Harry John Slight

Harry John Slight was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England on 30 June 1878.

He was the son of William Henry Slight (b. 1836), a house decorator, and Mary Bryant (b. 1837). His father hailed from Southampton and his mother from Ashton, Kent and they had married in Sussex in 1864.

Harry had six known siblings: Clara Ann (b. 1866), Jessy Kate (b. 1868), Alice Mary (b. 1870), Henry James Bryant (b. 1871), Mary Jane (b. 1873) and William Henry James (b. 1875).

His father died sometime around 1880 and when Harry first appears on the 1881 census he, his widowed mother and siblings were listed as living at 3 Browns Cottages in South Stoneham, his mother Mary described as a charwoman to support her family. His mother apparently died sometime after this and when the 1891 census was taken Harry, his brother William and sister Mary were listed as living at the home of their married sister Clara Poynter and her family at 39 Bevois Valley Road, South Stoneham. Harry and his brother were described as errand boys.

Harry would be absent from the 1901 census and apparently already at sea. He was married in Southampton in late-1902 to Alice Agnes Kinchenton (b. 1881 in Southampton) and the couple had three children: Jessie Agnes Louise (b. 27 February 1904), Harry Edward (b. 12 February 1907) and Winifred Mary (b. 15 January 1912). Harry would again skip the 1911 census when his wife and first two children were living at 42 Bellevue Street, Southampton.

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 4 April 1912, Harry gave his address as 48 Bellevue Street, (Southampton). His last ship had been the Majestic. As a third class steward he received monthly wages of £3, 15s. Also serving aboard the Titanic, as a cook, was his brother William Slight.

Harry Slight died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

His widow Alice was remarried at the end of the following year to James Rollins (b. 1876 in Hampshire) and had three sons: James, Edward and Stanley. Widowed again in 1937, Alice died in Southampton in 1960.

His daughter Jessie later married Randolph Gruncell and had one daughter named Jill in 1935. Jessie died in Southampton in 1986.

His son Harry later married Elsie Baxter and had several children, later settling in West Sussex where he died in 1987.

His daughter Winifred later married Wilfred Reginald Gammon (1913-2001) and had two sons. She remained in Southampton and died in 2002.