Encyclopedia Titanica

Leopoldo Zarracchi

Wine Butler

Mr Leopoldo Zaracchi1 was an Italian national, heralding from Milan. He was the son of Giovanni Zaracchi, but other details about his early life remain unknown.2

Zaracchi appears on the 1911 UK census when he was boarding at 101 Great Titchfield Street, Oxford Street, London, the home of Luigi Gatti and his family. Described as a restaurant waiter, his age was then given as 22 years. 

When he signed-on to the Titanic on 6 April 1912, Zaracchi’s address was given as 9 Orchard Place, Southampton and his age as 26 years. His previous ship had been the Olympic and as a member of the à la carte restaurant, serving as a wine butler.

During the evacuation, there were reports that stewards took it upon themselves to restrict the freedom of movement of the restaurant staff-mainly composed of French, Italians and Germans-barring them from leaving the working alleyway on E-deck into first and second class areas, routes that would have given them ease of access to the boat deck. One of only three of the surviving restaurant staff, Paul Maugé, stated that only he and chef Pierre Rousseau were permitted to pass into second class, seemingly because they were the only ones in civilian clothes. 

Leopoldo Zaracchi died in the sinking; if recovered, his body was never identified.

Notes

  1. Corriere della Sera (19 April 1912), gives his first name as Luigi. Leopoldo is the name given in the 1911 census. The sign-on sheet only gives the initial L.
  2. Neither the 1911 census nor the crew’s sign-on documents state his exact birthplace, other than Italy. The Italian newspaper Il Lavaro (25 May 1912) states that he was Milanese and that his father was named Giovanni. The same paper states his age as 25. 

Newspaper Articles

Corriere della Sera (19 April 1912) Italians Shipwrecked

Documents and Certificates

Agreement and Account of Crew, National Archives, London; BT100/259
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Titanic Crew Summary

Name: Mr Leopoldo Zarracchi
Born: circa.1888
Age: 24 years (Male)
Nationality: Italian
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Wine Butler
Embarked: Southampton
Died in the Titanic disaster (15th April 1912)
Body Not Identified

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