Samuel Francis Sedunary, more commonly known as Sidney, was born on the 25th February, 1887, Newbury, Berkshire. Sidney was one of six siblings: Hilda, Ernest, Mable, Doris and Mildred.
Sidney’s first experience in the Maritime industry was in 1907 when Sedunary joined the Royal Navy. He served on the Pembroke I as an errand boy and later served on the Hercules, Prince George, Northampton and his final ship before the RMS Titanic was the Vernon.
Sidney signed on the Titanic on April 4th 1912 as a Steward, he had once served on the Titanic’s sister RMS Olympic. The average wage for a Steward was £5. Sedunary had left his wife Madge, whom he had married four years prior to the Titanic disaster, at home, who discovered that she was pregnant with Sednuary’s child. In 1911 census the Southampton steward’s address was listed as number 18, Oxford Street, Southampton. Oxford Street can be linked to nearly 35 lives, all who would sail on Titanic alongside Sedunary. However, his last address before boarding Titanic was given as 34 Emsworth Road, Southampton. fellow plate steward Arthur Burrage also lived at number 9 on Emsworth Road. Unlike Sedunary, Burrage would survive the sinking.
Sidney resumed his previous position, that he had served on Titanic’s sister as a third-class steward. The roles of a steward varied, from mess stewards, who dealt with Titanic’s various restaurants and cafes, bedroom stewards tented to the needs of individual passengers and ensured maximum standards of hygiene and comfort in their accommodation.
Sidney did not survive the sinking and his body is identified as number #178. Survivors recalled seeing Sedunary in the 3rd class handing out life preservers to the steerage passengers. 812 of the 3rd class Passengers were lost in the Titanic disaster.
An important piece of history relating to Sidney Sedunary was uncovered by the Southampton Sea City Museum. In the exhibition ‘ Titanic and Southampton story’ Sednuary’s watch is on display. What is important about this watch is that the hands have stopped at 2:10 am. This is interesting as it tells us that Sedunary was in the water 20 minutes before the Titanic officially disappeared. Titanic at this point still had an estimated 1,500 women, men and children still on board.
In 2016, a key was discovered that was used to unlock the lifeboat preservers on F Deck. These keys were found in the breast pocket of Sidney Sedunary. It brought in nearly £50,000 for the keys which had been kept in the Sedunary family.
As always I’ll leave some external links about Sidney Sedunary
Have a Titanic rest of your day, Millie.
Encyclopaedia Titanica: https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/sidney-francis-sedunary.html
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