Roland Frederic Mantle was born in Haggerston, Shoreditch, Middlesex, England on 24 June 1871. He was the son of Ephraim John Mantle (1839-1885) and Florence Agnes Riley (1850-1913).
His father Ephraim, a type founder, hailed from Kent and his mother was from Camberwell, Surrey and they had married in London on 20 March 1869. Roland had only one known sibling, Henry Oscar (b. 1869).
In the months prior to his birth, Roland's family were listed on the 1871 census living at 10 Nichols Square. By the time of the 1881 census, when Roland first appears, he and his family are living at 73 Marcia Road, Southwark. His father died in 1885 and the 1891 census shows Roland and his mother living at 67 Corporation Buildings, Clerkenwell. His mother had taken to being a seamstress and Roland was described as a milk carrier.
Roland was baptised on 5 April 1891 at Holy Trinity Church, Camden. His mother was remarried the following year, becoming Mrs William John Stagg. She would die in 1913.
Roland appears on the 1901 census working as an oddman at 3 Albert Gate, Holy Trinity, Knightsbridge. He gave his birthplace as Sevenoaks, Kent. He later went to sea and settled in Southampton. It was here in late 1909 that he was married Ellen Rosina Payne (b. 1867 in Shoreditch, London) but they would have no children.
On the 1911 census Roland is listed as a steward serving aboard the Adriatic which was then docked at Southampton. He also reportedly served on the maiden voyage of Olympic.
When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 4 April 1912, he gave his address as 60 Brinton's Road, (Southampton). His last ship had been the Olympic. As a third class steward he received monthly wages of £3 15s.
Mantle died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.
His widow and mother benefitted from the Titanic Relief Fund as class F dependents. Ellen Rosina Mantle never remarried and remained in Southampton. She died in 1949.
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