{"product_id":"lusitania-casualty-died-7th-may-1915-ww1-mercantile-marine-medal-fireman-french-from-liverpool","title":"Lusitania Casualty Died 7th May 1915 WW1 Mercantile Marine Medal Fireman French from Liverpool","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFirst World War Mercantile Marine – Fireman Edward Stanley French, Merchant Navy, died when the Lusitania was sunk in May 1915\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eMercantile Marine Medal -\u003cb\u003e EDWARD S. FRENCH\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eEdward Stanley French\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003e was born on \u003cb\u003e22 February 1878\u003c\/b\u003e at \u003cb\u003eKirkdale, Liverpool, Lancashire\u003c\/b\u003e, and was baptised on \u003cb\u003e17 April 1878\u003c\/b\u003e at \u003cb\u003eSt Peter’s Church, Liverpool\u003c\/b\u003e, the son of \u003cb\u003eEdward French\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eMary French\u003c\/b\u003e. He first appears in the \u003cb\u003e1881 Census\u003c\/b\u003e, aged \u003cb\u003e3\u003c\/b\u003e, living with his parents at \u003cb\u003e18 Oberon Street, Kirkdale\u003c\/b\u003e, alongside his siblings Louisa, Martha, Elizabeth, Joshua and Jessie. By the \u003cb\u003e1891 Census\u003c\/b\u003e he is recorded as \u003cb\u003eEdward S. French\u003c\/b\u003e, aged \u003cb\u003e13\u003c\/b\u003e, born Liverpool in 1878, residing at \u003cb\u003eBootle\u003c\/b\u003e, West Derby Registration District, within the household of \u003cb\u003eEdward P. French\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eBeatrice F. French\u003c\/b\u003e, together with a large blended family of siblings and half-siblings, demonstrating a stable Liverpool working-class upbringing closely tied to the Mersey districts.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eFrench went to sea as a young man and entered the \u003cb\u003eMercantile Marine\u003c\/b\u003e, specialising in engine-room work. A Liverpool \u003cb\u003eCrew List\u003c\/b\u003e records him aged \u003cb\u003e21\u003c\/b\u003e in \u003cb\u003e1898\u003c\/b\u003e, birthplace Liverpool, serving from the \u003cb\u003ePort of Registry: Liverpool\u003c\/b\u003e aboard the steamship \u003cb\u003eOttoman\u003c\/b\u003e (Official Number \u003cb\u003e97824\u003c\/b\u003e), confirming his early career in the stokehold as a professional seaman. Such work was physically demanding and essential, involving the manual firing of boilers to maintain steam pressure for propulsion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eHe married \u003cb\u003eElizabeth (Lizzie) Turner\u003c\/b\u003e and by \u003cb\u003e1911\u003c\/b\u003e the family were living at \u003cb\u003e13 Elizabeth Road, Orrell, Bootle\u003c\/b\u003e. The \u003cb\u003e1911 Census\u003c\/b\u003e records Edward as \u003cb\u003eHead of Household\u003c\/b\u003e, with his occupation clearly stated as \u003cb\u003e“At Sea At Present – Marine Fireman”\u003c\/b\u003e, while his wife Elizabeth, aged \u003cb\u003e27\u003c\/b\u003e, remained at home with their children \u003cb\u003eCharlie (10)\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003eEdward (8)\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003eHarold (3)\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eRobert (1)\u003c\/b\u003e. This census entry is particularly significant, as it directly confirms both his rank and role within the Mercantile Marine immediately prior to the First World War. \u003cb\u003eDuring the was his family lived at Philip St., Liverpool.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eDuring the war Edward Stanley French was serving as a \u003cb\u003eFireman\u003c\/b\u003e aboard the Cunard liner \u003cb\u003eRMS \u003ci\u003eLusitania\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, registered at \u003cb\u003eLiverpool\u003c\/b\u003e. Launched in \u003cb\u003e1906\u003c\/b\u003e and in service from \u003cb\u003e1907\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eLusitania\u003c\/i\u003e was one of the great Atlantic express liners of her era, famed for speed and luxury and a regular feature on the \u003cb\u003eLiverpool – Queenstown – New York\u003c\/b\u003e route. Despite the outbreak of war in August 1914, she continued in passenger service and, crucially, also carried war material, placing her firmly within the increasingly dangerous maritime war zone of the Atlantic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eOn \u003cb\u003e7 May 1915\u003c\/b\u003e, while approaching the south coast of Ireland, \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLusitania\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e was \u003cb\u003etorpedoed by the German submarine U-20 \u003c\/b\u003eat approximately \u003cb\u003e2.10 pm\u003c\/b\u003e, around \u003cb\u003e11 miles off the Old Head of Kinsale\u003c\/b\u003e. The ship sank in just \u003cb\u003e18 minutes\u003c\/b\u003e, a catastrophic loss compounded by the speed of flooding and heavy list, particularly lethal for engine-room personnel working deep within the vessel. Of the \u003cb\u003e1,960 people\u003c\/b\u003e aboard, \u003cb\u003e1,193 lost their lives\u003c\/b\u003e, including large numbers of crew. The sinking caused worldwide outrage and became one of the defining maritime disasters of the First World War, with profound political consequences.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eThe torpedo struck \u003ci\u003eLusitania\u003c\/i\u003e on the \u003cb\u003estarboard side\u003c\/b\u003e, just forward of the bridge, triggering a second internal explosion which remains debated but which dramatically accelerated flooding. The ship immediately developed a severe list, rendering many lifeboats unusable. Although designed with extensive watertight subdivision, \u003ci\u003eLusitania\u003c\/i\u003e’s high speed and long hull worked against her once compromised, and she foundered with extreme rapidity. Engine rooms, boiler spaces and coal bunkers were amongst the first areas to flood, leaving firemen and trimmers little chance of escape.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eAt the time of her sinking, \u003ci\u003eLusitania\u003c\/i\u003e was carrying \u003cb\u003e1,257 passengers and 703 crew\u003c\/b\u003e. Among the dead were men, women and children of multiple nationalities, including \u003cb\u003e128 American citizens\u003c\/b\u003e, making the incident a major diplomatic flashpoint. German authorities had previously issued warnings in American newspapers advising travellers against sailing aboard British vessels entering the declared war zone, yet \u003ci\u003eLusitania\u003c\/i\u003e sailed as scheduled. Her loss became a symbol of unrestricted submarine warfare and significantly shifted public opinion against Germany, particularly in the United States.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eThe sinking also exposed serious shortcomings in maritime safety. Many lifeboats could not be launched due to the ship’s list and forward motion at the moment of impact. Survivors reported chaos on deck, while those below were trapped by rapidly rising water and steam. Rescue vessels from Queenstown (Cobh) recovered survivors and bodies over several days, but the majority of casualties were never recovered, leading to their commemoration on memorials rather than burial.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eFor members of the \u003cb\u003eMercantile Marine\u003c\/b\u003e, the loss of \u003ci\u003eLusitania\u003c\/i\u003e was especially significant. Merchant seamen were civilians, yet faced frontline dangers without the protections afforded to naval personnel. The sinking highlighted the risks borne by engine-room ratings in particular, whose work kept Britain’s merchant fleet moving under wartime conditions. As a result, the \u003ci\u003eLusitania\u003c\/i\u003e disaster became one of the most powerful justifications for the later recognition of merchant seamen through awards such as the \u003cb\u003eMercantile Marine Medal\u003c\/b\u003e, marking service carried out under direct enemy threat.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eEdward Stanley French was killed at sea in the sinking of \u003ci\u003eLusitania\u003c\/i\u003e, aged 37\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003e. Having no known grave, he is \u003cb\u003ecommemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial\u003c\/b\u003e, London, which bears the names of Mercantile Marine casualties lost at sea. Commonwealth War Graves records confirm his service aboard \u003ci\u003eLusitania\u003c\/i\u003e and name him as the \u003cb\u003ehusband of Elizabeth French (née Turner)\u003c\/b\u003e, giving her address as \u003cb\u003e23 Philip Street, Linacre, Lancashire\u003c\/b\u003e, further tying the casualty record directly to the man recorded in census and civil documentation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eImportant record note:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003e The Mercantile Marine Medal records list only a single \u003cb\u003e“EDWARD S. FRENCH”\u003c\/b\u003e, and the associated medal index gives an incorrect \u003cb\u003eyear of birth of 1882\u003c\/b\u003e. However, the medal is unquestionably attributable to \u003cb\u003eEdward Stanley French\u003c\/b\u003e. The wife’s name and address on the medal record correspond exactly with \u003cb\u003eElizabeth French (née Turner)\u003c\/b\u003e at the same Philip Street, Liverpool address, and the medal record clearly states that the recipient was \u003cb\u003edeceased\u003c\/b\u003e, matching French’s confirmed death on \u003cb\u003e7 May 1915\u003c\/b\u003e aboard \u003ci\u003eLusitania\u003c\/i\u003e. The incorrect birth year should therefore be regarded as a clerical error within the medal records, with all other evidence conclusively identifying the medal as his.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePLEASE NOTE: All research will be sent to the buyer via email. I am unable to provide printed copies, as I do not have access to a printer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAJMS Medals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AJMS Medals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53138726060378,"sku":null,"price":750.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20251024_165655.png?v=1766073981","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/lusitania-casualty-died-7th-may-1915-ww1-mercantile-marine-medal-fireman-french-from-liverpool","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}