Mr Charles William Harris

Photo: Courtesy of Gladys Strickland, Michael Findlay Collection

Charles William Harris, 19, was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England around 1893. He was the son of Wallace Mortimer Harris (1861-1933) and Hendreker Christina Squire (1866-1940).

His father, a mariner, was born in the West Indies to English parents and his mother was born in Poplar, London; the couple were married in Southampton in 1887.

Charles was one of ten children, his known siblings being: Wallace (b. 1887), Ethel Blanche (b. 1888), Georgina Hendreker (b. 1889), Eliza (b. 1891), Clifford Henry (b. 1895), Joseph (b. 1898), Christina Hendreker w. (b. 1899) and Edward (b. 1903).

Charles first appears on the 1901 census when he and his family were living at 14 Drummond (?) Road, Sholing, Southampton, his seafaring father being absent. Charles would follow in his father's seafaring footsteps and would be absent from the 1911 census when his family were recorded as living at 14 Short Street, St Mary, Southampton.

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 4 April 1912, he gave his address as 14 Short Street, (Southampton). His last ship had been the St Louis. As a saloon steward, he received monthly wages of £3, 15s. Also serving aboard Titanic was his brother, Clifford, as a bellboy in first class.

Both Charles and his brother died in the sinking. Their bodies, if recovered, were never identified. The following death notice appeared in the Hampshire Advertiser (27 April 1912):

HARRIS--On the 15th inst, at sea on s.s. Titanic, Charles William, aged 19, and Clifford Henry, aged 16, the sons of Wallace and Christina Harris, of 14, Short Street, Chapel Road, Southampton.

Clifford Henry Harris and Charles William Harris have a memorial in Southampton.