Master Marshall Brines Drew

© Shelley Dziedzic, USA

Master Marshall Brines Drew, was born on 30 March 1904 in Greenport, Suffolk County, New York, the son of John William Drew (monumental marble sculptor) who had emigrated from Constantine, Cornwall in 1896 with his brother James.

Marshall's mother died two weeks after he was born and so his uncle and aunt, James and Lulu Drew, became his adoptive parents. They had travelled on the Olympic to Cornwall in the autumn of 1911 to visit his uncle's and father's relatives in Constantine. Their return journey to Greenport was to be on board the Titanic, Marshall in later life assumed that his Uncle Jim had decided on the Titanic's maiden voyage because of "all the hoopla!"

They boarded the Titanic at Southampton as second class passengers. On embarking Marshall and his uncle were allowed to view the first class areas. They had a look at the gymnasium and barbers shop. The latter doubled as a souvenir shop and James bought Marshall a ribbon with 'RMS Titanic' embroidered on it in gold threads (as worn on the sailors uniform caps).

Marshall and his aunt survived the sinking in lifeboat 10 (Marshall always thought it was boat 11), they were both met in New York by Marshall's father, William Drew who had been anxiously waiting for them for 3 days.

After the loss of his uncle he stayed with his aunt until she remarried in 1914, he was then looked after by his grandfather, Henry Christian, a Civil War veteran.

Drew was married in 1930 and a daughter, Bette Drew. For 36 years he taught fine arts at Grover Cleveland high school in the New York City borough of Queens.

 
Marshall Drew at Grover Cleveland High School
Clevelkand Log Yearbook 1939. Photo: Liz Reitz

He was often quoted as saying 'Teaching I did on purpose, The Titanic was purely accidental'. He spent his retirement years in Westerly, Rhode Island and died on 6 June 1986 aged 82. He was buried in the River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, Rhode Island. The inscription reads 'Teacher, Artist, Friend - Survivor of the Titanic Disaster 15 April 1912.'

© Michael A. Findlay, USA

Documents
Account of the Sinking by Marshall Drew

Contributors
Paul Berchielli, USA
Stephen Coombes, UK
Shelley Dziedzic, USA
Chris Dohany, USA
Michael A. Findlay, USA
Liz Reitz, USA
Brian Ticehurst, UK
Geoff Whitfield, UK
Tim Weir

Travelling Companions (on same ticket)
Mr James Vivian Drew
Mrs Lulu Thorne Drew