Mr Harold John Prior

Mr Harold John Prior [1] was born in Halstead (? Hampshire) [2] on 19 August 1890. He spent his childhood in the village of Broughton in Hampshire where his father was head gardener at Hildon House.

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 6 April 1912, he gave his address as 48 Padwell Rd., (Inner Avenue, Southampton). He transferred from the Oceanic. As a third class steward he received monthly wages of £3 15s.

Prior was rescued, lifeboat 11 and 13 have both been suggested.

Harold survived both world wars. He lived for some years with his family in a flat above the vicarage at 53 Bugle Street, Southampton then moved to 384 Portswood Road, Southampton.

He died of a heart attack on 29 January 1949 aged 57 years. He was buried on 2 February 1949 in the South Stoneham Cemetery, Swaythling, Southampton. His wife died in 1972 and they are both buried in plot number 04/118 - there is no headstone.

Notes
1. Sometimes he is listed as "Harold Joseph Prior". His identity card gives his middle name as "John".
2. His identity certificate gives his birthplace as "Halstead", when he signed-on he gave his birthplace as Hampshire. No Halstead has been identified in Hampshire but there is a Halstead in Essex.
3. A 1919 identity card indicates that he was 5 ft 7 ins in height with brown hair and blue eyes.
4. His pay book is on permanent loan to Southampton Maritime Museum.

References and Sources
Agreement and Account of Crew (PRO London, BT100/259)
Identity Certificate 844960 [form: (32281) Wt. 20167-23 100m 8/18. Av.P. (503)] Public Record Office (BT 350)
Brian Ticehurst (1996) Titanic's Memorials World wide: Where they are Located. ISBN 1 871733 05 7
United States Senate, Washington 1912. n° 806, Crew List