Who was Alfred George John Rush?

Alfred George John Rush was a 17-year-old English porter who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. He was a third-class passenger traveling to Detroit, Michigan, to join his older brother Charles and start a new life in America.

Early Life and Family

Alfred George John Rush was born on April 14, 1895, in Anerley, Surrey, England. He was the youngest of eight children born to William Rush, a railway carman, and Phoebe Sophia Smith. Alfred’s siblings included:

Rose (b. December 5, 1875)
William (b. 1876)
Thomas (b. 1879)
Charles James (b. June 19, 1881)
Lillian Annie (b. July 19, 1886)
Daisy May (b. 1888)
Arthur Samuel (b. 1890, died in 1892)

Growing up, Alfred lived with his family in various locations in Surrey. In the 1901 census, they were recorded as living at 34 St Hugh’s Road in Penge, Surrey.

Education and Early Career

By the time of the 1911 census, the Rush family had moved to 27 Palace Road, Norwood, Surrey, where Alfred’s father ran a boarding house. At this point, Alfred, aged 15, had left school and was working as a newsboy in a local shop.

The Decision to Emigrate

Why did Alfred decide to leave England?

Despite being the last child living at home and doted on by his parents, economic hardships of the time prompted the family to consider migration for their youngest son. Alfred’s elder brother Charles had left Britain in 1904, settling in Detroit where he worked as a machinist in an automobile plant. Charles, who had married fellow-Briton Eliza L. Nutcher in 1906, appealed for his younger brother to join him in America.

The Titanic Journey

Alfred embarked on the Titanic at Southampton on April 10, 1912, as a third-class passenger. His ticket (number 20589) cost £8 1s. He was not traveling alone but was chaperoned by the Goldsmith family, who were close friends of the Rushes.

Companions on the Voyage

During the crossing, Alfred became acquainted with:

Frank Goldsmith and his family
Thomas Theobald
Other British passengers

A poignant detail of Alfred’s journey was that he celebrated his 17th birthday aboard the Titanic on Sunday, April 14, 1912 - the very day the ship struck the iceberg.

The Night of the Sinking

On the fateful night of April 14-15, 1912, Alfred Rush made it to the upper decks, staying close to the Goldsmiths. Mrs. Goldsmith and her son Frank managed to leave the ship in one of the later lifeboats (either collapsible D or C), but Alfred and Mr. Goldsmith were apparently prevented from getting close. Mrs. Goldsmith later recalled:

“Frank and Alfred were close to the rail on the deck below as we were lowered past it, but we were all so dazed that we hardly said a word, just waved our hands. I thought then they would be able to get away on another boat or raft.”

The Aftermath

The wait for news on both sides of the Atlantic was excruciating for family and friends. Alfred’s sister-in-law, Eliza Rush, shared her own harrowing experience of hitting an iceberg while crossing the ocean on the Empress of Ireland in 1909, providing a chilling parallel to the Titanic disaster.

Despite hopes that Alfred might have been regarded as a child and given priority in the lifeboats, the young man tragically perished in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

Legacy

Alfred Rush’s story is a poignant reminder of the many young lives cut short by the Titanic disaster. His journey represented the hopes and dreams of many immigrants seeking a better life in America, only to have those dreams tragically unfulfilled.

Charles Rush and his wife remained in Michigan after the tragedy. Charles died in St. Clair on February 24, 1936, at the age of 55 following a stroke. His widow Eliza passed away in 1958. They are both buried in Woodmere Cemetery in Detroit, carrying with them the memory of the brother who never made it to his new home.