Titanic and its Swansea Connections
Following the announcement that there will be a Titanic exhibition next year, at Newport. This is a blog that I wrote back in 2020, following an article that I wrote in The Bay, in 2016, regarding the Titanic and its Swansea connections.
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| RMS Titanic |
Before we get to the final part of this question what connection between the RMS Titanic and the Albert Hall is. We can look at those people from Swansea who had connections with Swansea who were on the Titanic
Following an article which was published in The Bay Magazine, in April 2016, when I was contacted by Mrs Morsely regarding her mother’s first husband, Leslie Williams.
These are her words
"My mother’s first husband was on board the Titanic. Leslie Williams, 28, 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 pocket books; 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."
More details on Leslie will be below
So, who were the other people? They were either passengers or crew
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 (victim).
David John ‘Dai’ Bowen
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| David John Bowen |
The following year, his mother remarried Morris Owen. By the 1911 census, the family were living at 42 Bagnall Street. David’s occupation was listed as coal miner hewer, and he was unmarried
Under the tutelage of George Cundick, David was a professional boxer, he was the Welsh lightweight champion. David took part in a several fights on the boxing circuit in Pontypridd, Hartlepool and South Shields. His last fight being 5th March 1912, Cardiff against “Young” Walters.
His journey on the Titanic along with Leslie Williams was to conduct a series of boxing contests. They were originally to travel on the Baltic, but they changed their plans in order to have new tailored suits. They eventually boarded the Titanic at Southampton as 3rd-class passengers.
David wrote his letter home, which was posted at Queenstown, 11th April. The letter reads
April 11th 1912
My Dear Mother
I am just writing you a few lines before I go sick for I have been very good so far. This is a lovely boat, she is very near so big as Treherbert, she is like a floating palace, against you walk from one end of her to the other you are tired. We are landing in France the time I am writing you this, you don’t know whether she is moving or not for she goes very steady. Dear Mother, I hope that you won’t worry yourself about me, I can tell you that I am a lot better than I thought I would be, for we gets plenty of fun on board. We met two Swansea boys at the station, so you see that I get plenty of company. There is hundreds of foreigners on her of every nation. The food we get here is very good but not so good as dear old home. We have no boxing gloves with us, they would be no good if we did have some. Remember me to Martha Jane and Jack and Tommy Ostler, tell Morris and Stephen that if I will feel like I do now when I land in Yankee Land I shall be alright. I shan’t give you no address now, not until I land for it won’t be worth. I did not see David Rees in Southampton at all. Remember me to all I know, tell Stephen to tell all the boys that I am enjoying myself alright so far. If James tell you that I have not wrote to him, tell him that I can’t do it very good now, you can show him this if you like, for it will be the same I shall have to say now for the time being as I am telling you. I hope you will excuse the pencil for I have no pen and ink, so cheer up now mother, for I am in the pink, so don’t vex. I think I will draw to a close now in wishing you all my best love.
From your loving son,
David John
David’s body was lost in the sinking, his name is commemorated on his mother’s headstone Treorchy Cemetery.
Leslie Williams
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| Leslie Williams |
At the time of the 1891 Census, the family is living at 4 Fernley Terrace, Clydach, Ystradyfodwg, Rhondda. A decade later, the family were living at 19 Gleaner Street. By this time, Leslie, now 12 has left school and is listed as an apprentice boilermaker.
1910 Leslie married Lillie Thomas, later on the year they had a son, Leslie James. By of the time of the 1911 Census the young family were living at 59 Primrose Street, Tonypandy. Leslie’s occupation is listed blacksmith’s striker.
Like Bowen, Leslie was a professional boxer – bantamweight. He was travelling with the aforementioned Bowen, to undertake a series boxing contest.
Leslie’s body was recovered after sinking by the MacKay Bennett and his body was buried at sea on 22nd April. At the time of sinking, Leslie’s wife, was pregnant and she gave birth to his second son, Harold Charles on 25th July.
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| In Memoriam Card (Courtesy of Henry Aldridge & Son) |
Evan Lewis Davies
Evans Davies born 1890, Killybebill, Pontardawe. He was the eldest child of three, he was the son of Lewis Evan Davies and Mary Rogers.
At the time of the 1891 Census, Evan, 1 year old, is living with his parents at Collier’s Lane, Killybebill. His mother is thought to have died in 1899, and his father remarried Alice Lewis. Through this marriage, the couple were to have 6 children.
By the time of the 1911 census, Evans’ occupation is listed as a coal miner.
Evan travelled on the Titanic as a 3rd-class along with his uncle, William John Rogers. Both men were lost in the sinking and their bodies were not recovered.
Their names were commemorated on a headstone in Seion Newydd churchyard, Morriston.
William John Rogers
Uncle William John Rogers was born 1882, Glais. He was the son of John Rogers and Elizabeth. William had five siblings.
By the time of the 1891 Census, he was living at Ynysymond, Glais. By the time of the 1901 Census, he is listed with another sibling living with his widowed mother. William’s occupation is listed as a miner. By the 1911 Census, William is still single and living with his mother.
William is to have a child with Elizabeth Powell out of wedlock. The couple were to marry in the Spring of 1911. By early 1912, Elizabeth was reported in the news that William had abandoned his wife and a court order for his desertion had been placed on him days before the Titanic set sail.
William travelled with his nephew, the aforementioned Evan Lewis Davies, as a 3rd-class passenger. He was lost in the sinking
Wilfred Cyril Foley
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| William Cyril Foley |
At the time of both 1891 and 1901 Censuses, Wilfred in living at family home, however, his parents were absent in the later census. By 1907 Wilfred had left Swansea and settled in Southampton with his family.
By the time of the 1911 Census, the family were living at 15 Andersons Road, Chapel, Southampton. His occupation is listed as a seafarer in the merchant service.
At the time of signing on the Titanic, 6th April 1912, Wilfred listed his address as 15 Monson’s Road. He previously served as a third-class steward on the Oceanic. His monthly wages were £3 15s.
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| After being lowered into the sea Boat 13 drifted under the descending Boat 15 (as depicted by Charles Dixon) |
After the disaster, Wilfred resettled in Britain, and he never married. At the outbreak of the First World War, August 1914, Foley signed up for service in August 1915. Serving with Royal West Kent Regiment, 10th Battalion. Private Foley was discharged from the Army, December 1915 on Medical Grounds with the effects of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Returning to his family at 43 Congreve Road, Eltham, London, Wilfred, worked in the Royal Arsenal. Wilfred died from tuberculosis 3rd April 1916, and is buried at St. John the Baptist church, Eltham.
Robert William Norman Leyshon
Robert William Norman Leyshon was born in 1887, in Kensington, London. He was the son of Robert Thomas Leyshon and Jessie Gertrude Richards. Robert had six siblings.
By the time of the 1891 Census, the family were living at Westbrook, Swansea only having returned to Swansea a few years earlier. A decade later at the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at Bloomfield, Sketty. Robert isn’t listed on the census, but he reappears on the 1911 Census living at 65 Eaton Terrace, St. Georges, London. His occupation is listed as a solicitor.
In January 1912, Robert was inducted into the Cambrian Lodge of the Masonic Order, this time his occupation is listed as Engineer.
April 1912, Robert, boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a 2nd-class passenger, with the intention of joining his brother, Leyson in New York.
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| MacKay Bennett |
Robert lost his life in the sinking and his body was recovered by the MacKay Bennett and being buried at sea on 24th April.
Owen Wilmore Samuel
Owen Wilmore Samuel born 1865, Llandilo, Carmarthenshire. He was the son of schoolmaster William Samuel and Ann James. Owen had six siblings, including Astley Samuel.
By the 1817 Census, Owen is listed as living at the school house Cilybebyll, Cadoxton. Ann died in 1874 and William remarried Louisa.
By the time of the 1881 Census, Owen is listed as a scholar living at Alltwen Hill, Tawyrallt, Cilbyebyll. His father, William, is thought to have died by 1890, by which time Owen, left home
By the time of the 1891 Census, Owen is living at the drapers B. Evans & Co., Temple Street, Swansea. His occupation is listed as a clerk. Owen left Swansea around 1900.
By the time 1901 Census, Owen, is living at 47 Fieldhead Road, Ecclesall, Sheffield. He is still unmarried, and his occupation is listed commercial clerk.
During the second half of 1901, Owen marries Elizabeth Mortimer, near Liverpool. The couple return back to Sheffield, where their own child, is born.
Sometime after this time, or encouraged by his brother-in-law, John Hardy, Owen went to sea. By the time 1911 Census Owen and his family are boarders at 125 Osborne Road, Southampton. His occupation is listed as Seaman in the merchant service.
Owen signed on the Titanic on the 4th of April, giving his address as 125 Osborne Road. His previous ship was Oceanic, where he served as a second-class saloon, his monthly wages were £3 15s. His brother-in-law, John Hardy served as a Chief Second Class Steward. Hardy survived the sinking.
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| Owen Wimore Samuel Grave Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia credit Findagrave |
The Western Mail, reported on the 18th April 1912.
Mr. W. Samuel one of the stewards of the vessel, was at one time in the employ of Messrs. Ben Evans and Co (Limited), Swansea, and is a brother of a well-known Swansea auctioneer. He left Swansea about twelve years ago for Sheffield, and afterwards left the drapery trade and went to Liverpool
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