George Beauchamp (sailor)

George William Beauchamp (9 March 1888[1][2][3] – 5 April 1965[4]) was a British sailor and Titanic survivor who also survived the sinking of the Lusitania.[5][6] On the Titanic, he worked as a stoker and was rescued in Boat #13 (ordered on board by an officer to handle an oar), which was launched from the vessel at 1:40 am, shortly before the sinking. In 1915, he survived the torpedoed sinking of the RMS Lusitania, which caused him to say: "I have had enough of large ships and I’m going to work on smaller boats."[5][6][7]

George William Beauchamp
George Beauchamp in April 1912 (circled)
Born(1888-03-09)9 March 1888
Totton, England, UK
Died5 April 1965(1965-04-05) (aged 77)
Southampton, UK
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom
OccupationSailor, fireman stoker

Biography

He was born in Totton, England, UK, in March 1888, the son of George Beauchamp and Maria Jane Walton. He had five siblings.[1][8]

Titanic

On the Titanic he was paid £6 a month.

He later recalled that the water was up to his feet. Beauchamp ran towards the topside and positioned on the starboard deck. Beauchamp's boat was later rescued by the Carpathia around 6.30 am.[9] [10]

He said at the British inquiry that immediately after the collision, the watertight doors and dampers began to block and that there was an order to "stop" (it all). He also testified that as a fireman, he was given the order to fight the fires. When the fires were extinguished, he was relieved and escaped using a ladder. He later recalled helping ladies and children into the boats before being given the order to board lifeboat #13. He said there were around 60 to 70 people on board, among them many men. As a last thing he said there was no lantern on the boat.[9]

British inquiry

Beauchamp gave evidence at the British Wreck Commissioner's inquiry into the sinking of the RMS Titanic before counsel Raymond Asquith,[5][9] where he responded to several questions with blunt and short responses.[9] Excerpts:

"I went ... on to the boat deck and across to the starboard side, I had one foot on the deck and one on the lifeboat and I was helping ladies and children into the lifeboat. We had difficulty keeping the lifeboat away from the ship's side and prevent[ing] water coming in."

"We pulled on the oars to get away as far as possible from the suction of the ship as it went down. I saw the ship go down bow first and I could still see the stern and then that went too. It was a roar like thunder as it went down and I heard cries as the ship sank."

"We would have gone back for others but we were full up."[9][5]

RMS Lusitania and later life

Beauchamp was serving on board the RMS Lusitania when it was hit by a torpedo launched from a German U-Boat. He then continued to serve in the First World War and survived the conflict.[5][6]

He became friends with Bertram Vere Dean, who was the brother of the last Titanic survivor, Millvina Dean.[1]

Later in life, Beauchamp became a docker in Southampton.[11]

Death

Beauchamp died in April of 1965 at the age of 77.[11]

References
  1. "George Beauchamp (24)". Opera House Players. Opera House Players. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  2. "George William Beauchamp". Wrecksite.eu. Wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  3. "George William Beauchamp" (PDF). British Titanic inquiry. TItanicandco.com. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  4. "Titanic Victims and Survivors Remembered" (PDF). Southampton Local History Files. Southampton Local History Files. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  5. Austin, Henry (23 April 2019). "The extraordinary story of sailor who survived both Titanic and Lusitania disasters" (Titanic). Independent.co.uk. Independent.co.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  6. "A incrível história do marinheiro que sobreviveu aos naufrágios do Titanic e do Lusitania" [The incredible story of the sailor who survived the sinking of the Titanic and the Lusitania.]. The World News (in Portuguese). The World News. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  7. "Man believed to be only sailor to survive both Titanic and Lusitania disasters". AOL.co.uk. AOL.co.uk. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  8. Matsen, Brad (2018). Titanic's Last Secrets. Hachette UK. ISBN 9780446543392.
  9. Beauchamp, George. "George William Beauchamp". Titanic British Inquiry. Titanic British Inquiry. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  10. Wormstedt, Bill; Fitch, Tad (2011). "An Account of the Saving of Those on Board". In Halpern, Samuel (ed.). Report into the Loss of the SS Titanic: A Centennial Reappraisal. Stroud, UK: The History Press. p. 140. ISBN 978-0-7524-6210-3.
  11. Jonathan Mayo (2016). Titanic: Minute by Minute. Short Books Limited. p. 198. ISBN 978-1-78072-270-2.
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