Percy Richards, 7, was from Meaderville, Montana, United States citizen. He was the son of Thomas Richards, who was a naturalized American citizen, and Phillipa “Phyllis” Conner, who was not naturalized. Percy had two siblings, a brother named Cecil Harry, and a sister named Dora Millicent. The children were all born in Montana, which would have made Percy an American citizen, although the record states that he was traveling aboard Lusitania under a British passport.
The Richards family was on its way to Cornwall during the last voyage of the Lusitania. Their cabin on board was D-80.
On 7 May 1915, the torpedo impacted Lusitania while the Richards family was at lunch in the second class dining room. The family stayed there until the room was almost empty. Thomas retrieved lifebelts for himself, Phyllis, Cecil, and Percy, but could not find a lifebelt that would fit their infant daughter, Dora.
The Richards family went up to the second cabin boat deck, standing against the bulkhead outside the second cabin lounge entrance, until the ship sank from under them. The final wave swept Dora out of the arms of her parents. Thomas was able to hold on to Cecil, but Percy was swept away and towards overturned lifeboat 22. There, Dwight Harris pulled young Percy atop the overturned boat, where they were taken to safety.
Thomas, Phyllis, Percy, and Cecil all survived, but Dora did not.
Contributors:
Jim Kalafus
Michael Poirier
Jean Richards Timmermeister – contact Lusi_meister@asisna.com
Judith Tavares
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