George McGlade, 27, was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England on the 14 April 1888, the son of John and Mary McGlade of 8, Roderick Street, Soho, Liverpool. His father, who was a railway porter, died in 1903, aged 36 years, leaving Mary McGlade someway dependant on her children’s earnings.
George engaged as a seaman in the Deck Department on board the Lusitania at Liverpool on 12th April 1915 at a monthly rate of pay of £5-10s-0d., £5.50p., £1-10-0d (£1.50p.,) of which was advanced to him at the time. He reported for duty on board the vessel on which he had previously served, at 7 a.m. on five days later; in time for her last ever sailing from the River Mersey.
Three weeks later, he was killed when she was torpedoed and sunk on the afternoon of 7th May by the submarine U-20. At that time, The Lusitania was on her return leg from New York, only twelve miles off the coast of southern Ireland and only hours away from her home port. He was aged 27 years, although for some reason, when he engaged, he stated that he was 26.
His body was not recovered and identified afterwards and as a result, he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London.
In August 1915, his family was given the balance of wages owed to him for the Lusitania’s last ever voyage. This was in respect of his service from 17 April 1915 until 8 May – 24 hours after the vessel had gone down. In addition, The Liverpool and London War Risks Insurance Association Limited granted a yearly pension to his mother to compensate her for the loss of her son. This amounted to £19-16s-6d. (£19.82½p.) which was payable at the rate of £1-13s-1d. (£1.65½p.) per month.
Links of interest
George McGlade at the Merseyside Maritime Museum
Contributors
Peter Kelly, Ireland
Ellie Moffat, UK
References
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths
1911 English Census
1901 English Census
1891 English Census
Commonwealth War Grave Commission
Cunard Records
PRO BT 100/345
UniLiv. PR 13/24
PRO BT 334.
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