Titanic Passengers and Crew from Wales
Aboard Titanic, amongst the passengers and crew, were a number people who were Welsh or lived in Wales, including Titanic’s Fifth Officer. Onboard Titanic as she sailed away from Southampton on 10th April 1912 were a number of people who lived in or were born in Wales, United Kingdom. Amongst those people with a Welsh connection were seven passengers and one ship’s officer who were residents of or who had most recently resided in Wales. in addition, there were a further three passengers and 14 crew members aboard who are known to have been born in Wales.
All but two of the passengers aboard from Wales were traveling as third-class passengers, the other two traveled as second-class passengers. Amongst the Welshman aboard was TItanic’s Fifth Officer, Harold Lowe. It is sad to note that the vast majority of the crew and all of the passengers connected to Wales were lost in the disaster on 15th April 1912.
It’s interesting to note that a third of the Welsh crew and all but one of the Welsh passengers were from the now historic county of Glamorgan, including Cardiff and Swansea.
3rd class passengers (lost in sinking)
David Bowen - a 20-year-old professional boxer, along with another professional boxer from Wales, Leslie Williams, traveling to the United States to box. He had been born in and was living in Treherbert, Glamorgan (or now Rhondda Cynon Taf), Wales.
Evan Davies - an around 22-year-old coal miner born in and living in the Pontardawe, Glamorgan (or now Neath Port Talbot) area. He was traveling to the United States with William Rogers, who was his uncle.
Eliezer Gilinski - an around 23-year-old from Lithuania, but had most recently resided at his brother’s home in Abercynon, Glamorgan (or now Rhondda Cynon Taf), Wales.
Annie Meek - an around 32 year old living before boarding Titanic in Penarth, Glamorgan (or now Vale of Glamorgan), Wales. It is said she was sailing to the United States to start employment as a cook.
James Reed - an 18-year-old who was born in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, and later and before joining Titanic lived in nearby Penarth. He was described in the 1911 United Kingdom Census as being employed as a butcher.
William Rogers - an around 30 years old coal miner born in and living in the Pontardawe, Glamorgan (or now Neath Port Talbot) area. He was traveling to the United States accompanied by his nephew Evan Davies.
Leslie Williams - a 24-year-old professional boxer born in and living in Tonypandy, Glamorgan (or now Rhondda Cynon Taf), Wales. He was traveling to the United States accompanied by another Welsh boxer, David Bowen.
Edward Willey - an around 20-year-old who was living in Drayton, Somerset, England but had been born in the Ystradyfodwg district (now Rhondda Cynon Taf ) of Glamorgan, Wales and strong connections with Wales. He was moving to the United States to join family already settled there.
2nd class passengers (lost in sinking)
Denzil Javis - a 46-year-old successful engineer and businessman living in Leicester, England but had been born in Caerleon, Monmouthshire, Wales. He was traveling to the United States to visit for business reasons.
Escott Phillips - a 43-year-old recently widowed resident of Ilfracombe, Devon, England who had been born in Cardiff, Wales. He was moving to the United States with his 21-year-old daughter Alice Phillips who accompanied him aboard Titanic. He was to start a new job and join his brother who already lived there. His daughter did survive the sinking.
Crew (survived sinking)
Edward Brown - a 34-year-old steward serving first class passengers. He was born in Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales. Ending up in the water as Titanic was sinking, he managed to get into Lifeboat A which had floated off the ship as he was helping to get it ready.
Harold Lowe - a 29-year-old living in Barmouth, Gwynnedd, Wales who was Titanic's Fifth Officer. He was born in Llanrhos, Conwy, Wales. He is notable for being in charge of Titanic's Lifeboat 14 which returned to pick up survivors from the water after the sinking. He survived the Titanic disaster. Fifth Officer Lowe, portrayed by Ioan Gruffudd, was featured in James Cameron’s 1997 Titanic film, most prominently in the scenes depicting his lifeboat returning to search for survivors in the water.
Thomas Jones - a 34-year-old Able Seaman born in Cemaes, Anglesey, Wales. He was rescued in and took charge of Lifeboat 8, which is now believed to have been the first lifeboat to leave the port side of the ship. Amongst those also rescued in the lifeboat was the Countess of Rothes with whom he continued to correspond with for very many years after the disaster.
Wilfred Foley - a 21-year-old born in Swansea, Wales, serving as Steward serving 3rd class passengers. He was amongst the survivors of the sinking.
Crew (lost in sinking)
Archibald Leader - a 22 year employed aboard Titanic as a confectioner. He was born in Cardiff, Wales in 1889.
Charles Edwards - an around 50-year-old born in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales, serving aboard Titanic as an Assistant Pantryman.
George Bailey – a 46-year-old born in Newport, Wales. Aboard Titanic serving as a fireman.
Hugh Roberts - an around 41-year-old bedroom steward born in Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales.
John Brown – an around 28-year-old Fireman aboard Titanic said to have been born in Cardiff, Wales.
Lewis Owen - a 49-year-old 2nd class steward born in Llandudno, Clwyd (or now Conwy), Wales.
Montague Mathias - said to have been around 29 years old, served as a mess steward. He was born in Chepstow, Monouthshire, Wales.
Owen Samuel - an around 47-year-old steward serving second class passengers. He was born in Llandilo, Carmarthenshire, Wales.
Robert Davies - an around 26-year-old steward said to have been born in Cardiff, Wales.
Thomas James - said to have been 27 was a fireman aboard Titanic. He was born in Cardiff, Wales.
William Carney - an around 31-year-old employed aboard Titanic as a Lift Steward, operating and assisting the passengers using the lifts located in first class. He was born in Newport, Wales.
A notable Welsh connection to Titanic is that much of the coal stored and used aboard the ship to power Titanic was mined in Wales. Although Titanic never visited Wales, she did pass in between Ireland and Wales as she sailed south down the Irish Sea and then the Celtic Sea, passing close to the Smalls Lighthouse, Pembrokeshire, Wales, on 3rd April 1912 as she was making her delivery trip from her shipbuilders in Belfast to her effective homeport in Southampton, in preparation for her maiden voyage.
Related pages - Titanic Lookouts and Crow's Nest, All Titanic Pages