Frederick Albert Wardner

[Bridget Carman]

Please can anybody help me? My Great Grandfather Frederick Albert Wardner was a Firman/Stoker on the Titanic. He was one of the many that lost their lives that night. I was wondering whether anybody has any information on him. I have recently started researching my family tree. Does anybody know whether White Star gave any compensation to the relatives of the deceased?

 

[Brian J. Ticehurst]

Bridget - Hello and welcome.
Here is my printout on Mr. Wardner - see below and yes, The White Star Line did in some cases give compensation - not much but some.

Wardner, Fred Albert. Lived at 45 Endle Street, Chapel, Southampton. Occupation - Fireman. 39 years old. (Born in Hampshire). (Wife: Nellie).

(Death Notice Southern Daily Echo 30th April 1912 and Hampshire Independent 4th May 1912).

Wardner, Albert.

Fireman, of 42 Endle Street, Deeply Mourned by His Sorrowing Wife and Children, Mother and Brothers.

(From: Mansion House Titanic Relief Fund Booklet, March 1913).

Case number 262. Wardner, Nelly, widow. Children: Lilian May; Elizabeth; Dorothy M.; Robert C.; Albert; Nelly; Joseph George; Rose Beatrice. All class G dependants.

In memoriam, The Hampshire Independent, Saturday, April 17, 1915:

In loving memory of Fred Albert Wardner, the beloved husband of Nellie Wardner . . . Gone but not forgotten.

 

[Bridget Carman]

Thanks very much Brian. This is great. Have you any ideas where I can get copies of the publications? ... and finally do you know what a Class G dependant is?

 

[Brian J. Ticehurst]

Bridget Hi, Glad it was useful.
There is a publication available from Southampton Libraries Listing all the Titanic Death Notices the address is Southampton Main Library, Civic Centre, Southampton, its best if you write for the details cost, postage etc., enclose a sae for a reply.
Here is a copy of the list of grades and the money paid out:
The scale of the Titanic Relief Fund Allowances was as follows: All payments - per week.
Class A. (Officers and Engineers) Widow £2 0s 0d, children 7/6d.
Class B. (Saloon Stewards and Bedroom Stewards) Widow £1 12s 6d, children 6/3d.
Class C. (Lower Class Stewards, Catering, Boots, Bakers, Bedroom Stewards) Widow £1 7s 6d, children 5/6d.
Class D. (Stewards) Widow £1 0s 0d, children 3/6d.
Class E. (2nd Class Stewards, Stewardesses, Senior Firemen) Widow 17/6d, children 2/6d.
Class F. (Greasers) Widow 15/0d, children 2/6d.
Class G. Firemen, Scullions, lower class Stewards) Widow 12/6d, children 2/6d. (

It does not seem today to be a great deal of money but back in 1912 it was and the pension made a very great difference to the lifestyles of the recipients.
Next question?

Cheers Brian

 

[X----- X-------]

Hello Brian.

Interesting how the scale payments were divided between the families.

When time permits I'll send you those pages of the Minutes, which clearly states that the Relief Fund had another increase of £20,000. After all the global donations the Public Trustees decided to invest one block £10,000 into stocks and shares, whilst the other block of £10,000, would increased the dependents' payments by another shilling a week.

Those were the days!

A.W.

 

[Bob Godfrey]

This particular case is an fine example of just how good those Relief Fund payments were. After her husband's death, Nellie Wardner and her 8 children qualified for a total of £6 10s per month in benefits. Fred Wardner's earning power had been just £6 per month, and that of course had to cover his own living expenses as well as those of his family. Thus he was able to provide for them better in death than in life.

Note also that the benefits for the dependents of stewards made allowance even for tips. The widow of a bedroom steward with 4 children, for instance, received £8 10s per month. A steward's basic wage, minus tips, was only £3 15s.

Andrew: Those were indeed the days. Hardly anybody paid income tax, and those who did paid just 5%!
.

 

[Bob Godfrey]

Is it just me having problems recently with getting pound signs into a posting, or is it a general problem?

 

[X----- X-------]

Bob - the big-wig up in Oxford should be able to tell you. I know I didnt' get any £-probs.

They paid 5% income tax. How I wish that percentage would come back again.

 

[Bob Godfrey]

Agreed - let's campaign for a return of 1912 income tax levels. Just so long as we don't get the 1912 wages as part of the deal. :-(

 

[Bridget Carman]

Thank you all very much. Its good to hear that my Great Grandmother and her children (all 8 of them) were looked after.

 

[Hilary Popple]

And I gather it wasn't just those cash payments. As mentioned somewhere else on the board most of my great-uncles and aunts had apprenticeships paid for by the Relief Fund. My grandfather missed out on this, much to his disgust.

 

[twjnorth]

Thank you all very much. Its good to hear that my Great Grandmother and her children (all 8 of them) were looked after.

Fred Albert was my great grand uncle (my own great grandfather Edward, one of Fred's four brothers) was also a navy man being on the flagship during the boxer rebellion in China as per his naval record).

I found an article in the Southern Echo dated Wed 11th Nov 1908 which records that seven children residing in Endle Street (including Lily Wardner and Lizzie Wardner among them) were let off with a warning by a magistrate for damaging wood at Messrs. Tagart, Morgan and Coles Ltd. Another child was let of with a warning for stealing wood which the managing director implied was a frequent occurence.

You can view 3 pages for free after registering on the BNP site - direct link to the article is here.

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It is in third column half way down the page totled SOUTHAMPTON POLICE NEWS.