Mr Harry Yearsley

Harry Yearsley was born in Andover, Hampshire, England on 3 December 1871. He was the son of Henry Yearsley (1848-1904) and Emily Chambers (1847-1923). His father was from Dorchester, Dorset and his mother from Andover and they had married in Middlesex in 1868 and went on to have seven children: Flora (b. 1868), Edwin John (b. 1870), Eva (b. 1874), Alfred James (b. 1875), Alice (b. 1877), Emily Jane (b. 1880), and Harry.

Harry first appears on the 1881 census with his family at 47 East Street in Andover; his father is described as a retired grocer. The family have relocated to Southampton by the 1891 census and are living in Holy Rood House. Harry is now described as a waiter.

Harry was married on July 9, 1898 in Southampton to Flora Anne Louise Fielder who had been born in 1876 in Andover. They appear on the 1901 census living at 17 Clifford Street Court, Southampton with their daughter Doris. By the time of the 1911 census they are living at 6 Gloucester Passage, Southampton. Harry is absent, apparently at sea. The census indicates that he and Flora have had a total of seven children, with one dying in infancy. Five of their children are listed at the address: Doris Eveline (1900-1992), Gladys Amy (1903-1977), Ernest Benjamin (1906-1964), Irene Annie (1908-1994) and Edwin John (1909-1942). Another daughter, Flora Winifred (1901-1985) is listed at her maternal grandmother's address, 7 Gloucester Square.

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 4 April 1912, he gave his address as 6 Gloucester Passage, Southampton. His last ship had been the Olympic. As a saloon steward he received monthly wages of £3 15s.

Yearsley was rescued in lifeboat 9.

He returned to Southampton and lived at 6 Gloucester Passage for the rest of his life. He continued to work at sea and family attest that he survived another shipwreck when the merchant vessel he was serving on board was torpedoed during WWI. He was widowed in 1923 and Harry himself passed away on 18 November 1939.

References and Sources

Agreement and Account of Crew (PRO London, BT100/259)