Fred Albert Wardner was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England during the summer of 1872.
He was the son of Frederick Wardner (b. 1837), a house painter, and Louisa Pope (b. 1834). Both his parents hailed from Dorset and had married in Southampton in 1859.
Fred had at least four siblings: Frederick Robert (b. 1865), Henry Charles (b. 1866), George William (b. 1869) and Edward Charles (b. 1875)
Fred first appears on the 1881 census when he and his family were living at Garibaldi Terrace on Dock Street in St Mary, Southampton. The family later moved to 10 Ryde Terrace, Southampton and show up on the 1891 census there; aged 18, Fred was described as a foundry man. His father later died in 1898 and his mother was remarried a decade later to George March (b. 1833), a native of Brightlingsea, Essex and a general labourer. The two died within months of each other in 1918.
Fred himself was married in Southampton in 1893 to Nellie Young (b. 1874 in Southampton) and the couple went on to have a total of eleven children: Frederick Henry (1891-1964), Louisa Ellen (1894-1896), Lucy Eleanor (1895-1896), Lilian May (1897-1982, later Mrs Richard Fuller), Elizabeth Louisa (1899-1964), Dorothy Mabel (1901-1965, later Mrs Joseph Riddett), Robert Charles (1903-1967), Albert Ernest (1906-1964), Nellie "Nancy" Maud (1908-1970, later Mrs Barkis Hekimian), Joseph George (1910-1972) and Rose Beatrice (1911-1978, later Mrs Bernard Cahill). His two eldest daughters, Louisa and Lucy, died within a very short period of each other in 1896.
Fred and his family appear on the 1901 census living at 2 Ryde Terrace, Southampton and he is described as a ship's fireman. When the 1911 census was conducted Fred was absent, likely at sea, but his wife and children were listed as living at 42 Endle Street, St Mary, Southampton.
When he signed on to the Titanic, on 6 April 1912, Fred gave his address as 42 Endle Street, (Southampton). His previous ship had been the Olympic and as a fireman he could expect monthly wages of £6.
Fred Wardner died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified. The following death notice appeared in the Southern Daily Echo (30 April 1912):
WARDNER--On April 15th, by the wreck of the s.s. Titanic, Albert Wardner, fireman, of 42 Endle Street, Southampton. Deeply mourned by his sorrowing wife and children, mother, and brothers.
His family later benefitted from the Titanic Relief Fund and his widow Nellie was remarried in 1920, becoming Mrs Charles Matthews. She died in Southampton in 1946. His last surviving child, Lilian, died in Southampton in 1982.
Comment and discuss
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Please can anybody help me? My Great Grandfather Frederick Albert Wardner was a Firman/Stoker on the Titanic. He was one of the many that lost their lives that night. I was wondering whether anybody has any information on him. I have recently started researching my family tree. Does anybody know whether White Star gave any compensation to the relatives of the deceased?
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Bridget - Hello and welcome. Here is my printout on Mr. Wardner - see below and yes, The White Star Line did in some cases give compensation - not much but some. Wardner, Fred Albert. Lived at 45 Endle Street, Chapel, Southampton. Occupation - Fireman. 39 years old. (Born in Hampshire). (Wife: Nellie). (Death Notice Southern Daily Echo 30th April 1912 and Hampshire Independent 4th May 1912). Wardner, Albert. Fireman, of 42 Endle Street, Deeply Mourned by His Sorrowing Wife and Children, Mother and Brothers. (From: Mansion House Titanic Relief Fund Booklet, March 1913). Case number 262. Wardner, Nelly, widow. Children: Lilian May; Elizabeth; Dorothy M.; Robert C.; Albert; Nelly; Joseph George; Rose Beatrice. All class G dependants. In memoriam, The Hampshire Independent, Saturday, April 17, 1915: In loving memory of Fred Albert Wardner, the beloved husband of Nellie Wardner . . . Gone but not forgotten.
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Thanks very much Brian. This is great. Have you any ideas where I can get copies of the publications? ... and finally do you know what a Class G dependant is?
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Bridget Hi, Glad it was useful. There is a publication available from Southampton Libraries Listing all the Titanic Death Notices the address is Southampton Main Library, Civic Centre, Southampton, its best if you write for the details cost, postage etc., enclose a sae for a reply. Here is a copy of the list of grades and the money paid out: The scale of the Titanic Relief Fund Allowances was as follows: All payments - per week. Class A. (Officers and Engineers) Widow £2 0s 0d, children 7/6d. Class B. (Saloon Stewards and Bedroom Stewards) Widow £1 12s 6d, children 6/3d. Class C. (Lower Class Stewards, Catering, Boots, Bakers, Bedroom Stewards) Widow £1 7s 6d, children 5/6d. Class D. (Stewards) Widow £1 0s 0d, children 3/6d. Class E. (2nd Class Stewards, Stewardesses, Senior Firemen) Widow 17/6d, children 2/6d. Class F. (Greasers) Widow 15/0d, children 2/6d. Class G. Firemen, Scullions, lower class Stewards) Widow 12/6d, children 2/6d. ...
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Hello Brian. Interesting how the scale payments were divided between the families. When time permits I'll send you those pages of the Minutes, which clearly states that the Relief Fund had another increase of £20,000. After all the global donations the Public Trustees decided to invest one block £10,000 into stocks and shares, whilst the other block of £10,000, would increased the dependents' payments by another shilling a week. Those were the days! A.W.
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This particular case is an fine example of just how good those Relief Fund payments were. After her husband's death, Nellie Wardner and her 8 children qualified for a total of £6 10s per month in benefits. Fred Wardner's earning power had been just £6 per month, and that of course had to cover his own living expenses as well as those of his family. Thus he was able to provide for them better in death than in life. Note also that the benefits for the dependents of stewards made allowance even for tips. The widow of a bedroom steward with 4 children, for instance, received £8 10s per month. A steward's basic wage, minus tips, was only £3 15s. Andrew: Those were indeed the days. Hardly anybody paid income tax, and those who did paid just 5%! .
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Is it just me having problems recently with getting pound signs into a posting, or is it a general problem?
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Bob - the big-wig up in Oxford should be able to tell you. I know I didnt' get any £-probs. They paid 5% income tax. How I wish that percentage would come back again.
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Agreed - let's campaign for a return of 1912 income tax levels. Just so long as we don't get the 1912 wages as part of the deal. :-(
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Thank you all very much. Its good to hear that my Great Grandmother and her children (all 8 of them) were looked after.
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And I gather it wasn't just those cash payments. As mentioned somewhere else on the board most of my great-uncles and aunts had apprenticeships paid for by the Relief Fund. My grandfather missed out on this, much to his disgust.
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It is in...
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