| William Harkness Assistant Purser Saved |
|
 William Harkness and Barbara Anderson in Queenstown. Image courtesy Cliff Barry. |
|
| Born | William Herbert Harkness 18 June 1885 Bootle, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
| Died | 13 July 1938 (age 53) Greatacre, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom |
| Age on Lusitania | 29 |
| Lifeboat | 15 |
| Rescued by | Wanderer (Peel 11) |
| Citizenship | British (English) |
| Residence | Everton, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
| Spouse(s) | Muriel Howarth (1917 – 1938, his death) |
William Harkness (1885 – 1938), 29, was a British subject and an assistant purser on Lusitania. He assisted many passengers to safety, including second cabin passengers Emily and Barbara Anderson. Mr. Harkness was saved with the Andersons in lifeboat 15, which was picked up by the rescue vessel Wanderer (Peel 11).
Biography
William Herbert Harkness was born on 18 June 1885 in Bootle, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom. He was the son of John and Mary A.A.H. Harkness. He lived at 112, St. Domingo Vale, Everton, Liverpool.
Harkness 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 for what would be the Cunarder’s final voyage. He reported for duty at 7 am on the morning of 17 April, as the Cunarder left the River Mersey the last time ever.
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 passengers Mr. and Mrs. Roland Anderson and get her safely into a lifeboat.
From the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Tuesday, 11 May 1915, page 2:
“W.H. Harkless [sic] an assistant purser, busied himself helping others off the Lusitania was about to get beneath the water. Then, seeing a lifeboat striking the water that was not overcrowded, he made a rush for it. The only person he encountered was little Barbara Anderson of Bridgeport, Ct. who was standing alone, clinging to the rail.
Gathering her up in his arms, he leaped over the rail and into the boat[,] doing this without injuring the child.”
Harkness and Barbara Anderson were saved in lifeboat 15. While in the lifeboat, Harkness pulled several more people aboard and saved them.
Assistant Purser Harkness was one of only two officers from the pursers section to survive the sinking, the other being Second Purser Percy Draper. The Purser, James McCubbin, his other Assistant Purser, Arthur Howell Burden and his three Junior Assistant Pursers, George Beesley, Alfred Harrod and Leonard Sloane were all killed.
Later life
In late 1917, William married Muriel Irene Howarth in West Derby, Liverpool, and they had four children.
William Harkness continued to serve as a purser on ocean-going liners, until he died at the age of 53 years at Liverpool, Lancashire, England, on the 13 July 1938. His address at the time of his death was ‘Mayfair’, Orient Drive, Gateacre, Liverpool. On the 22nd August 1938, administration of his estate was granted to his wife, Muriel, and his effects amounted to £551-2s-3d.
 William Harkness’ papers, Michael Poirier/National Archives. |
Links of interest
William Harkness at the Merseyside Maritime Museum
Contributors
Cliff Barry, UK
Peter Kelly, Ireland
Ellie Moffat, UK
Michael Poirier, USA
References:
“Snatch Up Babes, Leap Into Boats as Liner Plunges.” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Tuesday, 11 May 1915, page 2.
Ellis, Frederick D. The Tragedy of the Lusitania.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths
1891 Census of England and Wales
1901 Census of England and Wales
1911 Census of England and Wales
Cunard Records
PRO BT 100/345
Probate Records
PRO BT 350
I have a small silver box with a beautiful enamel design that is dedicated. The box is inscribed as follows: To Miss Katherine Rigby. Kindest Regards from W.H. Harkness, Purser. SS Andania. I bought the box for $5 Canadian dollars at a flea market. Can anyone give me more information. Is he the same person who was assistant purser and hero on the Lusitania? Thank you.
This sounds very much to me as the same man. William Herbert Harkness was my grandfather he sailed some 3 to 4 times around the world with Cunard on a variety of ships. I would be good to see a photograph of the box and inscription. I will try and find a reference to his sailing on the SS Andania to be able to date it. Hi life at sea started back as a boy sailing as a clerk in about 1903. I have some information of his years at sea but by no means a complete sailing record.