Fr Robert James Bateman

Rev. Robert James Bateman was born on 14 October 1860 in Bristol. He was the son of Charles Bateman (cabinet maker) and Hester. In 1881 the family were living at Oldbury Court, Stapleton, Bristol.

In his youth Robert had travelled in America and was extensively educated in England, becoming a Baptist Minister when aged 21. He went on to marry Emily Jane Hall of London in early 1880. They subsequently had seven children.

In 1912, Bateman had been visiting relatives in Bristol and was returning to Jacksonville, Florida with his sister-in-law, Mrs Ada Balls. They embarked the Titanic at Southampton and travelled second class, he under ticket number 1166, costing £12 10s 6d.

According to Walter Lord's A Night to Remember As he supervised Ada into lifeboat 10 he said 'If I don't meet you again in this world, I will in the next.' As the boat was lowered he took off his necktie and passed it to Ada as a keepsake. Ada later recalled the following:

"Brother forced me into the last boat, saying he would follow me later. I believe I was the last person to leave the ship. Brother threw his overcoat over my shoulders as the boat was being lowered away and as we neared the water, he took his black necktie and threw it to me with the words, 'Goodbye, God bless you!."

Rev. Bateman was lost in the sinking aged 51. His body was subsequently recovered by the cable-laying vessel Mackay-Bennett. On 6 May 1912 his body was forwarded to Mrs R.J. Bateman of Jacksonville, Florida. He was interred in the Evergreen Cemetery, Jacksonville on 12 May 1912.