Titanic Connections: Oxford Street (continued)

Out of the near 2,200 passengers and crew aboard the RMS Titanic, 724 of those people were residents of the city of Southampton. The shadow cast by Titanic disaster is not long forgotten by the residents of Southampton. One street in particular could be deemed one of the worst affected by the sinking. Oxford Street is located at the heart of Southampton’s maritime quarter and was once home to 35 people who would go on to work on Titanic.

George Gummery, 24 Canute Road, Southampton:

Still considered the joining point of Oxford Street, Canute Road easily equates itself and boasts its very own Titanic connections. The road is located at farthest end of Oxford Street. Canute Road was not only the prior home to Southampton’s branch of the White Star Line offices but number 24, Canute Road was the former home of Titanic mess steward, George Gummery.

Gummery was not the only Titanic crew member to lodge at Canute Road. Third class steward James McGrady had also taken residence at what is now known as the Platform Tavern, which is less than a 60 second walk to the White Star offices.

George Gummery was born on the 20th December ,1881 in Birmingham and was the only child. Growing up the future Titanic victim had taken up the dramatic arts as a hobby. However, after the death of his parents, his mother in 1898 and his father in 1909. Gummery took to sea and served on the vessel Saint Louis. A year later Gummery had re-located to Southampton and signed onto the White Star vessel Titanic on April 6th, 1912. Gummery served as a mess steward and according to the book The Crew of the RMS Titanic by Brian Ticehurst, the 24-year-old had worked in the engine department. George Gummery simply became one of hundreds of victims that the Titanic claimed. The Canute Road resident died at the age of 24 and his body was presumably lost in the sinking and never recovered.

William Dashwood, Sailor’s Home, Oxford Street:

Previously covered on Titanic Talks’ last piece about Oxford Street, the Sailor’s Home can be linked to 27 lives that were all to board Titanic in Southampton. The youngest lodger at the Sailor’s home was 19-year- old William George Dashwood. Born in London in early 1894, William Dashwood was one of seven siblings with only five who lived past infancy. Encyclopaedia Titanica expressed that “He first appears on crew records on 20th February 1911, serving as a steward aboard the Franconia which was operating out of Liverpool.” Dashwood had worked at sea for just over a year when he signed onto to Titanic. On April 4th, 1912 William Dashwood signed onto Titanic. Prior to serving on the ill-fated Belfast liner Dashwood had served on the SS Adriatic, which was a not too distant relative of Titanic.

The Southampton resident worked as a second-class steward. Unfortunately, Oxford Street’s youngest lodger also became one of Titanic’s youngest victims. Dashwood’s body was recovered by the CS Mackay Bennett and he was given a burial and headstone which is now located in the Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Steward’s grave can be found under headstone No.83.

Abraham Mishellany, Citerion Restruant, Oxford Street:

The Citerion Restaurant, like many locations on Oxford Street. Can be connected to multiple passengers and crew members abord the doomed ship this included faces such as, two first class stewards: Humphrey Lloyd and Edward Skinner. The Restaurant was also the temporary home to Titanic printer, Abraham Mansoor Mishellany. Originally born in Syria (Lebanon) in May, 1858 Mishellany was one of two brothers. Escaping the Ottoman dictatorship, the Mishellany family moved to Egypt. There are no records of when Abraham officially moved to Britain when he appears to have lived in Liverpool for a short time. With his address being 12 Granby Street, Liverpool.

By trade Mishellany was a printer, although never confirmed he potentially even had his own business but for certain he did for various design companies. The Liverpool printer served on numerous vessels operated by the White Star Line such as the: SS Majestic, Cymric and Titanic’s almost identical sister; RMS Olympic. Mishellany was on board Titanic when she left from Belfast Lough on April 2nd, 1912. His last residence was logged as the Criterion Restaurant, Oxford Street, Southampton. Abraham Mishellany died on the Titanic at the age of 52 and his body was never recovered. His widow never re-married after her husband’s death.

Thomas Edgar Major, Citerion Restaurant, Oxford Street, Southampton:

Taking the same residence of Abraham Mansoor Mishellany, Thomas Edgar Major served as first class bath steward. Originally born in Stoke Newington in 1876. Thomas had a rich history of serving on steamships such as the Campania and Soudan. At this time Major can be seen to have lived at 17 Roxborough Avenue, Liverpool. Much like Mishellany, Thomas Major also made the trip over from Belfast on Titanic. He temporarily disembarked at Southampton and his last residence was listed as the Citerion Restraunt, Oxford Street, Southampton. Major served as a bath steward and died at the age of 35 and his body was never recovered.

As always, I’ll leave a few external links on Titanic’s connections with Oxford Street. Feel free to ask any questions and let me know what you think!

Have a ‘titanic’ week!

- Millie

Sources:

Encyclopaedia Titanica on George Gummery: https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/george-gumery.html

Encyclopaedia Titanica on William Dashwood: https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/william-george-dashwood.html

Encyclopaedia Titanica on Abraham Mansoor Mishellany: https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/abraham-mansoor-mishellany.html

Encyclopaedia Titanica on Thomas Edgar Major: https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/thomas-edgar-major.html