3rd class stewards' job

[Matthew Bowyer Fan]

Hi, what was exactly job of regular 3rd class stewards? Were their jobs separated? I mean some care about cabins and some worked in dining room as waiters?

 

[Matthew Bowyer Fan]

I really wonder. Could anyone give some info?

 

[Charles]

I was wondering the same thing, but looking on the crew list, every Saloon Steward was said to ha e been situated in First and Second Class. Perhaps the Steerage stewards (and possibly Matron/Stewardess Wallis) helped served the food in the dining saloons and did other stuff in helping the steerage passengers (the Kosher cook onboard did more than just cook food for the Jewish passengers, so why not with the stewards).

Like I said, I'm not exactly sure, but I'm sure that Bob, Ioannis, Adam, and the others on ET have more on the stewards (and possibly the matron stewardess)

 

[Bob Godfrey]

Unlike those in 1st and 2nd Class, the 3rd Class stewards were signed on simply as stewards, without differentiation unless they had very specialised jobs (like the interpreters or the matron). Once on board, however, they were assigned roles as either saloon stewards (waiters) or bedroom stewards, each having responsibilities for particular tables or groups of cabins. In this sense their roles were similar to those of the cabin class stewards, except that each one would be responsible for a much greater number of passengers so the same level of individual attention was not possible. The signing-on sheets of course have survived but the lists of assignments for the 3rd Class stewards have not, so in most cases we don't know whether a particular individual waited at table or maintained cabins.

 

[Matthew Bowyer Fan]

Ok, thanks all for your help.

 

[Matthew Bowyer Fan]

''so in most cases we don't know whether a particular individual waited at table or maintained cabins.''

Did we know what did Cox, Harry John Slight, Ernest Ford and Thomas Ryan?

 

[Bob Godfrey]

Those few of the 3rd Class stewards who later testified or were interviewed about their experiences on board did sometimes mention things which identified the nature of their particular duties. Those you have mentioned above were not survivors, so it would be very difficult to obtain any such information relating to them.

 

[Matthew Bowyer Fan]

Was also part of job held passengers from penetrating in other classes if need (I know steerage wasn't hold down in real sinking, I just wonder)?

 

[Bob Godfrey]

Yes, certainly. Passengers were prevented from wandering into the territories of other Classes mainly by the use of easily-opened barriers with warning signs and by the intervention of vigilant crew members. For obvious safety reasons any lockable doors on possible escape routes were required by maritime law to be unlocked while a liner was at sea, the locks serving only for security while in port.

 

[Matthew Bowyer Fan]

Thanks. Were Third class Stewards expected go down with ship? (I was speak with Kevin Owers - Steward 3 in (1997) James Cameron's Titanic and he said that Steward 3 drowned inside ship as it went down, I asked why stayed inside to drown, Kevin respond: ''Doing his job'')

 

[Matthew Bowyer Fan]

Was that part of their job?

 

[Matthew Bowyer Fan]

How it was with Sidney Edward Daniels, Alfred Pugh and James Leo Hyland?

 

[Bob Godfrey]

Nobody earns a living by dying. But some jobs, of course, are inherently dangerous and those who choose to do such work must inevitably place themselves 'in harm's way.'. In peacetime at sea, the risks of working on a fishing boat were far higher than those encountered on an ocean liner. And the death rate from industrial accidents in coal mining, for instance, and even in the construction industry, were higher than for those working at sea.

 

[Matthew Bowyer Fan]

@Bob Godfrey

1. John Edward Hart was Bedroon Steward, right?

2. Do we know for any of other surviving stewards if they were Bedroom or Saloon stewards?

 

[Bob Godfrey]

Certainly Hart was assigned to cabin duties. He worked at the after end of E Deck, serving around 60 3rd Class passengers. As for the others, as I've already said you would need to study the testimonies of all survivors to look for clues, as there is no known document which lists steward assignments in 3rd Class apart from the few with very specialised roles. You might see this as an opportunity to do some new research.

 

[Matthew Bowyer Fan]

@Bob Godfrey Would any man who is originally from Glasgow, Scotland, UK, be accepted as Third Class Steward on Titanic, or not?

 

[Bob Godfrey]

There were several Scots working as stewards on the Titanic, including at least two from Glasgow in 1st Class. Why on earth would you think they might not be acceptable in 3rd Class?

 

[Matthew Bowyer Fan]

@Bob Godfrey Because you said that stewards were choosen also by voice. And people from Scotland doesn't have voice as people from some england regions.

I mainly asked because of fictional character in 2012 Miniseries, named Turnbull, who is portrayed as an arrogant steward and have rough voice.