James Molden was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, in 1890, one of seventeen children of William and Ann Molden. The family home was at 70, Blenheim Street, Everton, Liverpool, Lancashire.
He engaged as a fireman in the Engineering Department on board the Lusitania, at Liverpool, on the 12th April 1915, at a monthly rate of pay of £6-10s-0d, (£6.50p.). He was killed when she was sunk of the southern coast of Ireland on the 7th May.
His body was not recovered and identified afterwards and as a result he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London. He was aged 25 years.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1911 English Census, 1901 English Census, 1891 English Census, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Cunard Records, PRO BT 334.