Mr. James Jarvie Aitken, Sr.

Jarvie Aitken (1883 – 1915), 31, was the father of James Jarvie, Jr., son of James Aitken, and brother of Chrissie Aitken.  The Aitkens were traveling aboard Lusitania to return to Scotland from British Columbia, Canada, following the death of Jarvie’s wife, Grace.  The Aitkens had originally booked passage aboard Cameronia, but when that ship was requisitioned, her passengers and crew were transferred to Lusitania.  Jarvie, James Jarvie, Jr., and James were lost in the disaster.  Chrissie was the only member of their party to survive.

Life

Jarvie Aitken, born on 25 July 1883 near Innerleithen, Scotland, was the second of five children born to James Aitken (1855 – 1915) and Jessie Jarvie (1856 – 1908).  His siblings were Alexander (born 1880), William (born 1887), John (born 1890), and Chrissie (born 1899).  By 1891, the Aitkens had moved to Edinburgh, where their father James found work as a commercial traveler in woollens.  By 1901, they were living in Cramond, near Edinburgh.  Their mother, Jessie Jarvie, died in 1908.

Some time before 1912, Jarvie emigrated to Merritt, British Columbia, Canada.  He also married Grace Mackay Taylor, and they had a son, James Jarvie, Jr., born in 1912.  After the death of his mother Jessie Jarvie, his father James and sister Chrissie came to Merritt in 1912 to live with him, his wife, and child.

Grace died in 1914, and Jarvie and James decided to return to Scotland bringing Chrissie and James Jarvie, Jr., with them.  The Aitkens had originally booked passage aboard Cameronia, but the British Government requisitioned the ship the day of her sailing.  Thus, the Aitkens were among the passengers and crew transferred to Lusitania.

Jarvie, James Jarvie, Jr., and James were lost in the disaster.  Chrissie was the only member of their party to survive.  Chrissie was not with them during the sinking.  James’ body was recovered and identified.  Jarvie and James Jarvie, Jr.’s were not.

Contributor:
Oliver Russell