Mr Samuel Emest Hemming

Mr Samuel Ernest Hemming of 31 Kingslay Road, Southampton, was the lamp trimmer on the Titanic.

He was married to Miss Elizabeth Emily Browning (born 30 August 1881, died on 22 January 1940) on June 4, 1903, and they had several children.

At 7.15 pm on the night of April 14th 1912 Hemming arrived on the bridge of the Titanic to report to First Officer William Murdoch that the ship's navigation light had all been lit. As he left Murdoch called him back and asked if he would closed the fore scuttle hatch. Murdoch had noticed that light was coming from the hatch and was concerned that it might interfere with the lookouts ability to spot ice.

After the collision Hemming and Boatswains Mate Albert Haines heard air escaping from the forepeak tank. They reported it to Cheif Officer Henry Wilde who was busy making an inspection. Hemming told Wilde that water was filling the forepeak tank but that the storeroom was still dry. Wilde left to report back to Captain Smith on the bridge.

After the ship sank Hemming was picked from the water by the occupants of lifeboat 4.

Hemming died in Southampton of 12 April 1928 aged 59.

Notes
Hemming gave his age as 40 but his death certificate shows he must have been older.

Available Documents
Crew Particulars of Engagement
General Register Office Certified Copy of an Entry of Death

Inquiry Testimony
(Courtesy of the Titanic Inquiry Project)
United States Senate Hearings, 25 May 1912, Testimony
Board of Trade Hearings, Testimony

References
Agreement and Account of Crew (PRO London, BT100/259)
United States Senate (62nd Congress), Subcommittee Hearings of the Committee on Commerce, Titanic Disaster, Washington 1912
Wreck Commissioners' Court, Proceedings before the Right Hon. Lord Mersey on a Formal Investigation Ordered by the Board of Trade into the Loss of the S.S. Titanic

Contributors
Phillip Gowan, USA