Mr Charles Edward Judd was born in Shirley, Hampshire, England on 7 September 1880.
He was the son of Charles Edward Judd (1858-1914) and Anna Thompson (1858-1953), both Hampshire-natives who had been married in 1879.
Charles had four siblings: William George (b. 1882), Ernest Frederick (b. 1883), Florence Anna (b. 1888) and Lily Ellen (b. 1891).
He first appears on the 1881 census when he, his mother and father were living at 27 Station Road, Millbrook, Hampshire and his father was described as a sawyer. There is no trace of the family on the 1891 census but by the time of the 1901 census Charles was absent, perhaps at sea, and his family were living at 27 Station Road, Shirley.
Judd had been at sea since around 1899 and served in various capacities on the steamships of the Royal Mail Steam Packet, Union Castle and White Star Lines; in January 1907 he survived a brush with death when he had only left Jamaican shores hours previously when the devastating Kingston earthquake struck.
He and his family uprooted from Southampton around 1906 and settled in Caversham, Oxfordshire where for some years he was employed at Messrs. Elliott's joinery works where his father was a machinist, but most of his working life to that point had been spent at sea. The Judd's Caversham home was reportedly decorated with numerous curios from Charles' frequent travels and he was well known in the Reading area and stayed in Caversham when not on duty. A frequent lodger in Southampton, he was a member of the Southampton Lodge of Oddfellows. On the 1911 census Charles was again absent but his parents were listed as living 84 Eldon Cottages on Westfield Road, Caversham.
When Charles signed-on to the Titanic on 6 April 1912 he gave his address as 98 Derby Road, Southampton. His previous ship had been the Oceanic and as a fireman he received monthly wages of £6. Also serving aboard as a fireman was his cousin Charles John Hurst, the son of his mother's sister Harriet.
Judd was rescued (he stated in "a collapsible boat full of water up to our waists"); he later wrote to his brother detailing his experiences, including his worry that he may have lost his feet due to frostbite due to exposure. He was initially reported as missing in the press at the time but his survival was later related to his parents via telegram.
Charles returned to England and apparently continued a career at sea for a time. He was married in Reading, Berkshire on 29 January 1914 at the age of 33 to Alice Maud Mabel Sayer (b. 17 February 1889 in Caversham, Berkshire); at the time he was described as a sailor. He later left the sea and worked as a fitter's mate.
Charles and his wife had seven children: Dorothy Lillian (1915-1987, later Mrs Frank Gale), Hannah Emma (1917-1986, later Mrs Frederick Sedgbeer), Marjory (1919-1993, later Mrs William Green), Gladys J. (1921-1968, later Mrs William Farrier), Edwin Charles (1923-1970), John George (1925-1973) and Rosemary Brenda (1927-2006, later Mrs Norman Franklin).
Widowed on 3 March 1937, Charles never remarried and later lived at 18 Westfield Road, Caversham; he died as a result of oral cancer on 31 October 1960. He is buried in Caversham cemetery, Victoria Road Reading, England, Class 2 (section 1) plot 830 the grave is well overgrown.
His children largely remained in the Reading area and his last surviving child Rosemary died in 2006 in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. He still has surviving descendants in Reading.
Charles Judd with his daughter Dorothy Gale, granddaughter Hannah and his mother Anna in the late 1940s
(Reading Standard, 9 January 1986, Lucky Charlie Survived Disaster of the Titanic)
Comment and discuss
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Charles was my grandfather - if anyone is interested in what happened to him after he survived the Titanic please mail back.
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Jacqueline, I would really like to hear about your grandfather after the events of the Titanic. Did he leave an account? Do you own photographs or anything of his? It is always interesting to have close relatives of survivors on the message board -B.W.
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Hi Jacqueline, My names Sam Redford im the daughter of Diane Williams. Charlie Judd was my great grandfather. Contact us at
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Hi Jacqueline, My name is Amy Dodd, Sam Redford's cousin, Sharon Williams daughter.. Dianes sister.. Charlie Judd was my great great grandfather too. Have you got any pictures of him, ive only ever seen two pictures. Amy
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HI JACQUELIN MY NAME IS AMANDA GALE AND CHARLES EDWARD JUDD WAS MY GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER TOO. MY DAD HAS THE SAME PICTURE OF HIM AS YOU. IF YOU HAVE ANY STORIES ABOUT HIM ID LOVE TO HEAR THEM BYE MANDY
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Hello, Mandy--- 1. Please note that Ms. Franklin's message was posted nearly six years ago, and she is no longer a registered member of this board. It's therefore unlikely that she will respond. 2. Please don't use all capital letters. It's the online equivalent of shouting and is frowned upon. Thanks.
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Hello Amanda - Welcome. Here is what I have on Mr. Judd - I hope you find it interesting: JUDD, CHARLES EDWARD. Saved in Lifeboat number 9. Lived at 98 Derby Road, Northam, Southampton. Occupation - Fireman. 30 years old. (Born in Hampshire). Ship before the RMS Titanic was the RMS Oceanic. (From The Reading Standard, 20 April, 1912, Page 7). A TITANIC VICTIM SUBJOINED is a photograph of Mr. Charles Edward Judd, a fireman on board the Titanic, who is believed to have perished in the wreck. His parents live at 84, Westfield Road, Caversham, and for some years he was employed at Messrs. Elliott's joinery works, where his father is a machinist, but most of his working life had been spent at sea. in consequence of the Olympic being laid up owing to the coal strike, he signed on for the Titanic. Mr. Judd was well known in Caversham, where he often stayed when off duty. He lived in lodgings at Southampton, and was unmarried. His age was 32. (From The Reading Observer, 20 April,...
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Thankyou Brian for that information mandy
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Hello l have recently joined encyclopaedia-titanica.org always been interested in the titanic. My name is Rosalyn Judd l visited the exhibition in Florid some years ago when l learned that there was a fireman Charles Edward Judd. I don't think l am related but was very surprised to see that there was a fireman called Judd on board the titanic as its not a common surname. I am hoping to visit the museum in Belfast when the coving situation allows us to travel with my son. Have watched many programmes on the titanic, including the recent one the aftermath of the titanic which tells the story of how the bodies were identified. And how the White Star Line treated their crew members who perished by asking for money from the families for their uniforms. I am really grateful for being a part of the encyclopedia-titanica which enables me to research the facts of this tragic event.
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