Augustus George Stanbrook was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England in the latter half of 1881.
He was the son of Alfred Frederick Stanbrook (b. 1855), a striker at an ironworks, and Elizabeth Jane Dixon (b. 1854). His father hailed from Southampton and his mother from Jersey in the Channel Islands and they had married in 1879.
Augustus was one of nine children born to his parents, his known siblings being: Alfred Frederick (b. 1879), William Henry (1883-1956), James (b. 1886), Albert Edward (b. 1889), Richard Thomas (1891-1975), Charles Samuel (1894-1917) and Elizabeth Louisa (1897-1987, later Mrs Arthur Ernest Painter).
In the months prior to Augustus' birth his family were listed on the 1881 census as residents of 3 Elm Place, Southampton; by the time of the 1891 census Augustus and his family were living at 159 Radcliffe Road, Southampton.
On the 1901 census Augustus and his family were residing at 36 York Street, St Mary, Southampton and Augustus would spend the rest of his life at this address. At the time of this census he was described as a general labourer; he would be absent from the 1911 census.
When he signed on to the Titanic on 6 April 1912 Stanbrook gave his address as 36 York Street, Southampton. His previous ship had been the Olympic and as a fireman he could expect to earn monthly wages of £6.
Augustus Stanbrook, who was unmarried, died in the sinking; his body was later recovered (#316) by the Minia and he was buried at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was also remembered on a memorial in St Augustine's Church, Northam, Southampton.
A few years later, on 24 April 1917, his younger brother Charles was killed in action with the Wiltshire Regiment during World War I. His mother later passed away in 1925 and his father in 1945; his last surviving sibling, Elizabeth, died in Southampton on 22 January 1987.
Grave in Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, N.S.
© Bob Knuckle, Canada
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I am his great, great, great niece.
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I recently received a family tree sketched out by my great uncle. He noted that my great aunt's father's brother was a "cabin boy" and went down on the Titanic. He's noted as a sibling of Albert, William, Harry, Charles and possibly others. This seems to match somewhat with this listing for Augustus George. The spelling I have however is Standbrook. I'm wondering if this is a match or not ; it's certainly the only close match on surnames in the list you have. Any insights appreciated.
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Stanbrook was known by his nickname of “Gus” by his crew mates. In 1968, Fireman John Podesta, then 80, wrote an account of the sinking in which he mentions his fellows William Nutbean and “Gus” Stanbrook. The story appears in the Southampton Echo, 27th May, 1968. Podesta and Nutbean were disturbed initially by the sound of the collision, like calico being torn. They went below and saw water flooding the forward boiler rooms and the current watch of firemen running out, perhaps after putting the fires in the boilers out. “Going back to our room, we began shaking one or two men up from their bunks (one in particular named Gus Stanbrook (Fireman)). I said, ‘Come on, Gus, get a lifebelt and go to your boat, she’s sinking.’ He began laughing and simply lay back again, thinking it was a joke.” Shortly afterwards, the orders came from Bo’sun Alfred Nichols to report to the boat deck, which Stanbrook apparently listened that time. Podesta and Nutbean survived, Stanbrook...
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