Frank Terrill

Mr Frank Terrill ¹ was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England on 10 August 1884. He was baptised on 10 October that same year in St James', Southampton.

He was the son of James Laten Terrell (b. 1852), a house painter, and Sarah Ann Greenham (b. 1858). His father was native to Southampton and his mother to Weymouth, Dorset; the couple were married in Southampton in 1879 and went on to have thirteen children, losing two in infancy. Frank's known siblings were: Percy James (b. 1879), Thomas James Peter (b. 1881), Alice Laura (b. 1883), Ernest George (b. 1886), Louisa (b. 1888), Walter (b. 1889), Alfred (b. 1891), Bertram (b. 1893), Mabel (b. 1895), Arthur (b. 1897) and Cecil (b. 1900).

Frank first appears on the 1891 census when he and his family were residing at 8 Standford Street in St Mary, Southampton. The 1901 census shows the family living at 2 Trinity Cottages, St Mary, Southampton and Frank, aged 16, is described as a baker's assistant. When he went to sea is not clear but he would be absent from the family home, the same address as in 1901, when the 1911 census was taken. His mother would pass away before the close of the year.

When he signed on to the Titanic, on 6 April 1912, he gave his address as 5 Grove Street, (Southampton). His previous ship had been the Oceanic and as an assistant saloon steward he could expect monthly wages of £3, 15s. Also serving aboard was his younger brother Bertram, as a seaman.

Frank survived the sinking, in exactly which lifeboat is unclear. His brother Bertram was among the lost.

Frank was not called to testify at either the British or American inquiries into the sinking and returned home and continued to work at sea, serving for the duration of WWI in the merchant service.

He was still working at sea by 1940 when he appeared on a crew list for the Antonia and was still a resident of Southampton and unmarried. What became of him is currently unknown² but recently a number of his personal items, including Titanic paraphernalia and his WWI Merchant Seaman medals came up for auction with Henry Aldridge & Sons.