing her life to the Purser, W H Harkness.
In 1919, aged 7, she returned to America on board the Lusitania's sister ship the Mauretania returning to her father whom had worked as a draughtsman for a munitions factory. The First World War had created such demand for the factory's production that he was unable to accompany his family on their transatlantic voyage. It was in fact the sinking of the Lusitania and the death of many Americans that drew America in to the war.
Married and with 2 surviving children, Barbara McDermott as she became, died on April 12 aged 95, the penultimate surviving passenger from the sinking of the Lusitania, owing her life to the Purser, W H Harkness.
William Harkness
William Herbert Harkness was born in Bootle, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, on the 18th June 1885, the son of John and Mary A.A.H. Harkness. He lived at 112, St. Domingo Vale, Everton, Liverpool.
He signed on as Assistant Purser in the Deck Department for the final voyage at Liverpool, at a rate of £10-0s-0d.
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 a second cabin passenger get safely into a lifeboat.
"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."
-The Tragedy of the Lusitania, Captain Frederick D. Ellis (Published privately in America shortly after the sinking)
Although the Anderson family was British, it was 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.
In late 1917, William married Muriel Irene Howarth in West Derby, Liverpool.
He died on the 16th June 1938 aged 52. His address at the time of his death was ‘Mayfair’, Orient Drive, Liverpool.
He signed on as Assistant Purser in the Deck Department for the final voyage at Liverpool, at a rate of £10-0s-0d.
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 a second cabin passenger get safely into a lifeboat.
"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."
-The Tragedy of the Lusitania, Captain Frederick D. Ellis (Published privately in America shortly after the sinking)
Although the Anderson family was British, it was 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.
In late 1917, William married Muriel Irene Howarth in West Derby, Liverpool.
He died on the 16th June 1938 aged 52. His address at the time of his death was ‘Mayfair’, Orient Drive, Liverpool.
The Lusitania is and always will be remembered in Liverpool, it belonged to Liverpool, built for the Cunard Line, and crewed by many Liverpool men and women. It is the Liverpool families who hold the memory of the Lusitania close to their hearts for the terrible event which to place on 7th May 1915, 100 years on.
