Alfred Albert White

Mr Alfred Albert White was born at 17 Northam Street in Southampton, Hampshire on 25 March 1880 ¹ and baptised in St Mary's Parish Church on 16 May that year.

He was the eldest child of Alfred Samuel White (1852-1902), a master French polisher, and Charlotte Harriet Light (1856-1938), both Southampton natives who were married in 1879.

One of seven children, White’s siblings were: Charlotte Annie (b. 1881), Emily Harriett (b. 1884), Edwin (b. 1887), Henry James (b. 1889), Kate Ellen (b. 1892) and Margaret Louisa (b. 1893).

On the 1881 census, the family were listed as living at 13 York Square, Southampton and on the 1891 census as residents of 33 Orchard Lane, Southampton.

When Alfred first went to sea is not certain but ships he is known to have served aboard include the Kildonan Castle, Teutonic and Oceanic. Seaman records describe him as standing at 5’ 8¼” and with brown hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion, sporting tattoos on both arms and his chest. 

Alfred was married in St James’ Church, Southampton on 29 September 1902 to Florence Ada Watson, née Powell (b. 7 August 1876 in Southampton), a young widow. Florence’s first marriage was to seaman Frederick William Watson (b. 1876), whom she married in January 1901; Watson drowned whilst swimming off the coast of Bombay, India in March 1902. The couple had no children. 

Alfred and Florence would have six daughters and one son: Charlotte Florence Edith (1903-1985, later Mrs Matthew Mark Jenkins), Florence (1906-1906), Florence Ellen (1907-1986, later Mrs Frank Horace Sanger), Doris Irene (1911-2002, later Mrs James George Lister), Alfred Edward Henry (1913-2005), Maud Emily (1914-2015, later Mrs William Joseph Summers) and Mildred Eveline (1918-2002, later Mrs Arthur Thomas Hurst).

The family appeared on the 1911 census residing at 3 Southampton Place, Southampton and White was described as a ship's fireman. 

When he signed on to the Titanic on 6 April 1912, White gave his address as 3 Southampton Place, Southampton. He had transferred from the Oceanic and as a greaser, he received monthly wages of £6, 10s.

Shortly after the collision, steward James Johnstone encountered White in the first-class dining saloon, the latter on an errand to fetch hot water. Johnstone asked White to go below and check the situation; White complied, returning shortly after and informing him that that situation appeared to be serious.

White remained on the ship until late in the proceedings and was rescued in lifeboat 4 after being pulled from the water.

"I sliped (sic) down some loose boat falls an droped (sic) into the water. There was a boat not far away which later picked me up. There were five firemen in her as crew, 40 women and 16 children. There was no officer. During the six hours we were afloat we were near what we boys called the millionaires' boat...", The New York Call, 20 April, 1912

Shortly after the sinking, the Newton Abbot Western Guardian reported:

White, Alfred, one of the Titanic's crew who is reported to be among the survivors, resided at Shaldon before going to Southampton and at the last General Election made himself prominent at the Liberal meeting by asking questions with regard to the Merchant Shipping Act.'

White was not required to provide evidence to either the American or British inquiries into the disaster.

Following the Titanic disaster, Alfred returned to sea and later survived another shipwreck, the sinking of SS Aragon on 30 December 1917; Aragon, a heavily-laden troopship, was torpedoed off the coast of Alexandria, Egypt, resulting in the deaths of over 600 people from more than 2700 aboard. 

By 1921 Alfred and his family were living at 16 Grove Street, Southampton and he was then described as a publican. 

Alfred White, who suffered from a heart ailment in his last years, died suddenly whilst queuing in the City and Midland Bank, Southampton on 7 January 1922.² 

He was buried in the Old Common Cemetery, Southampton on 12 January.

Mr. Alfred Albert White, aged 44. a beer retailer, of 16. Grove Street, Chapel, entered the premises, asked for £2 worth of coppers, and became suddenly ill.

Other customers in the bank rushed to his assistance, but in a minute or two death ensued. - Hampshire Independent, 13 January 1922

WHITE-January 6th (sic), at Grove Inn, Grove Street, Alf, the dearly loved husband of Florence White, aged 41. Funeral at 1.30 Thursday, to Southampton Cemetery.

Alfred’s widow Florence never remarried and remained in Southampton until she died in 1965.

She and Alfred are buried together.

Alfred’s daughter Mildred later married Arthur Thomas Hurst (1913-2001), son of Titanic survivor Walter Hurst. His last surviving child, Maud, died in Southampton on 4 July 2015 aged 101.