Thomas Handel Hawkins, 27, was a cellist for the Lusitania‘s band on the ship’s final voyage. He was a British subject. When the ship was torpedoed by the German submarine U-20 on 7 May 1915, Hawkins survived the sinking but lost his cello. Despite “Thomas” being his first name, he is listed on the Cunard Confidentiality Report as “H. Hawkins.”
Thomas Handel Hawkins was born in Oldham, near Manchester, Lancashire, England, in 1887 as one of many children. He lived on Frederick Street. Mr. Hawkins was involved with the local church and engaged with people in his community. Gordon Lees, one of his friends, relates how Hawkins would talk to would talk to Lees’ daughters, who were competitive swimmers. On swimming, Hawkins would tell them, “That is the best thing you can do because it saved my life.”
Hawkins also gave the Lees family a postcard showing the Lusitania and said, “I lost a damned good cello when it sank, and I was in the water a long time.”
Cunard compensated Hawkins for the loss of his cello, although the instrument’s sentimental value probably could not be replaced.
Hawkins married in 1920 and had two daughters. He died in 1983 at age 95.
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Gordon Lees
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