Mr George Alexander Prangnell (Greaser) was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England on 12 December 1881.
He was the son of Alexander Prangnell (b. 1847), a labourer, and Caroline Curtis (b. 1853). His father hailed from Romsey and his mother from Dorset and they were married in Southampton on 6 June 1881.
Alexander, is is believed, had been married previously, on 30 October 1876, to Mary Brinson, who had a daughter Mary Alemlia (1875-1951. No father is listed on the child's birth certificate.
Caroline Curtis, meanwhile, was herself already married (when she married Alexander Prangnell) to Frederick Gilbert, a labourer, whom she married in 1874 and never divorced. The case was reported on a week after her untimely death, on 9 February 1884 at the age of 27:
A curious bigamy case has come under the notice of the Southampton magistrates. Frederick Gilbert, a
middle-aged man, was charged with stealing certain household goods, the property of Alexander Pragnell.
The prosecutor in June, 1881, married a woman whom he supposed single, named Curtis. Some time after Gilbert came with them as a lodger, and remained 12 months. The wife was stricken with serious illuess, and before death confessed that Gilbert was her lawful husband. It subsequently transpired she was married to him in 1874, and that he left her four years afterwards. Gilbert was committed for trial.
In the months prior to George's birth Alexander and Caroline were listed on the 1881 census as residents of 35 Bellevue Street, St Mary, Southampton together with Amelia who is shown as Alexander's daughter.
When George first appears on the 1891 census he is living with his father and sister at 4 Pear's Court (?), St Michael, Southampton and his father is now described as an unmarried corn merchant.
In the autumn of 1906 George was married in Southampton to Elizabeth Louisa Dack (b. 1885)2. By 1912 they had two sons, William "Billy" (1903-1971) and Frederick George (born 1906) and were expecting a third child. The 1911 census shows Mrs Prangnell and her two sons as residents of 13 Oriental Terrace, Southampton whilst the elder George is absent and presumably at sea.
When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 6th April 1912, Prangnell gave his address as 3 Brew House Court, (Southampton). He transferred from the Olympic and as a greaser he received monthly wages of £6, 10s.
It is generally believed that he was rescued on overturned collapsible B; he later claimed to have been rescued by a ship other than the Carpathia 1. Whilst in America he was treated for frostbite to his hands and feet. After his rescue was confirmed Mrs Prangnell was quoted by a reporter as saying:
''My two little boys wanted to keep awake all night, they were very anxious to see their father, but I told them to go to sleep and I would bring daddy home.''
Prangnell returned home following the disaster and he and his wife welcomed a daughter on 15 May 1912, Amelia Elizabeth Louisa (1912-2000). Another four children would follow: Louise Elizabeth (1918-1996), Robert A. (b. 1921), Zephaniah (1924-), and Jessie Alice (b. 1925) .
Prangnell continued working at sea and continued to do so for the duration of WWI. In 1919 he was awarded the Mercantile Marine Medal for his services during that conflict. He remained at sea until 1924 3 and then worked at Vosper Thornycrofts Shipyard in Woolston and as a grain-runner for Fear & Colebrook in Chapel Road.
He lived a full and active life until his death on 3 December 1953. Earlier that year he had been to see the 20th Century Fox film Titanic, a movie depiction that he was less than impressed with and described as "eyewash."
George is buried in South Stoneham Cemetery, Southampton, section P03, plot 31 in an unmarked grave.
Comment and discuss
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In Southampton Echo April 9 1975 there weas an article about him. Sisters Jane and Leigh Russell had brought Titanic documents to Mike Fenton. The two sisters were great grandchildren of Mr, Pragnell. Mr Fenton was a teacher at St. Mary s Primary School in Southampton, and at that time the school was involved imn maritime topics. During the rescue Mr. Pragnell s extraordinary ability as a swimmer is mentioned. He claimed he had been picked up by a Southampton based cargo ship, being revived with whisky (medically illadvised) by a crew man from his home port who recognised him. I do not believe the story, because in the ET biography about him, he was rescued in Collapsible B. According to the article , Mr. Pragnell remained at sea until the the mid-twenties, then worked in several demanding occupations, as a litter s mate at Vosper Thorneycroft in Woolston as a grain runner , a labourer. He also helped rebuild Southampton after war damages. Pragnell was called to appear in the...
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Dear Arne, Below you will find the answer to your questions about Mr. Prangnell - the truth always comes out. Regards Brian PRANGNELL, George. Saved in Lifeboat B. Lived at 3 Brew House Court, St Marys, Southampton. Occupation - Greaser. 31 years old. (Born in Hampshire). Ship before the Titanic was the RMS Olympic. In The Town Of Sorrow (From our Special Correspondent) Southampton April 29th. Joy and sorrow, elation and depression are mingled in the homes here of the seamen, firemen and stewards of the Titanic. Feelings of compassion for the heroes who died and for their dependants overshadow the joy at the return of the living. But the little children who cannot understand all that the loss of the Titanic means are happy now that father has come back. ''My two little boys wanted to keep awake all night, said Mrs. Pragnell, the wife of a surviving fireman. ''They were very anxious to see their father, but I told them to go to sleep and I would bring...
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Re: I AM THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF GEORGE PRANGNELL,MY NAME IS JANICE RUSSELL ,IM 65 AND STILL LIVE IN GOLDEN GROVE,AND THE OLDESST LIVING SON OF GEORGE IS BARN PRAGNELL WHO IS 88 AND STILL HAS ALL THE DOCUMENTS MENTIONED ABOVE. I REMEMBER BEING TOLD THIS STORY AS A GRANDCHILD,WHICH WE PASS ON TO OUR GRANDCHILDREN, WHO ARE FASINATED ESPECAILLY WITH SCHOOL TOPICS,HE DIED AT THE AGE OF 72 OF CANCER AND HIS BURIED IN STONEHAM CEMEMTERY,NEXT TO ANOTHER TITANTIC SURVIVOR
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