Mr Herbert George Broom

Herbert George Broom was born in 1879 in Landport, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England and his birth was registered in the first quarter of that year in Portsea. His parents were Henry Broom (b. 1840) and Emma Cole (b. 1839), both natives of Bath, Somerset who had married in Clutton in 1869. He had at least six siblings: Sarah Mary Louise (b. 1869), Francis Ernest (b. 1871), Elizabeth Emma (b. 1874), Thomas William (b. 1874), Charles H. (b. 1875) and Beatrice May (b. 1882).

Herbert first appears on the 1881 census with his family living at 5 Princess Street, Kingston, Hampshire. His father is described as a Master-at-Arms with the Royal Navy. On the 1891 census Herbert is listed as a pupil at a Home for Oprhans in Sutton-at-Home, Kent. On the 1901 census Herbert is back at home with his now widowed mother living at 20 Shaftesbury Road, Portsmouth where he is described as an unmarried Mail Boat Steward.

Herbert was married in late 1904 in Portsmouth to Rosina Kathleen Hayter (b. 1876 on the Isle of Wight). They were living at 24 Thetis Road, West Cowes, Isle of Wight at the time of the 1911 census and Herbert was described as a ships' steward and the couple were childless.

Herbert was on board the Titanic for her delivery trip from Belfast to Southampton. When he signed-on again, in Southampton, on 4 April 1912, he gave his address as 24 Thetis Road, West Cowes. His last ship had been the Olympic. As a bath steward he received monthly wages of £3 15s.

Broom died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

Herbert's widow was remarried a few months later to John Wilson Renfrew (b. 1871) in her native Isle of Wight but was again widowed in 1916 when the ship John was serving on, the HMS Black Prince was sunk off Jutland on 31 May. She again remarried to John Leopold Bacon in mid-1917 before her death in Staines, Middlesex in 1931.

Notes

In the Belfast articles of agreement his birthplace is listed as Bath