William Thomas Fox

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• Name: Mr William Thomas Fox
• Born: 1885
• Born in Polhawn Cove Cornwall England
• Age: 27 years
• Marital Status: Single.
• Last Residence: in Ealing London England
• Occupation: Steward Victualling crew
• First Embarked: Southampton on Saturday 6th April 1912
• Died in the sinking. Body Not Recovered

Portrait of William Thomas Fox William Thomas Fox was born at Polhawn Cove, Rame, East Cornwall in 1885. He was the son of William Fox (b.1854, Portsea, Hampshire) and Charlotte Ann, born of British parents in Malta in 1853.

His father was in the employ of the Royal Navy and worked as a coastguard at various locations on the southern England coast.

The 1881 census has William snr. and Charlotte living at 55 Froddington Road, Portsea, Hampshire with their 1 year old daughter, Mabel. Within 2 years they had relocated to Plymouth, Devon and lived in the suburb of Stonehouse where their second child, Clara Sophia was born in 1883.

A little later the family crossed the county border from Devon into Cornwall and settled at the east Cornwall parish of Rame. The coastguard accommodation was located at Polhawn Cove and it was here in 1885 that their son William Thomas Fox was born. The family stayed at Polhawn for the next 4 years during which time a daughter, Camilla was born in 1886 followed by Robert in 1889.

During 1890 the family moved once more, again in a westerly direction settling at Prussia Cove in south-west Cornwall in the parish of Breage. It was here in March 1891 that their son Albert was born.

The 1901 census shows that the family had moved once again. From Cornwall eastwards to Dorset they were now living at the coastguard cottage (referred to on the census as 1 Balaclava) on Portland near the town of Weymouth. William Thomas Fox now aged 16 was described as an ‘engine cleaner’.

Ten years later William was working for the White Star Line and living in the Hampshire village of Eling near Totton and not far from Southampton. He lived in Springfield Road and it is interesting to note that he had named his home ‘Polhawn’ after his birthplace in Cornwall.

He signed-on to the Titanic as a steward in the 3rd class accommodation, on 6 April 1912, his last ship had been the Romance. He was on monthly pay of £3 15 shillings.

William did not survive the sinking and as a result of his loss his mother Charlotte was awarded payments from the Mansion House Titanic Fund.

William Thomas Fox’s name is included on a memorial plaque within the parish church of St. Mary at Eling, Hampshire.

To The Memory of Frederick Walter Godwin, 34 years old. William Thomas Fox aged 27 years. Tom Warwick, aged 25 years. All of this Parish. Boysie Richard Russell of Redbridge aged 17½ years. William Edward Hine of Lyndhurst aged 36 years. Who were lost on the SS Titanic after collision with an Ice Berg in the North Atlantic at midnight April 14th, 1912. When more than 1500 passengers and crew were drowned. When Thou Passest Through The Waters, I will Be With Thee.

Notes Mansion House Titanic Relief Fund Booklet, March 1913) Number 413. Fox, Charlotte Ann, mother. Class F dependent. Titanic Relief Fund Minute Book number 3, Southampton Area) Date 30th June 1922. That the continuance of this allowance be left over for further discussion. Titanic Relief Fund Minute Book number 3, Southampton Area) Date 27th June 1923. The Committee authorises the continuance of Allowance of 3/- per week until 30th June 1924. References and Sources Agreement and Account of Crew (PRO London, BT100/259) Mansion House Titanic Relief Fund Booklets and Minute Books (#413)

Credits Steve Coombes, UK Robert Connolly Brian Ticehurst, UK

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