Mr Neal McNamee

Mr Neal McNamee was a 27 (twenty-seven) year-old Irish passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born on August 29, 1884, in Rooskey, Castlefinn, Co Donegal, Ireland, McNamee was a newly married provision manager traveling to America with his wife for a new job opportunity.

Early Life and Family Background

What was Neal McNamee’s family like?

Neal McNamee came from a large Roman Catholic family. His parents were:

• William McNamee (born 1861): A road contractor from Co Cavan
• Catherine Gordon (born 1863)

Neal was one of seven children:

1. Ellen (born February 20, 1883)
2. Neal (born August 29, 1884)
3. Catherine (born January 29, 1889)
4. Mary (born June 2, 1891)
5. Andrew (born September 25, 1893)
6. Maggie (born July 27, 1898)
7. Rebecca (born April 2, 1901)

Tragically, Neal’s sister Maggie lived only nine months, succumbing to pneumonia on May 20, 1899.

Education and Early Career

Neal appeared in the 1901 Irish census, living with his family at house 1 in Rooskey, where he was described as a scholar. As a young man, Neal found employment with Lipton’s, a well-known grocery chain, working at their 41 Silver Street location in Salisbury.

Marriage and Career Opportunity

Neal’s life took an exciting turn when he met Eileen O’Leary, born in 1892. Eileen was a cashier at the same Lipton’s store where Neal worked. Their relationship blossomed, and they married on January 12, 1912, at the Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church in Pokesdown, Bournemouth.

Shortly after their marriage, an incredible opportunity arose for the newlyweds:

• Neal was offered a position at Lipton Ltd. in America
• Sir Thomas Lipton himself wrote a letter of introduction to his General Manager in New York

This promising career move set the stage for the couple’s fateful journey aboard the Titanic.

The Titanic Journey

How did the McNamees come to be on the Titanic?

Neal and Eileen McNamee boarded the RMS Titanic at Southampton as third-class passengers. Their ticket details were as follows:

The couple was embarking on what should have been an exciting journey to start their new life together in America.

The Fateful Night

What happened to the McNamees during the Titanic’s sinking?

Second Officer Charles Lightoller’s account of the evacuation provides a poignant glimpse into the McNamees’ final hours:

One young couple walked steadily up and down the boat deck throughout pretty well the whole of the proceedings. Once or twice the young chap asked if he could help. He was a tall, clean-bred Britisher, on his honeymoon I should say. The girl—she was little more—never made the slightest attempt to come towards the boats, much less be taken on board, although I looked towards her several times with a look of silent invitation, but no, she was not going to be parted from her man…

This heart-wrenching description is believed to refer to Neal and Eileen McNamee, showcasing their devotion to each other in the face of impending disaster.

Tragically, both Neal and Eileen perished in the sinking. Neal’s body, if recovered, was never identified.

Legacy and Remembrance

How are Neal and Eileen McNamee remembered today?

While their lives were cut tragically short, the memory of Neal and Eileen McNamee lives on:

• Probate for Neal’s estate, valued at £10, was granted to his father William on April 12, 1913.
• A memorial bench with a plaque and a tree were placed in Winston Churchill Gardens, Salisbury.
• Though the original tree was destroyed by vandals, on July 28, 1999, a new tree was planted, and a new bench and plaque were unveiled.

These memorials serve as a touching tribute to the young couple who, like many others, lost their lives in one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters.

Neal McNamee’s story, though brief, provides a poignant glimpse into the lives affected by the Titanic tragedy. His journey from a small town in Ireland to his untimely end on the Titanic serves as a reminder of the dreams and aspirations cut short on that fateful night of April 15, 1912.