This article sheds light on some of the lesser known people who were on board Titanic on that fateful night of April 15, 1912 and its fascinating history. Within you will learn about three different people whose paths never crossed while on board the ship. Why was it so different to everyone on the ship? Different place, different time is often the answer to this. First class passengers often had a far greater chance of survival compared to their less wealthy peers...
Kay Springall has often had mixed feelings about the tragedy involving her ancestors including the rather testy preoccupation of taking items from the wreck site.
“I was born in Fareham, Hampshire. I’m married with 3 grown up children. I now live in Southampton. My Mum was from Portchester, Hampshire. Her parents Charles & Rosina also lived in Portchester until they died. It was my Grandfathers Dad Charles William
Warren who was on the Titanic. Charles William Warren was born in May 1881. He lived in 71 St Pauls road, Southsea, Portsmouth. His wife Sophia & their children Charles, James, Dulcie, Fredrick, Ivy & Olive. They married 25 Dec 1902. Charles was a properly apprenticed bricklayer, working in Egypt in 1911.
His brother Sydney Samuel Warren sent him a £20 note to book his passage to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He travelled alone. I guess he wanted to go there because the wages were better than in Portsmouth. I think people are interested as it affected a large part of our community. It was very class orientated, and the upper decks got off the ship first. Who knows what really happened? We can only surmise. I’m not opposed to the Titanic II but I don’t agree with the taking of trophies from the Titanic seabed.
Many of those on-board were of Irish descent and still live and bear the scars of that fateful night. Luckily a relief fund was set up in order to help those who had been affected as we learn from Martin Quinn.
“I believe Tom was aged 36, lived in Liverpool, UK, He came from an Irish family. We believe he did not have any children, before working on Titanic, He worked on a ship called St Paul. Our family have looked for a photo of him
but unfortunately have not been able to find one, My Grandmother used to go to the White star offices in Liverpool, every so often, (not sure how often) to get compensation from them."
Bill Willard was another descendent who was more than happy to share what he knew of his family history. He is related to Constance Willard, who was rescued in either lifeboat 8 or 9 and after the accident was never truly the same again. Later in life she was hospitalised due to her fragile mental condition.
“I am a distant relation to Constance Willard. We were not aware of this as a family - our common ancestor was 7 generations back. Our line moved south, while his brother went toward Ohio. She was single, and travelled first class. We have found out nothing about her story other than what is published online.”
Joyce Colling, 72 of Washington, UK said: “James Robert McGough was a first class passenger from what we have been told and he was in the cabin opposite Molly Brown. he helped her to put on the lifejacket and get up to the boat deck. I have spoken to her great granddaughter in the past who confirms that he did technically save her life from what she said. Even though he would have been called a coward because he survived when so many women and children didn't, I still feel proud of the fact that he helped to save one of the most famous people on Titanic.”
If you click on the photos of both Charles William Warren and Constance Willard you can read more information on each person.
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