Hugh Richard Walter McElroy (28 October 1874 – 15 April 1912) was a British Merchant officer who served aboard the RMS Titanic as Chief Purser during its ill-fated maiden voyage.

[1] However, McElroy dropped out of priest training in 1892 and returned to his home in Liverpool where he followed his father's footsteps by joining the British Merchant Navy.

As Chief Purser, he was considered one of the ship's officers and was in charge of the victualling crew who often made up the biggest department on an ocean liner.

He would serve on the ship many times, including with Charles Lightoller and Henry Tingle Wilde, both officers of the Titanic, at various points.

First-class steward Frederick Ray saw McElroy and assistant Purser Reginald Barker "at the safe taking things out and putting them in [Gladstone] bags.

[6] McElroy was last seen standing on the Boat Deck near the gymnasium, along with Assistant Purser Barker and the ship's two doctors, O'Loughlin and Simpson, joking around.

[1] Of the crew who died during the Titanic sinking, McElroy was the only officer and highest ranking crewmember whose body was recovered by the CS Mackay-Bennett.

After the death of her first husband, Barbara McElroy remarried in 1914 to John Clancy and moved to Ireland where remained for the rest of her life.