Encyclopedia Titanica

William Albert Watson

Bell Boy

Mr William Albert Watson was born at 56 Halliford Street, Islington, London, England on 28 May 1897.

He was the son of Henry "Harry" John James Watson (b. 1869), a "Vestry Sanitary Inspector", and Mary Agnes Hayes (b. 1872). His parents were both native to London and had married in Islington on 25 September 1889, their address at the time being given as 123 St John's Road and Harry's profession as a jeweller's assistant.

He had four siblings: Ada Ethel (1890-1975, later Mrs William George Nightingale), Mary Agnes (1892-1933, later Mrs Arthur Tracy), Harry William (1894-1950) and Horace (1899-1938).

William first appears on the 1901 census as a visitor with his father and sister Ada at the home of his paternal grandparents William and Eliza Watson who lived at 36 Balmoral Road, Willesden, Middlesex. William's mother appears to have died sometime around 1901 although his father is listed as married on the census.

His father was remarried in 1905 to Muriel Annie Lambourne (b. 1884 in London) and they went on to have two children, with only one surviving infancy: Vera Muriel (1906-1993, later Mrs Reginald Sherbird).

By the time of the 1911 census William and his family are residing at 23 Oakley Road, Southgate Road, Canonbury, Islington, his father still being described as a sanitary inspector and William himself as a schoolboy. He perhaps left school in the summer of 1911 and went to work at sea.

When he signed-on to the Titanic on 4 April 1912, Watson gave his address as 23 Oakley Road, Islington. His previous ship had been the Olympic and as a bell boy he received monthly wages of £2. He was one of two 14-year-olds working on the Titanic, the other being plate steward Frederick Hopkins, and therefore was one of the youngest members of the crew.

Quartermaster Sydney Humphreys reported that during the sinking the bellboys were herded to their regular posts in the main cabin entry and taken in charge by a leading steward and ordered to remain there so as they did not get in the way. Humphreys said that the boys waited patiently around before they were released and later saw them smoking and joking with passengers.

William Watson died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

William's father and stepmother had another child in 1917, a daughter named Edna Primose (1917-1996, later Mrs Victor Hulme). They relocated to Dartford, Kent and his father passed away there in 1942, followed by his stepmother Muriel in 1952. His last surviving sibling was his elder sister Ada who died in 1975.

References and Sources

Agreement and Account of Crew (PRO London, BT100/259)
Chicago Inter Ocean, Sunday, April 21, 1912, p. 4, c. 3

Comment and discuss

  1. Stéfany Royer

    Stéfany Royer

    Portrait of William Watson, found on an auction website.
    attachment
  2. Stéfany Royer

    Stéfany Royer

    Picture above found here : The lot says : Frank Akerman (37), William Watson (14), Sid Sedunary (25) & Arthur Burrage (20). The picture on the bottom left is of Arthur Burrage (it can be found in his media album on this website), and the only other photo of what appears to be a younger boy is the one on the top left. I am no expert. I was just happy to give this sweet boy a face, and thought that it was most likely him, sorry. I will be more careful :)
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Titanic Crew Summary

Name: Mr William Albert Watson
Age: 14 years 10 months and 18 days (Male)
Nationality: English
Last Residence: at 23 Oakley Road London, England
Occupation: Bell Boy
Last Ship: Olympic
Embarked: Southampton
Died in the Titanic disaster (15th April 1912)
Body Not Identified

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