Charles William Warren

Mr Charles William Warren was born in Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England over the summer months of 1881.

He was the son of Henry John Warren (1854-1916), a bricklayer, and Emily Jane Sansbury (1852-1929), both natives of Portsmouth who had married in 1874 and he was one of four surviving children from a total of eight. His known siblings were: Henry James (b. 1874), Alfred George (b. 1876), Samuel Sidney (b. 1879), Nellie Beatrice (b. 1888), Harold Edgar (b. 1894), Sidney Rupert (b. 1897) and May Gladys (b. 1900).

In the months prior to Charles' birth his family were listed on the 1881 census living at 70 Grigg Street, Portsea and would be moved to 15 Staunton Street in the same locale by the time of the 1891 census. The 1901 census shows the family living at 15 Chapel Street, Portsmouth and the record indicates that Charles was an unmarried seaman. How long his career at sea lasted is unknown and he later followed in his father's footsteps to become a bricklayer.

He was married in Portsmouth in late 1902 to Sophia Dine (b. 1883), a native of Brighton, Sussex. The couple would have five children: Charles Henry (1903-1983), Delcie Alice (later Mrs Edward Abery, 1905-1983), Frederick John (1907-1988), Ivy Louisa (later married Ernest Abery - brother of Edward, 1910-2003) and Olive May (later Mrs Arthur Knipe, 1912-1976).

The family are listed on the 1911 census living at 31 Hyde Street, Southsea, Portsmouth and Charles was still described as a bricklayer.

Charles boarded the Titanic in Southampton on 10 April 1912 travelling third class (ticket number 49867 which had cost £7, 11s). Two brothers already lived in the USA, George and Samuel, the latter having crossed the previous July aboard the Oceanic. They settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and it was Charles' intention to join them there and set up as a tobacconist. 

Charles Warren died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified. He left behind a three-month-old daughter, Olive (who had been born on 14 January 1912), besides his other children and his widow.

The following death notice appeared in the Portsmouth Evening News on 8 May 1912:

WARREN--On the 15th April, Charles William Warren, the dearly-beloved husband of Sophie Warren, 3rd class passenger, who heroically lost his life in the ill-fated Titanic aged 30. A most devoted husband and father. Gone, but not forgotten.

His wife placed the following memorial in the same paper on 15 April 1913:

WARREN--In loving memory of Charles William Warren, who lost his life on SS Titanic on April 15th, 1912, aged 30. Sadly missed by his wife and children.

His parents placed another memorial in the Portsmouth Evening News on 16 April 1915:

WARREN--In loving memory of our dear son, Charlie, who lost his life through the foundering of the Titanic, April 15th, 1912. One of the best--Mother, father, sisters and brothers.

Charles' father Henry remained a bricklayer up until his death; on 13 March 1916, he was pulling a builder's truck through Alexandra Road when a motorcar collided with it. Mr Warren was severely bruised and shaken and rushed to hospital. After a two week spell in hospital he returned home but died shortly after, his death recorded as accidental due to shock and secondary pneumonia and acute kidney disease. His widow, Charles mother Emily passed away in 1929.

Charles' widow Sophia was remarried in 1915 to Robert Horsley (1861-1949) and the couple had several more children. Sophia died in Portsmouth in 1967. Ivy, Charles' last surviving child, died in Portsmouth in 2003.