Mr Ralph Giles

Mr Ralph Giles, 25, was born at 85 Queen Street, Newton Abbot, Devon on 9 September 1887. He was the son of Mr John William Giles and Mrs Louisa Giles (nee Davis) and brother to Harriet, Hilda, Pauline and Lewis.

His father's trade (which commenced about 1880) was that of a draper and this business was carried out at 85 Queen Street, Newton Abbot until about 1904. The family then moved to Exeter, Devon. The Exeter Street Directory first shows Ralph's mother, Mrs Louisa Giles at 12 Eaton Place, Heavitree Road, Exeter in 1905. She is described as letting apartments at that address. His father is now a bookseller. By 1908 they had moved to 11 Eaton Place, an adjacent property at which she continued to let rooms. The property still exists, now known as 17 Heavitree Road, Exeter. It is probable that Ralph Giles lived with his parents in Exeter from 1905, but for how long is not clear.

Giles was lodging at 10 Gunterstone Road, West Kensington, London prior to boarding the Titanic at Southampton as a second class passenger (ticket number 248726, £13 10s). His reason for travelling on the Titanic remains a mystery.

Giles died in the sinking, his body was recovered by the MacKay Bennett(#297).

His father passed away at 11 Eaton Place, Exeter after a long illness in 1917 and was buried in the Higher Cemetery, Heavitree, Exeter on 3 December 1917, aged 63.

(Courtesy: Steve Coombes, UK)

Although not shown on the headstone Mrs Louisa Giles was interred in the same grave on 6 February 1941. She had left Exeter in 1919 and moved to Teignmouth, Devon where she died in January 1941, aged 89.

Documents
Record of Bodies and Effects: Passengers and Crew, S.S. Titanic (Public Archives of Nova Scotia) (#297)

References
Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279])

Acknowledgements
Alan Ruffman, Canada

Contributors
Steve Coombes, UK
Chris Dohany, USA
Linda Ridd, UK
Brian Ticehurst, UK