More Titanic Connections

April 2016, the Bay Magazine published an article about a Swansea connection with the sinking of the Titanic, 1912.  Below is that article. 

This April (2016) marks the 104th anniversary of the sinking of RMS (Royal Mail Steamer) Titanic on the 15^th April 1912, during her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York with the loss of 1,500 lives. Many of those on board were embarking on a new life in America.

 

The RMS Titanic was only listed in the Lloyds Register once. It comes as no surprise that there is a connection with Swansea and the surrounding areas, with several men being either passengers or crew on the fated ship. They were David Bowen, boxer (victim) Evan Davies, Swansea Valley (victim); Wilfred Cyril Foley, Swansea born (survivor); William John Rogers, Swansea valley (victim); Robert William Norman Leyshon, living in Swansea; his father was a prominent Swansea solicitor (victim); Owen Wilmore Samuel, worked and lived at Ben Evans, Temple Street (victim) and Leslie Williams, boxer (and victim).

 

I was contacted by Mrs Moseley from Newton, regarding the Titanic. Here is her story;

"My mother’s first husband was on board the Titanic. Leslie Williams, 28, (pictured above left) came from Tonypandy and was a professional boxer. Travelling on the same ticket was a fellow boxer, David Bowen from Treorchy, Rhondda. Their manager, Charles A. Barnett had arranged a series of boxing fights in America for them. The two men boarded the Titanic at Southampton. Both men lost their lives in the sinking. 

 
 Leslie Williams was the 14th body to be recovered by the cable repair ship Mackay Bennett. Leslie was identified by his effects. He was wearing at the time, a blue serge suit, a red striped shirt, two scarves and a green overcoat. His effects included two pocketbooks; two gold rings; a pair of silver cuff links; a ticket; papers; a pocketknife; $30 in gold; £3 10s and £2 6s 6d. in silver and copper coins. All his effects were returned to my mother who wanted Leslie to be brought back to Wales for burial. Unfortunately, Leslie had been buried at sea on 22nd April 1912. His friend, David Bowen was never recovered. At the time of the sinking, Leslie and my mother had one son, also named Leslie, she gave birth to their second son, Harold in July 1912. My father, Dan Winter promised that if anything were to happen to Leslie he would look after my mother, which he did, and they finally got married in 1914." 

There is no single or standard format for a completed passenger list, as they vary in size, depending on the shipping line. They are either hand-written as is the case in the RMS Titanic or they are typed.  Information that can be obtained from them may include, the person’s name, where they called home, their age, occupation, and marital status.

Moving forward 4 years, September 1916, the latter months of the Battle of the Somme, having commenced the a few months before in July. 

Cedric Charles Dickens

Major Cedric Charles Dickens, the grandson of Charles Dickens, son of Sir Henry Fielding and Lady Marie Dickens.  Cedric was killed by German machine gun fire on 9^th September 1916.  His men buried him where he was killed at Bouleaux Wood.

His mother Lady Marie like so many other mothers, was desperate to know where her son was buried.  From February 1919, she was determined that his body was not to be moved from its resting place.  She purchased the land, and erected a private memorial, and made an annual visit. 

After the Second World War, and the death of Marie, the Dickens family agree that Cedric’s body should be exhumed and transferred to a ‘recognised war cemetery’ 

The exhumation was carried out 16^th September 1947, and there was no trace of Cedric’s remains.  The memorial that was paid by Lady Marie was given as a gift to Commune.

June 1950, Cedric’s name was added to addenda panel at Thiepval Memorial, Somme

Cedric’s uncle, Alfred D’Orsay Tennyson Dickens.

Alfred D’Orsay Tennyson Dickens

Alfred was the sixth child of ten of Charles and Catherine Dickens.  He was named after his godfathers, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, poet, and Count Alfred D’Orsay, French amateur artist and a dandy.

Alfred who was a lecturer, who made tours to Australia, Europe and United States on his father’s life and work. 

Whilst he was one of these said tours, 1911/12, as a guest of honour of the Dickens Centennial celebrations, was residing at Astor Hotel, New York City.  He was taken ill on 2^nd January 1912, after taking to his bed he slept, after awakening he dictated a letter to his daughter, who was residing in Australia.  At 5.15 that afternoon Alfred died.  His death reported to have been acute indigestion.

 

It was first thought that his body would have returned to England for burial, however, on the 14^th April 1912, in a plot donated by the Trinity Corporation, Alfred was buried at Trinity Church Cemetery, Manhattan.  The funeral was attended by the American Dickens League.  1935 a permanent headstone was erected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Jacob Astor

Also buried at Trinity Church Cemetery, was John Jacob Astor, American businessman, inventor, and investor was a victim on board the RMS Titanic