The Mystery of Joey Thompson:
Any documentation of the story of the construction of the ill-fated Titanic will most likely profile the journey of Titanic’s ‘guarantee group’, the group was constructed of eight men who would sail and work on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. However, the name Joey Thompson occasionally appears on records as a working member of the group. His name very rarely surfaces in discussion about Titanic’s construction. But who was Joey Thompson and what his role in the building of the Belfast ocean liner, Titanic?
The ninth member of the Guarantee Group:
Joey Thompson, not to be confused with the third class passenger of the same name, boarded Titanic at Belfast after she completed her sea trials, which took place at Belfast Lough, April 1st, 1912. According to Encyclopaedia Titanica Mr. Thompson boarded at Belfast working as painter and decorator. Thompson would have worked on the interior construction of the ship rather than the exterior. the interior of the Olympic class had been intentionally designed to mimic and replicate the most luxurious eras in history. For example, Titanic’s first class smoking lounge had been modeled after the Palace of Versailles in France, Titanic’s iconic ‘Honour and Glory Crowning Time’ staircase, located on A deck took inspiration from Greek architecture as did many of the cabins and leisure rooms on board the ship.
Where did Joey Thompson go?
It’s recorded that Thompson had disembarked at Southampton. Thompson’s name appears on the memorial dedicated to the guarantee group located outside of Belfast City Hall. But why? If he was not present for the sinking, rightly he should not appear on the memorial. however, the answer is perhaps easier than first thought. As Thompson was employed as a painter, he wouldn’t have been needed on the voyage as if a painter was working around passengers, it would look simply, unprofessional. The other eight members of the group had all been employed to work below decks, where they would not associate with passengers. The reason Thompson was required to travel from Belfast to Southampton is because the workers had not finished painting the ship. Thompson would have understood how the Titanic needed to look stylistically.
After the Titanic
Out of the eight members of the guarantee group there were no survivors. However, the only surviving member Joey Thompson has virtually no documentation about his life after the Titanic. Historians and enthusiasts can only speculate about Thompson’s whereabouts. Thompson was never mentioned or appeared in the inquires that took place between America and Britain. One theory is that Thompson returned to Belfast and carried on working for Harland and Wolff until the start of World War One he perhaps was conscripted. Again sources are limited because Thompson’s age has never been established. Thompson’s legacy still very much so remains a mystery, there is no record of his age, birth, address or date of death.
As always, I’ll leave a few articles on the mystery member of Titanic’s guarantee group, although there really isn’t that much on Joey Thompson. Please feel free to ask any questions
Have a titanic week!
Millie.
Encyclopaedia Titanica on Joey Thompson: https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-biography/joey-thompson.html
Encyclopaedia Titanica discussion page on Joey Thompson: https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/community/threads/mystery-member-of-the-garuntee-group.30449/
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