Houghie,
Please read below to expand on the above - its quite a tragic story.
DUQUEMIN, MR. JOSEPH. Saved in Lifeboat D. Porgros, St. Sampsons, Guernsey, Channel Islands. UK.
(Died January 1950)
(From A Stamford Connecticut, News cutting dated Thursday 6th January 1950).
Joseph Duquemin of 47 Tormuck La., a veteran of World Ward I, died this morning at Stamford Hospital after a lingering illness.
Born in England on November 24th 1892 Mr. Duquemin was a resident of Stamford, for 24 years. he was formerly employed at the Yale and Towne Mfg. Co.. He served in the supply company of the 42nd Infantry during World War I.
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Mary Flanagan Duquemin; two daughters, Mrs. Robert Knappe and Mrs. Frank Merrily and a son, Joseph Duquemin, all of Stafford. In addition, his mother, four sisters and two brothers survive in Guernsey, England.
Funeral service will be held at 11 am Saturday from the Leo P. Gallagher Funeral Home.. Interment will be in the veterans Plot at Spring Grove, Cemetery. Darlen.
(From The Emergency and Relief booklet by the American Red Cross, 1913).
No. 128. (English). Paving cutter, 24 years old. ($50).
Accompanied by Mr. H. Williams.
(From Guernsey Evening Press, April/May 1912)
Occupation Quarryman.
Going to Albion, New York.
Jersey address: Vale.
Later served in the British Army. Lost both legs. Said to be through to exposure.
c/o Porgos, St. Sampson, Guernsey.
Mr. J. Duquemin
Reported Saved.
News was received at noon today of the safety of Mr. Joseph Duquemin.
Mr. Joseph Duquemin, of Portgrat, Vale, a quarryman, aged about 30. He accompanied Mr. Williams, one of the supposed victims of the disaster. Mr. Duquemin had been employed as a quarryman at Messrs Manuelle and Co's quarry at the Vardes.
The new of his safety was conveyed in a message from the White Star Line at Southampton, thus:
''Joseph Duquemin officially reported saved''.
The news was received by Mr. Duquemin's parents.
20th April 1912
Mr. J. Duquemin.
The relations of Mr. Joseph Duquemin, reported to be one of the survivors of the Titanic Disaster, have not yet heard from him direct, but yesterday a letter was received from the White Star line's Southampton Office, confirming the telegram sent on the 20th of April with respect to the safety of Mr. Duquemin.
2nd May 1912
Mr. Joseph Duquemin
A letter was received this morning by the father of Mr. Joseph Duquemin, who was a passenger on the Titanic. He states that he has been in hospital and on his recovery proceeded to his destination, Albany, New York, where he has arrived quite well. He has promised to give details of his rescue in his next letter.
Bert's friend Joseph Duquemin, was doing his best to help the women and children. At one point he took off his overcoat and wrapped it round a shivering seven-year-old-girl. Both of them Denbuoy and Duquemin, worked together until they were waist deep in water. By that time all the boats had left.
Finally Joseph Duquemin turned to his friend and said 'I'm off'. He swam away from the deck and headed for the last lifeboat but Bert Denbuoy hesitated. When he started to follow, the suction from the sinking ship dragged him under. For months afterwards Joseph had nightmares. Time and again he reheard his friend crying out as the current pulled him to his death.
Eventually Joseph reached the lifeboat. At first he was refused permission to board and it was only after he told the seamen that he could pull an oar as well as they could that they dragged him to safety.
He joined the oarsmen in their battle to pull the crowded boat away from the suction of the sinking ship.
He also helped someone else out of the icy water. Hearing a cry for help, Joseph hoisted another swimmer aboard. The rest of the passengers were so angry that they threatened to throw them both back in the sea. The man he had saved turned out to be one of the Jersey Crew members, Walter Williams.
Account from Gerald Duquemin.
His brother, Gerald, of Capelle's Building Stores, Guernsey, takes up the story: ''I was only ten years old at the time the Titanic went down but I can remember very well what results the sinking brought home. We heard about it on the 15th or 16th of April but there was no news of my brother. I remember my mother was so shocked and worried we had to have the doctor - he used to come on horseback - and confined my mother to bed. We all waited for news. Mother said she had a feeling Joseph was all right but as time went by, we began to fear the worst.''
''Then on April 20th - my mother's birthday - Mr. Veal of the Vale Post Office arrived in father's building yard. Mr. Veal came himself with the telegram. He wouldn't send one of the boys. I remember my father coming towards the house with the telegram in his hands. They were shaking so much he couldn't read the words. He called to my sister to read them out. There were only five words. 'Joseph Duquemin reported safe, Ismay''.'
Gerald Duquemin still has the envelope in which the telegram arrived; the message itself is in the hands of Joseph's widow in America.
In later life Joseph Duquemin suffered cruelly. He complained of pains in his legs and had to have first the right one and then the left one amputated, leaving him a sick man. This fatal injury stemmed from the tragic night of April 15th, 1912.
Years later there was a sequel to the tragic story of the Titanic. A Beaconsfield Justice of the Peace (J.P.), Miss Eva Hart, came on holiday to Guernsey and visited the Duquemins. She came to tell them about the night Joseph had handed her his overcoat when she stood shivering on the deck of the Titanic as a girl of seven and she came to say 'thank-you' to his family.
Best regards
Brian J. Ticehurst - Southampton UK
