"Slan agus beannacht De leat"

(Good Health and God's blessing on you)

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Hugh with wife Barbara and Little John Patrick Ennis (son of Barbara's brother, John)

This photo was taken in Waterford while they were still on honeymoon in October 1911

( Courtesy of National Library of Ireland - Poole Collection, reference number Poole 0 8041 )

Hugh Richard Walter

McElroy

Chief Purser

R.M.S. TITANIC

1874 - 1912

Mr Hugh Richard Walter McElroy was born 28th October 1874 at 3, Percy Street in Liverpool (see photo right), to Richard and Jessie (Nee. Fox) McElroy, he also had a younger brother Richard who was born in 1877 and christened Richard Marie A. McElroy, Hugh also had two older sisters Charlotte Mary born 1871 and also Josephine born 1873 (but she latter died at Wilton Street in Liscard when she was only 26 years old), the family then moved to 6, Eversley Street, Toxteth in Liverpool, when Hugh was 7. Just after Hugh's father died in 1888, the family next move was across the River Mersey to 6, Wilton Street, Liscard, Wirral. In the 1901 Census it shows only Jessie (mother), Charlotte, Hugh and Richard also a domestic Rose Fox from Leitrim, Ireland; it was stated in the Coventry Standard on the 27th April 1912, that Hugh's mother and two sister’s went to live in St. Joseph’s Convent in Coventry, here his sisters were educated at St. Joseph’s Convent, Gosford Green, Coventry, at the time of Hugh McElroy’s death in 1912, this could not be so as Josephine died on the 4th October 1899.

Hugh's father Richard was born 1844 in Liverpool, Jessie his mother was born 1847 in Edinburgh, Scotland, and they started their married life at 9, Cheshire Crescent, Great Crosby, Waterloo, Seaforth, Liverpool, all of their four children were born in Liverpool, the family were staunch Roman Catholic’s, Hugh's younger brother Richard on leaving his job as a clerk in the Liverpool Dock Board entered the same order as Hugh and was ordained as a priest in 1902,

It is not therefore surprising given his upbringing that in 1890 when Hugh was just turned 16 he joined a Roman Catholic Religious Order called “Canons Regular of the Lateran”, as a student for the priesthood. At that time the Order’s seminary was based at St Mary’s Priory, (see photo below) in Bodmin, Cornwall, St Mary’s RC Church is still there today, it is a lovely church complete with shrine to the left of the main door, but alas the Abbey has now been sold, the 1891 Population Census shows Hugh there with six other students. One of the six was a 17 year old called Phillip Corr, more of him later. In 1892, Hugh's younger brother Richard on leaving his job as a clerk in the Liverpool Dock Board entered the same order as Hugh and was ordained as a priest in 1902, after only two years, Hugh decided that the priesthood was not for him (perhaps the decision was made for him at home), in 1911 Richard held the position of Prior at St Mary's RC Church in Bodmin, Cornwall.

Hugh returned to his native home in Liverpool where he followed in his fathers footsteps, by joining the Merchant Navy. He trained as a Ship’s purser, and it was not long before he joined the White Star Line. He had left the religious order on very good terms and kept in touch by letter and visits with the friends who had remained in the religious order.

In 1914 Richard gave a lecture about the background to Bodmin Priory, his research dating back as far as 1193, the Priory had some distinguished sons, Robert Manning, styled “Father of the English language”, also two Archbishops of Canterbury were amongst it’s cannons, but most of his lecture was taken up with “The foundation from Bodmin Priory and the Priory of Kells” (Kells in Kilkenny, Ireland). The lecture was about Bodmin Priory in the 12th century, how the cannons had worked in conjunction with the Knights, to secure a Priory in Kells. Richard, Earl of Strigul in 1193, founded the Priory of Kells, and the first cannons were from Bodmin Priory.

Richard help to set up, with the Sisters of Mercy the first Catholic Convent in 1913, this also housed the Roman Catholic Orphanage; this was the first of its kind to be set up in the West of England.

In 1910, Hugh married his long time sweetheart Miss Barbara Mary Ennis at St. Peters Church in Ballymitty, County Wexford in Ireland (see photo below right), and it was recorded at the Parish Church in Carrig-on-Bannow in 1910 (All the Parish marriages were registered there up to 1940). Hugh was then aged 35 and Barbara was aged 32, she was one of three children of Mr. John J. Ennis J.P, formerly a Chief Purser and he went on to be the Passenger Manager of the Allan Line. Hugh McElroy’s brother Richard McElroy who had just been made Prior of St Mary’s Priory, Bodmin in Cornwall, performed the marriage. Hugh had known Barbara when they were both growing up in Liverpool; her farther, John was the Passenger Manager with The Allen Line whose offices were situated in Liverpool.

Barbara’s father had just moved from 5, Derwent Road, West Derby, Liverpool, were incidentally Barbara, her sister Edith and brother John were born, Hugh and Barbara had come to live with him for a short while with the 75 year old widower, Mr. John J. Ennis on his Family Estate “Springwood” in Tullycanna, Ballymitty in Co. Wexford, which is situated about one mile along the Wexford Road from Ballymitty Church, John Ennis was a sick man and was cared for by a resident nurse, his home (which would be considered a large house in those days) consisted of 10 rooms and was run by domestic servants, his farming property also employed farmhands and a stableman, Hugh and Barbara stayed there just short of 12 months and then moved to the Polygon House which is in The Polygon, Southampton. At the time of the disaster they had just been married for less than two years.

Hugh had sent two postcards from the Royal Southampton Yacht Club, both were to his priest friends one to Phillip Corr dated 6th April 1912 it read as follows: “Many thanks for your letter and good wishes which I reciprocate, the “Titanic” is in many ways an improved Olympic and will I trust be a success, I am sorry I could not get down to Swanage this time but I was tied to Southampton and the train service too erratic to take chances, all kind of messages to you both”. On the card, which still exists, a different hand had noted “coal strike time” against the reference to the train service and so the “Titanic” sailed. The other card was to his friend Cuthbert McAdam still in Bodmin Priory; this was also dated 6th April 1912 with a message in a similar vein.

Before “Titanic” sailed on the Wednesday 10th April 1912, Hugh and his wife Barbara sent a bouquet of flowers, which were in red and white the Danish national colours. to the world famous Danish dancer “Mdlle Adeline Genee”, to be delivered backstage, prior to her special “Flying Matinee” performance at the Hippodrome Theatre, in Southampton on the 11th April 1912 at 2.30 pm.

Marcoigrams signal was sent to the Canadian Pacific liner “Empress of Britain”, 12th April 1912 which was eastbound from Halifax to Liverpool and reads “Fishwick, Purser Empress of Britain, Thanks kindest regards, all going well, McElroy” the reply was Marconigram received by “Titanic” 12th April 1912 at 1.43pm from “Empress of Britain” reads “Purser McElroy, “Titanic”, Congratulations and good luck, Fishwick”.

Purser Hugh McElroy had been in White Star’s service for some thirteen years and had served for three years on board the troopship “Britannic” during the Boer War. Hugh is mentioned in the “Boer War Transport Medal Roll” book, during the Boer War, while serving first on the “Cymric” and later the “Britannic”, he came to be awarded the “Transport Medal” with the South Africa clasp (see photo right). He later served on the “Adriatic” and on the “Majestic” under the command of Captain E.J.Smith; he was then transferred along with Chief Steward Latimer and Dr O’loughlin to the “Olympic” after which they were transferred to the “Titanic”. He signed on the “Titanic” on the 9th April 1912 as Chief Purser on a salary of £20 per month, it was always said that Purser McElroy, Chief Steward Latimer and Dr O’loughlin were all part of the Smith “crowd”. they were all crew members that he certainly wanted to have serving with him, both as subordinates and as friends, Captain E.J. Smith had enough pull with White Star to effect keeping them with him on board the “Olympic” and “Titanic” the only other persons with a greater salary were Chief Officer Henry Wilde who’s earnings was £25 per month and Captain Smith who’s estimated salary was £105 per month, Chief Officer Henry Wilde was also to be became a member of the Smith “crowd”, although his transfer to “Titanic” was never fully explained.

A letter was written by a man named Smith, manager of a club for serving merchant mariners in New York, USA, to his brother Hugh Smith in Main Street, Portrush, Co Antrim, in late April 1912, part of which read. “Mr McElroy, the purser, had quite a sum of money for me, but I’d give a great deal more to see his genial smile again. He was a fine big-hearted Galway man, and a prince to boot. Mr Lightoller told me that the last time he spoke to Mac, he said: Well, it looks as if we will have sand for supper tonight, I don’t think he McElroy got down so far, for he was a clean big fellow”.

Passengers use to ask the pursers for advice and expected that the pursers were familiar with the vessel. A ship on her first voyage was consistently a nightmare to pursers as they did not know the ship very well themselves. In the case of the “Olympic”; nothing could be done about it, but in the case of the “Titanic”, it certainly would have been remedied: Hugh Walter McElroy and Claude Lancaster were the “Olympic’s” pursers. Lancaster had sailed with Captain Haddock for a very long time, got along with him quite well and was more or less his purser. So Lancaster was preparing himself with training on the job aboard the “Olympic” for the time when he would rejoin Captain Haddock who was to take over the “Titanic”.

Hugh McElroy’s choice as “Olympic’s” other purser is also very telling, because the purser is the senior non-executive officer. He is, or should be, the master’s confidante in all shipboard, social and political matters.

White Star Line - Special Meeting,

April 10 1912,

Minute No. 8424

“Having fitted out this magnificent vessel, the "Titanic", we proceeded to man her with all that was best in the White Star organization, and that, I believe, without boasting, means everything in the way of skill, manhood and esprit de corps. Whenever a man had distinguished himself in the service by means of ability and devotion to duty, he was earmarked at once to go to the "Olympic" or "Titanic", if it were possible to spare him from his existing position, with the result that, from Captain Smith, Chief Engineer Bell, Dr. O'Loughlin, Chief Purser McElroy, Chief Steward Latimer, downwards, I can say without fear of contradiction, that a finer set of men never manned a ship, nor could be found in the whole of the Mercantile Marine of the country, and no higher testimony than this can be paid to the worth of any crew”.

Joseph Bruce Ismay

Captain E. J. Smith’s purser aboard “Adriatic” was A. B. Appleyard, who was about Hugh McElroy’s age, while Hugh had chiefly been with Bertram Fox Hayes, (one of Captain Hewitt’s, Head Marine superintendent for White Star favourites.) This being so, there is one obvious reason for this decision: Bertram Fox Hayes should take over the “Olympic” when Smith eventually retired. The latter’s retirement would also make Captain Herbert J. Haddock to the most senior White Star captain hence he was to become Titanic’s master.

So Smith was expected to retire before “Titanic” was put into service, considering that it had taken seven months from launch to completion of the “Olympic”, a completion of the “Titanic” within seven months of her launch should be regarded as possible. Launching day was 31st May 1911, seven months from then on would make 31st December 1911. Smith’s birthday was in January and he would be 62 in 1912 - taking the “Olympic” on her maiden voyage and commanding her until retiring in either December 1911 or January 1912 sounds quite consistent, but with Smith retiring in either December 1911 or January 1912, even Captain Haddock would get the chance to command the “Olympic” before eventually taking over “Titanic” and then Bertram Hayes was to be put in charge of the “Olympic”.

The advantage of this situation would have been the following: “Titanic” would have a master who had already commanded the “Olympic” and some of her crew would also have served aboard the sister ship before thus gaining experience with this class of vessels. And Bertram Hayes being inexperienced with the size of these liners would get aboard a vessel with a large part of the crew already accustomed to the ship and their duties, Wilde and Murdoch were to work together and managed to do so. In fact, the crew referred to Murdoch as the “junior chief” which indicates that he, although being 1st officer according to the crew agreement, was further adapting to the duties of a chief officer. It had been said that Wilde and Murdoch had something in common: Both of them knew that their present master, Captain Edward John Smith, was blocking their respective promotion as long as he did not retire.

Stewards were given their printed list of names, 1st Class Steward, William Faulkner read the words “First Class Passenger List, per Royal and US Mail”. The Staterooms of those of whom he had responsibility had been ticked with a pencil mark by Chief Purser Hugh McElroy.

Purser Hugh McElroy suddenly appeared at Faulkner’s side. He was accompanied by a passenger who wanted a cabin other than that allocated. Mr Howard B. Case, an oil magnate with interest on both sides of the Atlantic, had been given accommodation down on E deck (E66), he was none too pleased. He had specifically asked for C deck (C11) and wanted to switch cabins, even if it meant sacrificing space. the Purser had found one more cabin which might conform to Mr Cases liking, Hugh handed the Steward his note of authorization for the changeover and asked him to attend to the matter, Faulkner read the note, pocketed it and carried out the instruction, another happy passenger. (The 69 by the way, is the number of the page Hugh tore out of his notebook).

Mrs. Imanita Shelley and her mother, Mrs. Lutie Davis Parrish, of Woodford County, Kentucky., embarked on the “Titanic” at Southampton, England on the 10th April, 1912, having purchased second-class accommodation aboard the “Titanic”, as soon as they were accommodated, Mrs. Lutie Davis Parrish sent the stewardess to the chief purser demanding transfer to the accommodation purchased. Purser McElroy replied he could do nothing until the boat had left Queenstown, Ireland, when he would check up all tickets and find out if there was any mistake.

After leaving Queenstown Mrs. L. D. Parrish made 11 trips herself to the purser asking him for a transfer, only to be put off with promises, and at 9 pm, no one having come to take them to better quarters, Mrs. Shelley wrote a note to the purser to the effect that she had paid for the best second-class accommodation on the ship and had the receipts to prove it, also she was very ill and, owing to the freezing cold of the cabin, was in great danger; that if he, the purser, refused to act she, Mrs. Shelley, would appeal to the captain, and if neither would act she realized she would have to wait until reaching America for redress, but most assuredly would claim damages if she ever reach her native land. The result of this letter was the arrival of four stewards to carry both her and her mother to the room paid for (second-class), and the stewards who offered apology after apology.

The purser first asked the stewardess on reading the note, “If they were really so very sick”, to which she answered “there was no doubt about that”. Then the purser asked her “if there was such a cabin on board the “Titanic”, where a cabin trunk could not be opened”, which she replied that she did not think so. One of the stewards, also told him that “the cabin was entirely too small for two women, and that it was too small for two men, it was impossible for himself or anyone else to enter the cabin and to wait upon the occupants unless both of them first climbed into their berths”. The purser then told me that he “would have to act at once, or the company would get into trouble”.

Purser McElroy averred that the daily tour of inspection, which he made at 10:30am with Capt. Smith, Dr. O’Loughlin, and Chief Steward Latimer, the daily tour was beginning to tell on him. The Captain computed the distance, while the surgeon insisted that it seemed like nine miles, Captain Smith would say "come on boy, stride to it".

Father Browne visited the Pursers Office to see Chief Purser McElroy and to give him a letter of introduction, this served as a passport to Father Browne, which made way to the genial friendship between Purser McElroy and Father Browne, the author of this letter was a old friend of the Chief Purser, The Most Rev Dr Robert Browne, Bishop of Cloyne, Queenstown (Cobh). Bishop Browne who was Father Frank Browne’s uncle and had just won a libel case against the Dundee Courier for £200.

The Bishop did not need the money, so he paid for the two day passage on the “Titanic” and also for a brand new camera for his nephew, Father Browne certainly knew his fellow Irishman, Titanic’s purser Hugh McElroy, because as purser he had given Father Browne the run of the ship, purser’s are responsible for all accommodations on shipboard, and Hugh could have thrown open any room he wished, we know that Father Browne travelled throughout the ship, and not just in first class. We now know he paid extensive visits to second class and steerage accommodation, also to the Transatlantic Post Office, also the Marconi Room and the Purser’s Office and many other places. If the priesthood had not relinquished its claim on Hugh McElroy, he would not have known Bishop Browne, and if it was not for Father Browne’s letter of introduction, the world of “Titanic” would be very much the poorer.

( Deck plans are © to Encyclopedia Titanica )

The Titanic’s Pursers Office was arranged on two decks, “C” deck would consist of the purser’s own office, a large enquiry office, also Hugh’s own cabin which was next to C53, on “C” Deck starboard of the first class forward entrance.

( Deck plans are © to Encyclopedia Titanica )

On E” Deck it would include the Second Class or Assistant Purser’s Office, which was located on “E” deck opposite the Aft Staircase, which was organized by the 40 year old Assistant Purser Reginald L. Baker (see photo right), this was next to his own cabin, and the Purser’s clerks office which was about 20 feet to the starboard side of the Aft Staircase, this office was run by the 28 year old Pursers Clerk Ernest W. King (see photo left), along with 28 year old Mr John Reginald Rice, 26 year old Mr A. Ashcroft and 28 year old Mr Donald S. Campbell.

Purser McElroy checked the day’s receipt from the bars and the Marconi room before placing them in his safe. He noted the special packages in the vault, given into his personal keeping, instead of being consigned to the cargo holds. “Nothing special he mused, he leafed through his own copy of the cargo manifest .... Nor here ...Just routine express cargo ... certainly nothing that is heavily insured, no instructions for special handling, either, well one good thing it will not take long to unload” he folded the manifest and placed it back into the safe with the package list. He closed and locked the safe door, Hugh had taken to canary minding, the canary sailed on the “Titanic” and survived, it was owned by a Mr. Meanwell who lived in France and wanted to get his precious canary to Cherbourg from England. He asked the Chief Purser to carry it over for him from Southampton to Cherbourg, according to testimonies, Purser McElroy was glad to have the bird in his office and the canary disembarked when the “Titanic” arrived in Cherbourg, after securing the Office; he crossed the first class forward entrance and went towards his own unmarked cabin next door to C53.

At 11.30am on Thursday 11th April, the liner drops anchor off Queenstown harbour, about two miles from the coastline, she is flanked by the repair ships “America” and “Ireland”, which also belong to the White Star Line. 113 emigrants travelling steerage plus 1,385 sacks of mail [according to the ships passenger list and manifest] came aboard that day, along with local reporters who were invited to come aboard and look round the great liner, as their French and English counterparts have already done. In those days, newspapers fulfilled the same function that the radio and television does today. Consequently, they were an extremely powerful means of communication and advertising. To avoid conflicting stories, the White Star Line had taken great care to maintain excellent relationships with reporters in different countries. The reporter’s descriptions of the “Titanic” and the “Olympic” could guarantee the success of the two vessels. To add to the activity, without warning, several small boats loaded with Irish lace and fabric drew alongside the embarkation gangways. After seeking permission, the owners are allowed on board as an exceptional matter, and for a short while the decks of the “Titanic” were transformed into a luxuriously coloured market.

The Chief Executive of the White Star Line, Mr Joseph Bruce Ismay knew the importance and the power of the media, whilst the reporters were aboard reporting on the “RMS Titanic”. Captain E. J. Smith along with Chief Purser Hugh McElroy, were assisting one reporter Mr Thomas Baker a reporter/photographer from the Cork Examiner on the Officers Promenade deck after he had made his notes he asked if he could take a photo, and had them both pose next to the Officers Quarters on the port side, Hugh had some reservations about having his photo taken aboard the “Titanic” he thought it had sinister connotations, reporters then asked for a photo of Captain Smith on the starboard side, although these photo’s like the one’s from Father Francis Browne (who later became a Jesuit priest) where destined to become famous throughout the world, as they were the last images to be recorded aboard the “Titanic”, Father Browne also took a similar photo of Hugh and Captain Smith next to the Officers Quarters on the port side, which is now more famous than the photo taken by Mr Thomas Baker (see photo section).

Apart from Bruce Ismay and Captain Smith, the only other Officer who regularly dined with the passengers was the Chief Purser, approaching what Hugh McElroy always classed as his retirement years from sea duties (he had always set his sights on becoming Passenger Manager for White Star, simalar position to that of his Father-in-Law); he seems to have been almost as popular as the Captain. His strong sense of humour was so popular with the passengers that they often timed their journeys with him in mind, many a times he had held his own with a difficult passenger without giving cause for offence.

Centrally located off the forward Grand Staircase on the starboard side of the vessel, the Purser’s Office consisted of a suite of offices dedicated to conducting the Ship’s business affairs, especially those that affected passengers. During the journey, passengers visited the Purser to purchase tickets for the Ship’s Turkish Baths, deck chairs, swimming pool, and electric baths. And those wishing to send a radio telegram to locations on shore or greetings from the “Titanic” to friends and family on passing ships would do so from this office.After payment, the written message was conveyed to the Marconi Room on the Boat Deck by way of a pneumatic tube system.

The Purser’s Office also supplied tags for any unwanted baggage, which would stay in the cargo area until the Ship docked. The RMS Titanic Inc Artifact Collection contains several unwanted baggage tags from thesecond-class Purser’s Office, which was located on Upper or E-deck opposite the after main staircase.

In addition, the White Star Line urged passengers travelling with coins, currency, securities, and jewellery to deposit them in the Ship’s safe. In return they were given a claim receipt for their possessions. On the night of the sinking, the pursers diligently removed a large number of those valuables from the safe, putting them into leather “Gladstone” handbags for evacuation in the Ship’s lifeboats. The bags never made it to the boats and were strewn over the ocean floor. One of those bags was recovered (see photo right) by George Tulloch of RMS Titanic Inc. during their 1987 Expedition, this bag contained $65,000 in bank notes, over 300 gold sovereign's, a very large amount of jewellery and 2 gold watches. The choice of leather bags was particularly fortunate, since the chemicals used in tanning the hides afforded protection to delicate paper objects such as bank notes and business cards, which would have otherwise deteriorated when exposed.

On the fateful night of the 14th - 15th April 1912, many people believe the first and second class safe’s in the Purser's Office went down, full of gold and jewels. This is false. At 12:05 am, most of the First Class Passengers headed to the Purser's Office to take out all their valuables and treasures they had put there, as they wanted their valuables to leave the ship with them. Dr. Washington Dodge said "The Purser's Office was surrounded by a crowd demanding their valuables which the purser and his assistant endeavouring to hand out as quickly as possible." He told the Countess of Rothes “I’m glad you did not ask me for your jewels as some ladies have”, Chief Purser Hugh McElroy then closed the Purser's Office during the evacuation and advised all the women not to worry about their valuables, but to put on their lifebelt's and report to the lifeboats. Before the purser left his station, he most likely locked the safe, so no looters would take anything. Hugh and his staff had retrieved valuables from most of the safe’s and were distributing valuables to their owners as the boats got filled, Stewardess Annie Robinson was wandering about at the same time. She reported seeing Captain Smith and Purser McElroy going toward the mail room.

Violet Jessop said that the purser was seen bringing a “Gladstone” bag out onto the boat deck. It got knocked over and a shower of sovereign’s got splashed across the deck. The purser frantically grabbing the sovereign’s to stuff back into the bag. I strongly believe the references that Chief Purser McElroy had worked hard to return valuables to evacuating passengers as much as was possible and with Violet's statement and the fact that George Tulloch found a Gladstone bag containing many of the passengers valuables makes my belief valid.

When the Purser's safe was recovered in the 1987 Expedition, (see photo left) it contained only 7 silver coins. Some say this was the second class safe. It is said that the Rubayiat of Omar Khayyam was stored in the first class safe, but after the collision, it was transported into a “Gladstone” bag to betaken off in a lifeboat, but when no space was found, that was secure, it was returned to the safe.

Samuel Rule bathroom steward was asked at the British Inquiry, “When you got up to the boat deck did you get any other order” – “No”, as I passed up the staircase, I got to A deck and I saw Mr McElroy the Chief Purser, and Mr. Dodd, the Second Steward They were in deep conversation. I thought to receive some orders from them, but there were no orders given, and I passed onto the next deck, the boat deck”.

Hugh was forward where collapsible “C” had been fitted to the lifeboat davits. Two men jumped into the boat and Purser McElroy is said to of fired his gun twice into the air as First Officer Murdoch ordered them out, this account was verified by first class passenger Jack Thayer who stated at the senate inquiry that “There was some disturbance in loading the last two forward starboard boats. A large crowd of men was pressing to get into them. No women were around as far as I could see. It was every man for him self. Purser McElroy, as brave and as fine a man as every lived, was standing up in the next to last boat, loading it, two men, I think they were dinning-room stewards, dropped into the boat from the deck above. As they jumped, he fired twice in the air. I do not believe they were hit, but they were quickly thrown out. Purser McElroy, did not take a boat and was not saved” The conclusions were, that putting the sensationalist third hand newspaper accounts aside, there is reasonable documentation to suggest that there were several gunshots incidents, other than the warning shots admitted to, by Fifth Officer Lowe, Namely: -

(a) Warnings shots, attributed to either First Officer Murdoch or to Purser McElroy, were reported by First Class Passengers Mr. Hugh Woolner and Mr. Jack Thayer at collapsible C. These were entered into evidence during the Senate Inquiry, but not thoroughly investigated.

(b) One or more warning shots, attributed to Second Officer Lightoller, was reported by First Class Passenger Archibald Gracie at the Senate Inquiry but later retracted. This incident was not thoroughly investigated.

(c) Both First Class Passengers Mr Hugh Woolner and Mr Hokan Bjornstorm-Steffansson heard pistol shots. They were fired by Purser McElroy to prevent a rush on collapsible D, which had been fitted, into the davits, previously occupied by lifeboat 1. The men rushed over and helped the Officer pull the men out of the boat and the loading of the lifeboat soon resumed.

(d) Third class Passenger Mr Eugene Daly and First Class Passenger Mr George Rheims both wrote letters stating that they witnessed two men being shot down by a Officer at collapsible A, which was then followed by the Officers own suicide. Unfortunately both Mr Eugene Daly and Mr George Rheims were not invited to testify at either the Senate or British Inquiries, also, both were discredited as being cowards in newspaper accounts, which was the likely reason they were not invited to testify.

This of course is possible, that more gunfire incidents occurred than those described here, as James Cameron (who Directed the 1998 movie "Titanic") surmised during a conversation with “Titanic” author Mr Charles Pellegrino, “Only one-third of the Titanic’s people lived to tell what they saw; so as a rough estimate we must be missing two-thirds of the shooting incidents that actually occurred that night.

Here are two sites that I would recommend for reading, they go into great depth about the shooting incidents that occur aboard the RMS Titanic on that fateful night.

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http://home.att.net/~wormstedt/titanic/shots/shots.htm

http://members.aol.com/Aravantis/titanic/shotinthedark.htm

Purser McElroy was also seen at boat 9 where he was assisting in the loading. The Chief Officer, First Officer Murdoch was supervising and Mr Bruce Ismay was with them also, Mr Ismay was talking to Purser McElroy. I do not think there were any other officers there. Mr. Widgery Titanic’s swimming Instructor said "I was told by purser McElroy “If I understood anything about lifeboats” I said “I understood a little” and just then some biscuits came up from the storekeeper. I helped him put one of the boxes into the bottom of the boat, I was then told by Purser McElroy to get into the boat. William Ward, Saloon Steward said “Purser McElroy sent me along. They had taken the canvas off of No. 9 and lowered it, we lowered her down to level with the boat deck, and a sailor came along with a bag and threw it in the boat. This man said he had been sent down to take charge of the boat by the captain. The boatswain’s mate, Haynes, was there, and he ordered this man out of the boat, and the man got out again. He stayed there for three or four minutes, and the purser took hold of my arm and said, "Get in the boat and help the boatswain’s mate pass the ladies in." So I got in the boat, and stepped on the side, and the purser said Are you all ready? Haynes answered “Yes” and we started to pass the ladies and children into the boat. We thought we had them all in, and the purser called out, “Are there any more women?”

( Deck plans are © to Encyclopedia Titanica )

With the water at C Deck, and rapidly rising, Purser McElroy stood with Dr. O’loughlin also his assistant Dr. Simpson and Assistant Purser Reg Baker. For a brief time they were joined by Second Officer Lightoller, he was sweating from his work at the boats and Dr. Simpson joked "Hello Lights are you warm", after spending most of the night on the starboard side of the ship, loading passengers into the lifeboats, the small group shook hands and said goodbye. Finally Purser McElroy was last seen standing on the Boat-Deck near the gymnasium, beside mail clerk Mr William Logan Gwinn, both men died in the sinking of the “Titanic”.

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- Titanic Timeline –

“Titanic” prepares to depart Southampton, England, shortly after noon on Wednesday, April 10, 1912, on its maiden voyage, a six-day trip across the Atlantic to New York. The ship carries 2,228 passengers and crew.

2:18 a.m. An increasing roar is heard by those in the boats, as everything movable in the ship breaks loose and crashes to the, by then submerged bow. The ships lights until now have been kept on only by the efforts of those heroic engineers, suddenly go out, flash once more and are then extinguished for good.

The bow sinks immediately. The stern rights itself for a moment, standing almost vertical, loud cracking and crashing sounds are heard as she breaks her back, The stern settles back slightly, flops into the water as her bow and stern are not quite severed; with her bow now completely under water, the only thing keeping her afloat was the air trapped inside her, the stern then slowly raises to a complete perpendicular position, with a loud rumbling and metal being ripped apart, her spinal cord is finally severed, the bow plummets the 2 1/2 miles to the ocean bottom, the stern with the hissing noise of the icy waters filling the stern and trying to force the air out, causing explosions and implosions, her shear weight alone, forces her stern to disappear beneath the freezing Atlantic ocean.

Upon the arrival of the Leyland Line steamer “Californian” upon the scene, about 8 o’clock in the morning, the Captain of the “Carpathia” communicated with her commander, stating that all of the passengers had been rescued from the boats but that he thought one was still unaccounted for (which was collapsible A); and arrangements were made whereby the “Californian” made an exhaustive search in the vicinity for this missing boat.

The Facts

The “Titanic” collided with the iceberg at 11:40 p.m. on Sunday 14th April 1912. Orders were given to lower the lifeboats and muster the crew and passengers at 12:05 a.m. on Monday 15 April. The first boat was lowered at 12:45 a.m. The last boat was lowered at 2:05 a.m. The ship sunk beneath the sea at 2:20 a.m. The “Carpathia” which had raced at top speed from 58 miles away arrived at 4:10 a.m. and began picking up survivors. The “Californian” which was stationary just 10 miles away, only responded to the disaster at 5:45 a.m.

The “Californian” was close enough to see the “Titanic’s” sinking lights and her Officers counted 8 distress rockets fired. Although Captain Lord was repeatedly awoken and informed of this, he then rolled over in an attempt to get to sleep! The one person who could of saved most, if not all of the 1,522 passengers and crew (those who perished in the doomed “Titanic”), and he shows no remorse in the deaths of all those who perished on that fateful night, furthermore, when word was finally received of the "Titanic's" fate, the Californian pursued an odd, roundabout route to arrive there. North and slightly west of "Titanic's" last position when word was received, Californian proceeded west through the ice field, then south, and then east through the debris field a second time. No adequate explanation has ever been received for this odd behaviour.

There have been many accounts of a mystery ship, along with the Californian, the strongest and most arguable I have come across is from Senan Molony, who has written many books on the subject, “A Ship Accused” is a must to read.

The best historical account ever written on the “Titanic” disaster was, “A Night to Remember” (which was written by Walter Lord, 1956, it has never been out of print since) it records many incidents and facts of the sinking, he also wrote the sequel to “A Night to Remember” which was “The Night Lives On”.

The Official British statistics given were 1,522 passengers and crew “not saved” and 706 “saved”. This broke down to 1,393 men, 106 women and 53 children died in the “Titanic” disaster. 672 people were lowered into the lifeboats, 706 survivors, this broke down to 299 women, 55 children, 138 male passengers and 214 crew members were picked up by the “Carpathia”, therefore 34 who went into the water were saved, (some were saved but died shortly afterwards – these were not included).

June 1912, Titanic’s last body is recovered. The remains of First-Class Saloon steward W.F. Cheverton are buried at sea by the steamer “Ilford”.

The Carpathia didn't recover bodies, though they buried between 4 and 6 bodies the morning after the sinking. These were mainly people who died on board, and one or two bodies picked up from the lifeboats, William Hoyt (1st Class passenger) was taken from boat 14 and two crewmen from boat 4 William Lyons (seaman) was still alive (barely) when taken aboard the Carpathia and Sidney Siebert (steward). The fourth burial was of Abraham Harmer, crewman who died on collapsible B and was identified by Dr. McGhee and also Edward Lindell, from Collapsible A , there was also possibly an
unidentified fireman, some sources suggest more than four burials. Lawrence Beesley, for instance, gave the number as eight, including four who had died on board the Carpathia, will we ever know the true figure.

A few days later a body was pulled from the sea by the crew of the “MacKay-Bennett” among the effects were keys tagged “Linen locker No 1 - C Deck” and the address “Miss McElroy, Layton, Spottisbury, Dorset” (the letter was addressed to Miss Mary McElroy who they originally thought was Hugh’s sister, but Barbara’s middle name is also Mary and it was later identified as she, who was living at "Layton", Spettisbury in Dorset). Body No 157 was tentatively identified by Research Group 1991. Description: male; estimated age 32; dark hair; Clothing: ship’s uniform; white jacket; ship’s keys; 10 pence; 50 cents; they also found his beloved fountain pen. The body was not immediately identified as Hugh McElroy, (but was recorded as Herbert?) this was a mistake made at the coroners court in Halifax, when his effects were checked and identified by Mr Percy Mitchell who signed a declaration and certified the name of the deceased person as H. McElroy Purser, Titanic but as he was dressed in ships uniform and wearing a white officer’s dinner jacket, when he was found, they investigated further and they found out whom he was.

But because of his condition decomposed beyond preservation it was decided by Captain F. H. Larder of the “MacKay-Bennett” that he should be buried at sea, so at 8 p.m. on the 22nd April 1912. Hugh was committed to the sea as one of 15 who were buried that day. The service was conducted by Canon Kenneth C. Hind who was from All Saints Cathedral in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was aboard to perform such duties. Upon reaching the wreck site, “MacKay-Bennett” found it was quite apparent that there were so many bodies in the ocean, more than anyone had anticipated. It did not take long before her crew ran out of embalming supplies, she received new supplies from "Sardinian" of the Allan Line, ”MacKay-Bennett” had to bury many of the victims at sea as regulations only allowed embalmed bodies to be brought ashore.

Not surprisingly, given the class attitudes of the period, that the bodies of third class and crew members that were chosen to be buried at sea, along with the badly damaged bodies.

It seems strange that most people aboard “Titanic” had some sort of premonitions about sailing on the “Titanic”, Dr. O’loughlin, Violet Jessop, and Eugene Daly at least a portion of the crew and passengers. In Queenstown harbour when a soot-faced stoker climbed up inside the dummy forth funnel to get some fresh air, and peered down on the passengers, to some aboard, it was a bad omen, symbolizing an impending doom. I’m certain there are others all have to be documented somewhere with regards to their premonitions. Purser McElroy had suffocating nightmares, but is it a coincidence.

That according to Dr. Beaumont of the Olympic who said, “Purser McElroy had been woken on several occasions on the Olympic due to suffocating nightmares, which gave way to him having some premonitions about sailing on the “Titanic”, he would have nightmares of being in a dark tunnel with no means of escape”.

There were several strange coincidences that had connections to Chief Purser Hugh McElroy

(1) That when the “MacKay-Bennett” set’s sail on the 17th April 1912, on the 19th April 1912 at 6.45 she picked up a lifebelt with the Allan Line markings on it, she did not reach the wreck site for another day and half, arriving on 21st April 1912. (Mr. John Ennis, Hugh’s father-in-law was formerly Passenger Manager of the Allan Line).

(2) That the “MacKay-Bennett” received new supplies from “Sardinian” again of the Allan Line.

(3) That one of Purser McElroy’s friends at Bodmin Priory, a brother Philip Corr, who went on to be a Priest was travelling on the “Carpathia” when it rescued some of the survivors from the “Titanic”.

After Hugh was identified by a letter addressed to his Wife Mary, who had moved from Southampton to Spettisbury over a previous family argument, on hearing of the disaster, his brother Richard, travelled up to Southampton, he was accompanied by a fellow-priest Father Aloysius Smith who was also at St Mary’s Priory, Bodmin in Cornwall, whose brother Reginald George Smith was coincidentally a saloon steward on the “Titanic” and he had also perished.

I mentioned earlier that Hugh’s fellow student Father Phillip Corr. He finished his studies and eventually served as a Roman Catholic Parish Priest in Swanage, Dorset for 25 years. At the time of the “Titanic” disaster, Corr was returning home from Canada after visiting relatives there, the ship on which he was returning was the “SS Carpathia”.

In September 1915, “The LaFollette's Seaman's Act of 1915” came into force which stipulated that the number of passengers on a ship, not the gross tonnage, would determine the number of lifeboats necessary.

.

(From the Western Morning News, 19th April 1912)

The Fears of Relatives

• Three inhabitants of Bodmin had relatives on board the “Titanic”. Mrs George Pidwell of Robartes Road, Southampton had a sister (Mrs Lobb), who was going out to America with her husband, also Father's Smith and McElroy, of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Priory, Bodmin, had brothers aboard, the latter’s brother being the chief purser of the liner.

(From the West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 25th April 1912)

Bodmin Priests Bereaved

• At Mass at St Piran’s Roman Catholic Church in Truro, on Sunday morning, prayers were offered for those who went down with the “Titanic”, and a special mention was made of Mr Hugh McElroy, the chief purser, brother of the present Prior of Bodmin and Mr Reginald Smith one of the “Titanic’s" engineer, brother of Farther Smith, both of whom were drowned.

(From the Coventry Standard, 26th – 27th April 1912)

Irish Priests Lost

• Amongst various stories of church services after the disaster, Roman Catholic priest of St Mary’s Church in Coventry; on Sunday morning Reverend R. F. Rea said in church that amongst those lost were two Irish priests and a number of Catholics belonging to the crew including Chief Purser Hugh McElroy (sic), whose two sisters were educated at St Joseph’s Convent, Gosford Green in Coventry, where their mother remains in residence at that time.

(From the Atlantic Daily Bulletin 4/1999)

• Hugh Walter McElroy was born on 28th October 1874 at 3, Percy Street, Liverpool, the son of Richard McElroy, and his wife Jessie (nee Fox). On Hugh’s certificate his father’s occupation is shown as Shipbuilder, (he was a ships carpenter) and he was known as “Captain McElroy”, although this may have been an honorary title.

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(From the 1881 Census, Liverpool)

• Hugh Richard McElroy was born at 3, Percy Street, Liverpool on 28th October 1874. He was the son of Richard R. McElroy and Jessie (formerly Fox).

At the time of the 1881 census he was living at 6, Eversley Street, Toxteth, Liverpool with his Father, (36) who was described as a ships carpenter and his mother Jessie (33). Both parents were shown as born in Liverpool. Also at home was Hugh’s younger brother Richard McElroy aged 3, he too was born in Liverpool, (It was Richard who was to become a Catholic Priest and who held the position of Prior at St Mary’s Church in Bodmin, Cornwall at the time of the tragedy).

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(From the 1901 Census, Liverpool)

• Just after Hugh's father died in 1888 the family moved across the River Mersey to 6, Wilton Street, Liscard, Wirral. In the 1901 Census it shows only Jessie (mother), Charlotte, Hugh and Richard also a domestic Rose Fox from Leitrim, Ireland. (It was at 6, Wilton Street, on 4th October 1899, that Hughs sister, Josephine died, aged 26 years)

.

Probate Report states:

• McElroy, Hugh Walter of Polygon House, Southampton. Ship’s purser. Administration: London 31st July 1912 to Mrs Barbara McElroy widow, effects £ 4330.13. 3d.

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(From the Mansion House “Titanic” Relief Fund Booklet, March 1913)

• Number 512. McElroy, Jessie, (mother). Barbara (Nee Ennis), (widow) and Charlotte, (sister), all class “A” dependants.

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(From the Minute Book of the Southampton Committee of the “Titanic” Relief Fund, November 1914)

• Case Number 512 . McElroy. The dependants in this case were the widow and the mother. The widow has since remarried and therefore off the Fund. The occupation of the deceased was Purser, and he allowed his mother £240 per annum, his wife had a separate estate. The widow recognized that the scheme did not meet the equity of the case as between herself and mother, and she therefore voluntarily paid out of her widow’s allowance 7/6d per week in augmentation of 7/6d per week paid from the Fund. Since the remarriage of the widow however, this special arrangement has ceased, leaving the mother who is a widow, solely dependent upon the Fund allowance. In view of these facts the Committee considers the case of Mrs. McElroy, (mother) as one of comparative hardship and recommend payment of supplementary grant at the rate of 7/6d per week. The dependent is now 66 years of age.

Dated 3rd December 1914. Authorized from January 1915.

(The “Titanic” Relief Fund, Minute Book number 2, Southampton Area)

• From Case number 512. That the widowed mothers allowance be increased to 10/- per week for life.

© Daily Mirror Group

Hugh's Birth Certificate

The Family Grave in Anfield Cemetery, Priory Road, Liverpool

Author Frankie McElroy with the annual maintenance of Hugh's grave, this is one of the McElroy family “twin” headstones

The Homes of Hugh McElroy

3, Percy Street, Liverpool

( 1874 - 1881 )

The house where Hugh was born in 1874,

(in the corner room above the main front door)

6, Eversley Street, Toxteth, Liverpool

( 1881 - 1891 )

The family moved to Eversley Street, and lived at number 6, (which was at the top of the street) this is a view from the bottom of Eversley Street, as it was in 2005, with the church " Our Lady of Lourdes and St Bernard" at the top of the Street, similar terraced houses to those that would have been in Eversley Street appear to the right of the church.

Our Lady of Lourdes and St Bernard, Catholic Church, where the family reguarly attended, it is possible that this is where Hugh and his younger brother Richard, where introduced to their possible vocation into the priesthood

6, Wilton Street, Liscard, Wirral

(1891 - 1912 )

6, Wilton Street, Liscard, Wirral, in 2005. which has now been changed to flats

In 1912, just after Hugh's death and because of financial problems, the house was sold to the Lewis family

(Plaque above the door)

1901 census form, for 6, Wilton Street, Liscard, Wirral

(It was here on 4th October 1899, that Hughs sister, Josephine died, aged 26 years )

“Springwood” Estate and the Ennis family

The Ennis family no longer live at “Springwood” anymore the estate was sold to Mr and Mrs John Nolan, Aidan Ennis who is now a Jesuit Priest in Dublin and is the only remaining member of the Ennis family, as Louise Ennis died on November 1987 and therefore “Springwood” was sold after her death, the present parish priest of St Peters Church in Ballymitty, County Wexford where Hugh and Barbara got married is Rev Gerald O’Leary CC, a man I have come to admire and hold very dear as a friend.

The trip to Ballymitty, Co. Wexford, Eire in February 2007, was very fruitful, I must thank firstly Father Gerald O’Leary CC also Catherine Galvin and Michael Martin, for all your help and information you all provided (I will return).

“Lyndale” and “Polygon House” in 2005

Captain Smith’s old house in Winn Road which was called “Lyndale” was demolished to make way for a block of flats [Cheltenham Court], which were built were it once stood, a picture of “Titanic” is just inside the door and an inscription tells you about Captain Smith’s old house. The same fate was bestowed on the “Polygon House” which in 1938 was renamed “The Polygon Hotel” and was situated at the corner of Devonshire Road and The Polygon, (and again another new block of flats was put up). They placed two stones in the wall surrounding the Flats, one from the original Polygon House, when was the first laid on 9th August 1768, the second stone is from the Polygon Hotel and this was first laid on 22nd September 1937.

Bodmin in 2004

During my trip to Bodmin in October 2004, we discovered that our family still own a house nearly opposite St Mary’s RC Church in Bodmin, approximately 600 yards away, in Midway Road, (which made me feel, that we are still in touch, with both Hugh and Richard).

Picture of Hugh, family and friends on the “S.S.Paris”

John Hemmert © Orlando Titanic Museum

(Left to Right) Jessie (Mother), Charlotte (Sister), Alice (Barbara’s niece), Barbara (Wife), Hugh, Chief Engineer Bell, Jonathan Lipton (Cousin to Thomas Lipton the Tea magnet), Harold Turner and Miss Cornelia Vanderbilt, daughter of George W. Vanderbilt(She’s the one wearing a WSL Officers cap, probably from the fellow who took the picture)

This shot was taken on the “London Brighton and South Coast Railroad" cross-channel steamer (Newport-Dieppe route) “S.S. Paris" about 1910

Notes: I found this photo in a local junk shop. I'd just finished flipping through “An Illustrated History of Titanic” and I recognized Hugh in the photo immediately. So, I bought the photo and researched it for 6 months before turning it over to the Orlando Titanic Museum The place I got the photo from had a lot of stuff bought from the estate of Neil Vanderbilt (The "fifth"), the Godson of J.P. Morgan. John Hemmert

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Captain Smith and the Officers of the RMS Titanic

©The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum - Photograph from the Harland and Wolff Collection

Correction

“There is no group portrait of the Titanic’s officers”. This picture has been misidentified as the Titanic's Officers for years, and it was reproduced in several books, and numerous websites. In addition, individual heads have been taken out and reproduced, captioned as various Titanic Officers. It’s upsetting seeing Cater's face captioned as Lightoller.

I think the reason it has been misidentified as the Titanic's Officers is, the fact that it includes Officer William Murdoch and Captain E.J. Smith, as well as Hugh McElroy. Somebody “WANTED” it to be the Titanic's Officers, and after positively identifying the aforementioned three men, simply counted stripes on sleeves and wouldn't the one with the 'stache be Pitman... and so on, the one captioned as Harold Lowe really is a Harold, Harold Holehouse,

The title should actually read:

Captain Smith and the Officers of the RMS Olympic

(Back row standing) Purser Hugh Walter McElroy, 3rd Officer Henry Osborne Cater, 2nd Officer Robert Hume, 4th Officer David William Alexander and 6th Officer Harold Holehouse.

(Front row seated) 5th Officer Alphonse Martin Tulloch, Chief Officer Joseph Evans, Captain Edward John Smith, and 1st Officer William McMaster Murdoch.

Here's how they line up:

David William Alexander(misidentified as Joseph Boxhall). Olympic's 4th officer. Born 19 Feb 1884 in Liverpool.
Henry Osborne Cater (misidentified as Charles Lightoller). Olympic's 3rd officer. Born 24 July 1878.
Robert Hume (incorrectly identified as Herbert Pitman). Olympic's 2nd Officer. Born 20 May 1873 in Dalbeattie.
Harold Holehouse (incorrectly identified as Harold Lowe). Olympic's 6th officer. Born 5 June 1881 in Southsea. Harold Holehouse, has turned up in a few sources, and was later to serve with Boxhall aboard the "Calgaric". He died while serving aboard the "Ausonia" in 1937.
Alphonse Martin Tulloch (incorrectly identified as James Paul Moody). Olympic's 5th Officer. Born 1 May 1880 in Dundee, Scotland .

In some images of the earlier images taken on the Olympic's maiden voyage you'll find the Chief Officer has a moustache - sometimes he is identified as Wilde, when it is clearly an older man. This is 53 year old Joseph Evans, born in Holywell. Other photos of the Olympic's earlier voyage do show Wilde, who joined her for her second voyage out. Smith, Murdoch, McElroy and O'Loughlin are usually correctly identified; photo actually shows the officers of the Olympic. It has been wishfully identified at the Titanic's Officers.

Inger Sheil wrote an article for the “Atlantic Daily Bulletin” (the British Titanic Society's research journal) identifying the chaps correctly. There was also an article in the “Titanic Commutator” Vol. 24, No. 151, 2000, about the misidentification of these Officers.

Taken aboard the RMS Olympic

© Courtesy Titanic Concepts Inc/ Steve Santini

(Standing L to R) 6th Officer Harold Holehouse, Dr William F. N. O'Loughlin, Assistant Surgeon Dr A White, 5th Officer Alphonse Martin Tulloch, 2nd Officer Robert Hume, 4th Officer David William Alexander, Chief Officer Henry Tingle Wilde (partly obscured), Captain Edward J. Smith, Purser Claude Lancaster, Chief EngineerRobert Fleming, 3rd Officer Henry Osborne Cater, 1st Officer William Mc Master Murdoch, Purser Hugh McElroy.

Taken aboard the RMS Olympic

(Standing L to R) 1st Officer William Murdoch, Purser Hugh McElroy, Purser Claude Lancaster, 2nd Officer Robert Hume

(Seated L to R) Captain Edward .J. Smith and Dr William F. N. O’Loughlin

These two photo’s were taken of the surviving Officers in America, just after the U.S. Inquiry

(The above photo was signed by all four Officers)

(Standing L to R) 5th Officer Harold G. Lowe, 2nd Officer Charles H. Lightoller, 4th Officer Joseph G. Boxhall

(Seated) 3rd Officer Herbert J. Pitman (arms crossed)

(Standing L to R) 2nd Officer Charles H. Lightoller, 3rd Officer Herbert J. Pitman, 4th Officer Joseph G. Boxhall (arms crossed)

(Seated) 5th Officer Harold G. Lowe (seated arms crossed)

Taken aboard RMS Olympic

1st Officer William Murdoch, Chief Officer Joseph Evans, 4th Officer David William Alexander and Captain Edward J. Smith

These two photos, the last photos ever taken of Hugh

aboard the “Titanic”

© Father Francis Browne Collection

The Captain's quarters on the starboard side of Titanic showing the position where these photos were taken

©Cork Examiner / Mr Thomas Baker

Hugh's signature

What "RMS Titanic" looked like when she was discovered

What "RMS Titanic" looks like today, after being striped

Why was this ever allowed to happen

It could be said that some people have the luck of a cat, with nine lives; one of them has to be Violet Constance Jessop, who along with my Nan, was my inspiration to find the true facts on my Great Uncle, Chief Purser Hugh Walter Richard McElroy.

Violet was born 2nd October 1887, who had an adventurous streak in her life, she joined the White Star Line as a stewardess, (it could be said that she was following the steps of her mother, who was also a stewardess) Violet had a unique claims to fame, that along with John Priest (fireman), they were both aboard all three of the White Star’s Olympic-class ships when they came to grief, they were both working on board the “R.M.S. Olympic” when it had a costly collision with “H.M.S. Hawke” in 1911, and six months later survived the last, ghastly hours of the “R.M.S. Titanic”, I know Violet shared a stewardess’s cabin on “C” deck with Elizabeth Leather, who was also from the Bedford Park area in London.

To cap everything they were both on board the “H.M.H.S. Britannic” in 1916 when it hit a mine in WW1 and sank in 55 minutes, while cruising off the island of Kea, in the Aegean Sea and went straight to the bottom. Violet’s lifeboat was sucked into the still turning propellers, her injuries included a skull fracture that she did not discover for many years.

Secondly I remember while on holiday with my family in Great Yarmouth, UK. both myself, my sister and my Nan went to meet Violet in her Bury home for tea, it was sometime around 1966/7, when she was nearly 80 years old, she had been a friend of my Nan’s for a long time, they had both lived in the Bedford Park area in London, before my Nan moved to Dorset

I was just 20 at the time when we went to see her and can still remember her and my Nan’s discussions (That’s what they called it – gossiping is what I call it?).

She would go on about how hard life was without hardly any money in those days, she was very briefly married to her Ned whom she met in Southampton in the early 1920”s, he was also in the merchant navy and after he died she spent the rest of her life alone, when on the subject of Hugh, both my Nan and Violet would say, “that I would get to know him one day” and Violet would comment, that “He was always the most well mannered and highly respectable man, in fact the finest man she ever met” also the fondest memory I have of violet is, when It was time to say our goodbyes, she would always kiss us on both cheeks, turn to my Nan and say “doesn’t he have the look of Hugh, then she would always blush? Thinking back, they must have met, Hugh and Violet, after all, they both had their cabin accommodation on the same deck “C” Deck.

I use to think there was more to it, I know deep down that he admired her very much; she would always suppress large tragic events and magnify romantically low key events. The life of a maid was very hard and poorly paid and all sacrificed their home and family life for the rigid task masters of the cruise liners as they span the world’s oceans in toil and labour, she was a handsome, practical, intelligent and caring woman. I very much liked her character and she weaves a saga of another age.

The one thing I always wondered about, considering that Hugh and Barbara had been “long-time sweethearts” and sadly they had such a short time together, is from Hugh and Barbara marriage in 1910 to Barbara’s remarriage in early 1914 a period of only 3 years, why the sudden change? So close after his death, was it the money £ 4330.13. 3d, “No”, the Ennis family had and were use to money, or was it because of some other reason, why did Barbara move to Spettisbury, had she been excommunicated from the family for not attending Hugh’s funeral, or had Barbara found something out about Violet?, what was the letter about that they found on Hugh – described as “the address”, Hugh wanted to make amen’s, for him and Barbara and to move to his beloved Cornwall, after all this was suppose to be his last trip on “Titanic”, then he wanted to retire from the sea, he had set his sights on becoming the Passenger Manager for the White Star Line.

Violet treasured those secret memories up to 1966/7 and beyond, after all she had spent more than 42 hard years at sea, before retiring to her lovely country cottage in Great Ashfield just outside Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, where she died of congestive heart failure in 1971 aged 84, and is buried in Hartest Churchyard, (Hartest is a village a few miles outside Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk) her sister still lives in the village, and is possibly why she chose to be buried here.

The American author, John Maxtone-Graham who published Violet's book in 1997, called “Titanic” Survivor, the memoirs of Violet Jessop, Stewardess” visited her at her cottage in Great Ashfield in 1970 the year before she died. Violet's personal diary was entrusted to her niece Mrs Margaret Meehan (left) , who was very close to Violet in those later day's.

May they all forever rest in peace

Frankie’s Grandpops and Nana on their Wedding Day

Interior of St Marys RC Church in Bodmin (1965)

St Mary’s RC Church (1965)

St Mary’s RC Church, Bodmin with the Abbey to the left (2004)

Some Titanic Memorabilia

Boarding card, 1st class passenger’s information booklet,

1st class passenger list, 1st class lunch menu, “last” dinner menu,

Music booklet, landing card and some Postcards

Liverpool Pier Head, with passengers from the Birkenhead ferry (1911)

Ferry crossing the River Mersey, with Liverpool in the foreground (1911)

Click on Logo for Family Homepage

Click on painting to contact Author Frankie

The lasting memory of RMS Titanic (Courtesy of Dr Robert Ballard)

"The debris field hit me the most, here in that ghostly expanse of sea floor 350 miles of Newfoundland, the people who died during the early hours of April 15th 1912, leaves me with this ever lasting memory"

This site was created on 26th January 1995 - updated on 21st February 2007

Contributors

Some of the above text may be © copyright to the below named persons and is acknowledged

(The passages have been used “only” to put items in context and not for any other purpose)

None of this would be possible if it were not for your time

your devotion and your research

Rev Gerald O’Leary CC (St Peters Church, Ballymitty)

Brian Ticehurst (Southampton, Researcher)

I personally want to thank you for all your contributions

Inger Sheil

Ernie Luck

John Hemmert

Jackie McElroy

Mr G. Meanwell

Teri Milch

Alfred Grech

I am very honoured to be in the company of such great

"Titaniholic"

Encyclopedia Titanica

http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/

Internet Sources: "Crews Bio" Web Page http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/biography.php/mcelroy_hugh_walter_2000.html

Bill Wormstedt

http://home.att.net/~wormstedt/titanic/

Internet Sources: "Shots in the Dark Web Page" http://home.att.net/~wormstedt/titanic/shots/shots.htm

George Behe

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Carpathia/homepage.htm

Roy Mengot

Explore the model wreck of the RMS Titanic http://home.flash.net/~rfm/index/contents.html

Titanic-Titanic

Titanic-Titanic

The Best of the Web Titanic Links

http://uk.geocities.com/frankiemcelroy/="http://www.titanicinquiry.org/links.html"

The U.S. and British Inquiry Links

http://www.titanicinquiry.org/

References and Acknowledgments used

1. US Senate Inquiry

2. British Inquiry (Wreck Commissioners” Court)

3. Public Record Office, “Titanic: The True Story” Kew, 1999 (CD-ROM.)

4. Probate Records (London 31st July 1912)

5. Mansion House Titanic Relief Fund Booklets and Minute Books March 1913

6. The Minute Book of the Southampton Committee of the Titanic Relief Fund, November 1914

7. Documents Agg & Acc (PRO London BT100/259)

8. English Census 1881 and 1901(Liverpool)

9. Irish Census 1911

10. Sheila Jemima of the Southampton Oral History Archives

11. Sara Smyth and Bróna Olwill of the The National Library of Ireland in Dublin (Photo)

12. The Cork Examiner (County Cork, Ireland ) 12th April 1912 (Extracts/Photo’s)

13. The Western Morning News, 19th April 1912 (Article)

14. The Atlantic Daily Bulletin, 24th April 1999 [Brian Ticehurst] (Article)

15. The West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 25th April 1912 (Article)

16. The Coventry Standard, 27th April 1912 (Article)

17. Cornish Guardian, 30th April 1998 (Extracts taken)

18. Violet Jessop and her book “Titanic” Survivor, the memoirs of Violet Jessop, Stewardess (Sutton Publishing ISBN 075091758X)

19. Walter Lord (1976) A Night to Remember. (London, Penguin ISBN 0140047573)

20. Senan Molony “The Irish Aboard “Titanic”, (Wolfound Press, Dublin 2000, ISBN 0863278051) (Article)

21. Father Eddie O’Donnell “Father Browne’s Titanic Album”, (Wolfound Press, Dublin 1997, ISBN 0 86327 598 2) (Extracts/Photo’s)

22. Marianne Hulland, Head of Communications, St edmundsbury Borough Council.

23. Grace Cory, Bodmin Town Council, Mrs Janet Wright, Bodmin library and Mrs Tooze, Bodmin Town Museum.

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