South Africa’s connection to the Titanic: List of SA-linked passengers

All eyes are currently on the Titanic as new 3D imagery of the wreck could shed light on what exactly happened that frightful night in 1912.

But did you know there were a number of passengers with a link to South Africa on the ship when it sank?

Here’s what we know.

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THE TITANIC’S SURPRISING SOUTH AFRICAN LINK

For years experts and researchers have speculated about the exact cause of the Titanic going down. According to an expert, the new 3D imagery taken from the wreck indicates that the ship did, in fact, not hit an iceberg.

READ MORE: Wait What?! Expert believes the Titanic did not hit an iceberg

A look at the Titanic’s passenger list has revealed South Africa’s surprising connection with the ship, News24 reports.

These passengers were either South African residents, lived here at one point, or were visiting family.

Here is what we know.

THOMAS WILLIAM SOLOMON BROWN 

According to News24, Thomas William Solomon Brown, 60, his wife Elizabeth Catherine (née Ford), and their daughter, Edith Eileen, originally from Worcester, lived in Seattle, US, at the time of the ship’s departure. Reports indicate that the family was second-class passengers. Although Elizabeth and Edith were rescued, Thomas is believed to have drowned.

Mother and daughter later moved back to South Africa, where Edith married architectural engineer Frederick Thankful Haisman. One of her sons, David, wrote a book about his mother’s ordeal titled I’ll See You in New York: Titanic – the Courage of a Survivor.

The publication reports that Edith was an honorary member of the Titanic Society of South Africa. She was the oldest Titanic survivor until her death at the age of 100 at a nursing home in Southampton in 1997.

CHARLES HENRY CHAPMAN

Born in Cape Town, Charles Henry Chapman was the son of well-known explorer James Chapman. According to Encyclopedia Titanica, 52-year-old Charles worked as an exporter and lived in New York when he died on the Titanic. Just like Thomas Brown, he was also a second-class passenger. His body was recovered and claimed. In his suit pockets, among other things, a silver cigarette case, garnet ring, papers, gold mounted cuff-links, $200, gold studs, fountain pen, knife, and a pipe were found.

NATHAN GOLDSMITH

Although he was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with his family at the time of his death, Nathan Goldsmith was believed to work as a boot maker in Cape Town before the Anglo-Boer War, Geni.com reports. Nathan was 41 years old and a third-class passenger when he died on the Titanic.

SYDNEY SAMUEL JACOBSOHN

According to Encyclopedia Titanica, Sydney Samuel Jacobsohn worked as an attorney in Cape Town before moving to London, where he married Amy Frances Christy Cohen. They both boarded the Titanic as second-class passengers on their way to Montreal, Canada. Although Amy was rescued, Sydney, 42, unfortunately, passed away.

SAMUEL BEARD RISIEN

Samuel Beard Risien, a 69-year-old American Civil War veteran, and his wife Emma, from Texas, USA, were on their way home after spending about 14 months in Durban, visiting relatives, Mail&Guardian reports. All three were third-class passengers, but unfortunately, they did not survive. Emma, Sam’s second wife, was from Durban.

AUSTIN BLYLER VAN BILLIARD

Austin Blyler van Billiard, 35, and his sons, James William, 10, and Walter John, 9, were third-class passengers on their way to South Wales, Pennsylvania, USA, when they died. AllAtSea reports that Austin was part owner of a diamond mine and lived in South Africa for ten years before the family moved to London. His wife was ill at the time and stayed at home in the US with the couple’s two youngest children when the Titanic sank.

HENRY FORBES JULAIN

Henry Forbes Julian, a metallurgical engineer born in Ireland, moved to Natal in 1886, News24 reports. He became a consulting engineer and mine manager in Natal, Barberton, Johannesburg and Kimberley. During his seven-year-long stay in South Africa, Henry invented and patented an extracting apparatus for the mines. In 1893 he moved to Germany and lived in Torquay when he boarded the Titanic. The publication states that his wife, Hester Pengally, was at home, sick with influenza when her husband died.

FRANCESCO CELOTTI

A sailor from Cape Town, Francesco Celotti, was a third-class passenger who sadly died on the liner at the age of 24. Originally from Italy, he reportedly applied for a passport at the Cape and was granted one in 1911, Letaba Herald reports.

ROBERT HICHENS

According to Britannica.com, Robert Hichens was one of six Quartermasters on the Titanic. He was reportedly at the wheel when the warning came from the lookout that an iceberg had been spotted ahead. According to reports, he was later relieved of his position and was put in charge of Lifeboat 6. He testified at the US inquiry into the accident, and it was claimed that he later became a harbour master in Cape Town. Robert’s family members have stated that he did spend some time in Durban and Johannesburg, and his brother, William, lived in Johannesburg in 1915.

WILLIAM BULL

The Letaba Harald reports that Margaret Charlesworth of Lyndhurst, Johannesburg’s grandfather, William Bull (37), worked in the Titanic’s kitchens. Born in Hampshire, William married Edith, Margaret’s grandmother. William, unfortunately, passed away on the Titanic.

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