The Guarantee group were chosen out of the near 15,000 workers that helped the Titanic and her sister Olympic between 1909 -1911. The Guarantee group comprised of nine workers across the yard who showed outstanding dedication and work around the shipyard. Titanic’s designer Thomas Andrews chose these men allowing them a free passage on the maiden voyage of the Titanic.
Who was Titanic’s ‘Guarantee Group’?
· William Henry Campbell (21)
· Roderick Robert Crispin Chisholm (40)
· Alfred Fleming Cunningham (22)
· Antony Wood Frost (38)
· Robert J Knight (42)
· Francis Parkes (21)
· William Henry Marsh Parr (29)
· Ennis Hastings Watson (18)
· Thomas Millar (33)
Life as a Harland and Wolff worker:
Life on the yard was not easy, many aspects were considered extremely dangerous. The arrol gantry that was erected in 1908 dominated the Belfast skyline, standing at an impressive 228 feet with a length of 82 metres long.Working on the gantries was of considered the most dangerous part of the job, workers were required to climb up the gantry to complete jobs such as drilling in the rivets, Titanic used approximately 3 million rivets. Many messenger boys on the yard would also be expected to climb to the top of the gantries to deliver messages to members of the workforce.
Members of the Guarantee group such as 22 year old Alfred ‘Alfie’ Cunningham would have worked on Titanic’s gantry, most likely due to his age. As he was a younger worker on the yard, his physicality would have permitted him to take on more dangerous tasks. Throughout the construction 28 serious injuries were sustained and four recorded deaths. The youngest was Samuel J Scott, aged 15. He fell from Titanic’s gantry and was crushed to death by falling timber.
Other areas of the yard were considered less dangerous to work in, many senior members of the company worked in the drawing offices. Titanic’s designer Thomas Andrews (aged 39) would have spent time in the building, as he would be able to instruct and direct how the Titanic should be built.
Antony Wood Frost served as a foreman in Harland and Wolff, he was in charge of making sure workers arrived on time and stayed on task. Andrews and Frost would have negotiated with each other on a regular basis.
The shipbuilding trade was not an uncommon profession for men to enter, particularly those of less fortunate background, and due to the fact that Belfast was a popular shipping port. The average pay for a Harland and Wolff worker was £2, this however would have been docked if the worker was late or sick.
Ennis Hastings Watson:
Watson was the youngest member of the guarantee group, he was just 18 years old and served as an apprentice electrician. Watson had previously studied at the Belfast Institute, the same college that Titanic’s designer Thomas Andrews had previously studied engineering and design. Unlike Andrews, Watson had studied mathematics and electronics.
Alfred Flemming Cunnigham:
Alfred Cunningham, more affectionately nicknamed Alfie, worked at Harland and Wolff as a fitter, part of Cunningham’s role would have included plating together Titanic’s steel and creating the outer body of the ship, this would not have excluded Cunningham from dabbling in riveting either. Cunningham, was poorly educated and did not attend university his father died in late 1896 from a fever. Cunningham, being the oldest child took on the duty as the man of the house, this is potentially why he began his time at Harland and Wolff.
Thomas Millar:
Millar worked on the Titanic as an engineer, the Carrickfergus native was chosen to be part of Titanic’s guarantee group. Just a month before Titanic left Belfast. Millar’s wife Jennie died of rheumatic fever. Leaving Millar and his two sons Thomas and William aged eleven and five. Millar had given his two sons a penny each and had told them not to spend it until he came back. Millar had used the opportunity to relocate to New York. Millar did not return.
Roderick Chisholm:
Chisholm, had originally worked for rival ship yard, Upper Clyde in Scotland, Chisholm re-located to Harland and Wolff in Belfast. Records show Chisholm worked for Harland and Wolff for nearly 20 years by 1912. His length of service shows no mystery as to why he was considered for Titanic’s guarantee group. Chilshom served as a draughtsman, Chisholm would have played a key role in overseeing the design of Titanic and Olympic. By the time of his death in 1912 he had an estate of £140 by June 1912.
Francis Parkes:
It made sense for Parkes to work for Harland and Wolff as seven of his brothers were also employed by the firm. It appears ship building ran in the family. However, Parkes’ father worked as a Minister for Belfast Council, who would have regularly convened at Belfast City Hall.Parkes was listed as plumber. Although this job sounds trivial, Parkes would have been considered an important part of the group as he was able to manage blockages and would have thoroughly understood how the mechanics of the ship worked.
William Parr:
Parr was originally born in Hindley, Lancashire. Parr had worked on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway until early 1910. Parr specialized as an electrician and was transferred to Harland and Wolff Shipyard. Parr was appointed assistant manager in the electrician’s department. Parr would have been responsible for the fitting of electric lights, a venture which the White Star Line were proudly associating themselves with and made sure that the Olympic class’ modern electricity was included in advertisements.
Robert J Knight:
Like Alfred Cunningham, Knight was forced into the ship building industry after the death of his parents. His mother Jane died of pneumonia and his father died of a heart infection in 1879, Knight’s mother died in 1888. It wasn’t until 1891 Knight signed on as an apprentice in Harland and Wolff. Many apprentices at Harland and Wolff started as fitters. Just a year after his apprenticeship began Knight’s sister Maggie died of kidney failure. Knight worked on the Titanic as fitter.
Henry Campbell:
Campbell was one of eight children, his father was an able seaman. Records aren’t clear as to when Campbell joined Harland and Wolff, however, he worked as a joiner on the Titanic. many foremen were fond of Campbell as described him as bright and able. His charisma was perhaps a contributing factor which led him to become a member of the Guarantee Group
As far as the voyage of the Titanic which took place between April 10th -15th April 1912, there are not many records as to what the group got up to during the voyage. As they situated below decks the group were most likely not permitted to be on passenger decks unless necessary. Unfortunately, all the members of the group were lost during the sinking. there are no current records about any of their bodies being recovered either.
The legacy of Titanic’s Guarantee group is still remembered by the City of Belfast, a memorial can be found dedicated to them outside of Belfast City Hall. Similarly, a memorial was erected for them outside of Titanic’s former gantry, located at Titanic Belfast. Members of the Guarantee Group can also be found on the Titanic Engineer’s Memorial which can be found in Andrews’ Park, Southampton, England.
As always I’ll leave a few external links all about Titanic’s Guarantee Group, please feel free to ask any questions or get in touch for a talk.
Have a Titanic week, Millie.
Titanic's Guarantee Group by Encyclopedia Titanica: https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-guarantee-group/
Premier Exhibitions: http://www.premierexhibitions.com/exhibitions/3/3/titanic-artifact-exhibition/blog/titanics-guarantee-group
Titanic's Guarantee Group by Ireland.com : https://www.ireland.com/en-gb/what-is-available/attractions-built-heritage/historic-ireland/destinations/northern-ireland/county-antrim/belfast/articles/guarantee-group/
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