George Pond

Mr George Pond (Fireman) was born in Wilburton, Cambridgeshire, England on 5 July 1879.

He was the son of Joseph Pond (b. 1840) and Ann Gooby (b. 1841), both Cambridgeshire natives, of Wilburton and Littleport, respectively, who had married in 1866. He was one of six children (two of whom were lost in infancy) and his surviving siblings were: Hannah (1867-1951), Frederick (b. 1872) and Albert (1877-1952).

He first appears on the 1881 census living in High Street, Wilburton and his father was described as an agricultural labourer. His mother died in 1889 aged 47 and the remainder of the family show up on the 1891 census, still resident at High Street. George, aged 11, is still a school boy and his sister Hannah has taken over domestic duties within the house. His family would continue to reside at their High Street address on both the 1901 and 1911 census records, his father later working as a milkman and later again as a gardener.

George commenced a seagoing career in the Royal navy on 14 February 1898 aboard Victory II. He would also serve aboard Agincourt, Duke of Wellington, Excellent, Vengeance, Indefatigable and Thames, before curtailing almost an exact 12 years of service on 13 February 1910, again aboard Victory II. His conduct was generally very good but was shown to have spent some periods in the cells for misdemeanours. Physically he stood at 5' 4½" and had brown hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion. It could be assumed that Pond went straight into the merchant service following his naval career.

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 4 April 1912, George gave his address as the Sailors' Home, in Southampton. His last ship had been the Olympic and as a fireman he received monthly wages of £6.

George Pond died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified.

His estate, worth £53, 4s, 7d, was administered to his father Joseph on 4 June 1912. His father later died in 1922.