Who was Ah Lam?

Ah Lam, also known as Ali Lam, was a 38 (thirty-eight) year-old Chinese seaman and Titanic survivor. Born in Canton, China in 1874, he was one of eight Chinese passengers who boarded the ill-fated ship at Southampton as third-class passengers. Lam’s journey on the Titanic was part of a larger voyage that would ultimately lead him back to his maritime career.

Early Life and Background

Born in Canton, China in 1874, Ah Lam grew up in a country experiencing significant political and social changes. While details about his early life are scarce, we know that by adulthood, he had chosen a career at sea.

Maritime Career

The Donald Line and the Annetta

Prior to boarding the Titanic, Ah Lam worked as a fireman aboard the Annetta, a ship belonging to the Donald Line. This position required strength and endurance, as firemen were responsible for maintaining the coal-fired boilers that powered the ship’s engines.

Why was Ah Lam on the Titanic?

Ah Lam and his seven colleagues from the Annetta were traveling to New York City when they boarded the Titanic. Their journey was likely related to their maritime careers, possibly involving a transfer or new assignment.

The Titanic Journey

Boarding at Southampton

On April 10, 1912, Ah Lam and his seven compatriots boarded the Titanic at Southampton. Contrary to some allegations, they were not stowaways but legitimate fare-paying third-class passengers.

Ticket Details

• Ticket Number: 1601
• Cost: £56 9s 11d (equivalent to about £6,700 or $8,300 in 2023)
• Class: Third Class

Fellow Travelers

Ah Lam traveled with seven other Chinese sailors:

1. Lee Bing
2. Chang Chip
3. Choong Foo
4. Ling Hee
5. Len Lam
6. Fang Lang
7. Lee Ling

All eight men shared the same ticket, suggesting they were traveling as a group for work-related purposes.

The Fateful Night

How did Ah Lam Survive?

While we don’t have specific details about Ah Lam’s experience during the sinking, we know that he was among the survivors. His background as a seaman may have contributed to his survival skills during this harrowing event.

Life After the Titanic

Arrival in New York

After being rescued, Ah Lam arrived in New York aboard the Carpathia, the ship that came to the Titanic’s aid.

Journey to Cuba

Interestingly, Ah Lam’s stay in New York was brief. On April 20, 1912, just days after the disaster, he and the other Chinese survivors left for Cuba aboard the Donald Line’s Annetta - the very ship they had worked on before boarding the Titanic.

Possible Deportation

Some sources suggest that Ah Lam was later deported to Hong Kong, though the exact circumstances and timing of this are unclear.

Legacy

The Six: A Documentary

The story of Ah Lam and five other Chinese Titanic survivors is told in the 2021 documentary “The Six”. This film sheds light on the often-overlooked experiences of these men and their lives after the Titanic disaster.

What can we learn from Ah Lam’s story?

Ah Lam’s experience offers a unique perspective on the Titanic disaster. As a Chinese third-class passenger and seaman, his story highlights the diversity of those aboard the ship and the varied fates of survivors after the tragedy.

Ah Lam’s journey from China to the Titanic, and then to New York, Cuba, and possibly back to Hong Kong, illustrates the global nature of maritime work in the early 20th century. His survival and subsequent travels remind us that the Titanic’s story didn’t end with its sinking, but continued in the lives of those who survived that fateful night.