Edward Simmons was born on the 3rd, November 1911, he was born at number 23 York Road, Freemantle, Southampton. He was the second son of Winifred and Fredrick Simmons. Edward’s older brother Robert was born towards the latter end of 1910. Unfortunately, Robert died in infancy on the 5th of June 1911.
My Father, the Titanic Steward
Edward’s father, Fredrick was born on the 16th May 1887, Southampton, England. Fredrick was one of sixteen siblings and the first known residence of Fredrick is listed in the 1891 census as number 36 Albert Street, Southampton. It was sometime in this period that Fredrick took to sea, he served on various White Star Line vessels such as the Blue Riband Winner, RMS Majestic.
Simmons’ last ship before Titanic was listed as the RMS Oceanic. This was confirmed by Fredrick’s son, Edward. He supports that his father was still positioned on the Oceanic by the end of 1911. “My father was a steward on board the Oceanic, then we moved to Millbrook Road … and father was transferred to the Titanic.” Edward’s point makes sense as his father’s last address was listed as 203, Millbrook Road, Freemantle, Southampton.
On the 12th of April 1912, Titanic reached Queenstown, Ireland, Fredrick sent a letter back home to Winifred and Edward. He explained how there were two other men on board the ship with the same name of W.C Simmons. He could possibly be referring to one of the ship’s cooks. Mr William Simmons, who was also from Southampton. The second could possibly be man with the name W. Simms. however, W. Simms can easily be dismissed from this discussion as firstly, he was a fireman, so it is highly unlikely that the two would have crossed paths and secondly, W. Simms was discharged from Titanic before she had left Southampton. So, the other Mr W Simms, or Simmons, remains so far, unknown.
Tragically, Fredrick Simmons did not survive the sinking and his body was never recovered or identified.
Life as a Titanic Orphan
The shadow that the Titanic disaster cast over Southampton would linger for years to come, there was barely a single street in Southampton that had not been affected in some way by the Titanic. Households were deprived of their main source of financial income, wives lost their husbands, sons and brothers. Edward was no acceptation. His father had gone down with the ship and Edward had not yet turned one. He perhaps had little recollection of the immediate impact but, he would forever be known as one of the boys who lost his father on that ship from Belfast. From Edward’s perspective this the loss of his father was not massively difficult to come to terms with, as many of his school friends had also lost relatives in the sinking.
Edward remembers, “When I was growing up there were so many other orphans around about my age. He (Fredrick) was 23 … and it didn’t affect me, not with the other kiddies, no sympathy, and no jeering, I mean it was just natural for quite a lot of people not to have a father... I knew that he had gone down with the Titanic and that he was drowned and that was about it. I just sort of accepted it.”
Life after Titanic
At the age of five, Edward attended Freemantle Church of England School, Southampton. He still lived with his mother, Winifred. Edward and his mother were entitled to the help from the Titanic relief fund. Altogether Winifred and Edward received thirty shillings per month. The bank from which the money was distributed from stood on the same corner as Holyrood Church, Southampton. by 1915 the Titanic Relief fund was merged with the charity funds for the survivors of the Lusitania. The fund was then renamed to the Titanic and Lusitania Relief Fund. Each cheque that was distributed could be identified with a small picture of the two ships that were on the slip of paper.
Edward left school at 14 and to avoid a similar fate to this father, Simmons steered clear of any carer on the docks or at sea. Instead, one of the lady visitors, Miss Ethel Maud Newman had told Edward of an apprenticeship to an upholster. In the end the relief fund paid Edward’s apprenticeship fees and spent £25,000 on providing him with new tools and equipment. The firm where Edward worked had taken on several other young boys who had been helped by the Titanic fund.
He worked at the Bristol Co-Operative upholstery, Edward married Lily in 1935 and honeymooned at Shanklin, Isle of Wight. He eventually returned to Shirley and worked for a brief time with the flying boats in Hythe. In 1939, Lily gave birth to Edward’s only daughter, Mary. The family remained in Southampton and in 1993, Edward Simmons passed away.
As always, I’ll leave a few external links about the life of Edward and Fredrick Simmons.
Feel free to ask any questions.
Millie.
Sources:
Family source: http://licm.org.uk/livingImage/DRPRes.html
Historic Southampton, Interactive Crew Member Map: https://historicsouthampton.co.uk/crew/
Encyclopaedia Titanica on the life of Fredrick Charles Simmons: https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/frederick-simmons.html
Works Consulted:
Titanic Voices (1998), Donald Hyslop, Alastair Forsyth, Sheila Jemima, extract Edward Simmons page 257, Simmons Apprenticeship page 258
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