Mr Owen George Allum was born in the coastal village of Flushing in western Cornwall, England on 25 June 1894.
He was the son of William Allum (b. 1865), a gardener, and Clara Alice Eggleton (b. 1862). His father was originally from Bray, Berkshire whilst his mother hailed from Guernsey in the Channel Islands. They were married in Berkshire in 1888 and had four children.
Owen's siblings were: Stewart William (b. 1889), Chloe Elizabeth (1892-1910) and Grace Alice (1898-1971, later Mrs David Darrington).
Owen first appears on the 1901 census living with his family at 1 Calderwood Cottage, Holbrook Lane, Chislehurst, Kent. The family later settled in Windsor, Berkshire sometime after and appear there on the 1911 census living at 6 Gerald Villas, Vansittart Road, Clewer and a 16-year-old Owen was, like his father, described as a gardener. Educated in Clewer, Allum had left school at a young age and initially worked as a telegraph boy for his local post office and by 1912 was working as a gardener and living at 22 Oswald Road, Southall, London.
He embarked the Titanic at Southampton and was travelling in third class (ticket number 1223 which cost £8 1s) bound for New York City to meet up with his father who had only recently taken up a position in the USA and who, coincidentally, had crossed the Atlantic aboard Olympic in February 1912, the ship's captain being Edward John Smith.
Allum was lost in the sinking; his body was later recovered by the Mackay-Bennett and taken to Boston on 4 May 1912.
NO. 259 — MALE — ESTIMATED AGE 17 — HAIR, DARK
CLOTHING — Grey tweed suit.
EFFECTS — Gun metal watch and chain; hair brush; 2 knives; cigarette case; pocketbook.
Third Class ticket number 1223.
NAME - Owen George Allum
7 Gerrold Villas, Vansittart, Windsor.
His remains were returned back to England aboard the Arabic alongside the bodies of Wallace Hartley and steward Arthur Lawrance, arriving on 17 May 1912. It is not known if his father returned to Britain at the same time.
Owen was subsequently interred in the Clewer Parish Churchyard, Windsor, Berkshire on 22 May 1912 with his sister Chloe.
Following the disaster his family seemingly moved back to the Midlands; his father died in Great Witley, Worcestershire on 27 August 1932. His mother Alice seems to have experienced mental health problems throughout her life including periods of in-patient treatment in various asylums. She died in Warwickshire in 1946 aged 84.
His brother Stewart later became an electrician and during WWI served in the Royal Engineers; it is believed he died in 1966 with his death being registered in Stoke-on-Trent. His last surviving sibling Grace died in Droitwich, Worcestershire in 1971.
Comment and discuss
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I bring a story about him, as I do not think it has been written much about him before. It is from A history of Clewer, Windsor,Berkshire, The churchyard "Here lies" a selection of some of the interesting people buried in the church and churchyard at Clewer. /iainkeer/clewer/booklets/churchyard.htm Hermann Soeldner has got Mr. Owen in his book, but he has not got the date of his birth. Probably they have it at the churchyard office. Here is a bit of the story: "The old Churchyard of Clewer has witnessed many strange and touching scenes during the long roll of centuries that has borne the destignation of "Gods Acre" still perhaps never one so unusual or patethic as that which occurred on Wednesday, when the ocean-laved remains of a Clewer laddie, rescued from the surging billows of the Atlantic, were laid to rest in that quiet and peaceful burial ground. His was one of the bodies recovered by the "Bennett McKay" and taken...
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I was wondering where I might find a picture of this man? (not a death picture) but a portrait? I am curious what he looked like. I've found info on him but no photos. If anyone can point me in the right direction, that would be great, THANKS! ^_^
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Christina, Sorry I havent got a photo of young Allum but here is some additional information that might be of interest: Allum, Mr. Owen George. Lived at 22 Oswald Road, Southall. London (From: Mansion House Titanic Relief Fund Booklet, March 1913) Number 298. Allum, parents. Grant £20. Body recovered number 259. Male. estimated age, 17, Hair, dark. Clothing: grey tweed suit. Effects:- Gun metal watch and chain, hair brush; 2 knives; cigarette case; pocketbook. Third Class ticket number 1223. Name Edward George Allum, 7 Gerald Villas, Vansittart Road, Windsor, Berkshire. Body forwarded to Boston, to connect with SS Arabic to Liverpool May 7th, 1912. Permit issued May 2nd, 1912, to Windsor, England. (From The Emergency and Relief booklet by the American Red Cross, 1913). Case number 13. (English). A boy, seventeen years of age, coming to join his father and work with him as a gardener, was lost. His mother, 46 years of age, and another son, 23, and a daughter 14,...
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Hello Brian! This is all very interesting information, I really appreciate it! I will forward this to my aunt who does geneology research. Thanks again for the info! Christy
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