Who was Mrs Alice Adelaide Louch?

Mrs Alice Adelaide Louch was a 42-year-old (forty-two) English Titanic survivor who embarked on the ill-fated voyage as a second-class passenger. Born on July 20, 1869, in Hoxton, Shoreditch, Middlesex, England, Alice was the wife of Charles Louch, a saddler and harness maker. Her remarkable story of survival and resilience in the face of tragedy has secured her place in the annals of Titanic history.

Early Life and Family

Alice Adelaide Louch, née Slow, was born into a working-class family in London. Her parents were:

Father: Charles Slow (1832-1892), a cooper (barrel maker)
Mother: Sarah Adelaide Dean (1833-1907)

Alice was one of seven children, with six known siblings:

Joseph (b. 1856)
Charles (b. 1859)
Henry (b. 1862)
Mary Jane (b. 1864)
James (b. 1867)
William Francis (b. 1874)

Childhood and Relocation

The Slow family’s early years were spent in London, with Alice first appearing on the 1871 census living on Colchester Road, St James, Essex. However, the family later moved to Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, where they were recorded in the 1881 census residing at 2 James Street. At this time, Alice’s father was described as a cellarman, indicating a shift in his occupation.

Marriage and Family Life

When did Alice marry Charles Louch?

Alice married Charles Louch, a native of Weston-Super-Mare, in the spring of 1890. Charles, born in 1862, was a saddler and harness maker by trade. The newlyweds set up their home at 18 North Street, Taunton, Somerset, as recorded in the 1891 census.

How many children did Alice and Charles have?

The couple went on to have six children:

Samuel Bernard (1891-1973)
Sidney Charles (1893-1979)
William Bertram (1895-1927)
Clarence William (1896-1945)
Edith Gertrude (1901-1982, later Mrs Trevor R. John)
Cecil Stanley (1902-1977)

Life in Somerset

Alice and her family lived in various locations throughout Somerset over the years, including:

Taunton
Clevedon
Weston-Super-Mare

By 1901, the family was living at 24 Old Church Road, Clevedon. The 1911 census shows them residing at 24 Clevedon Road (also known as Edelweiss) in Weston-Super-Mare. This census record provides insight into the family’s occupations:

Alice’s two eldest sons had followed in their father’s footsteps, becoming saddlers
Her son William worked as an upholsterer

Charles Louch: A Prominent Figure

Alice’s husband, Charles, was not only a well-known businessman but also:

A frequent lay preacher in the Wesleyan Church
A member of the Clarence Park Baptist Church, where he ran the Sunday School
Previously, a devoted member of the Wadham Street Baptist Church in Weston-Super-Mare

The Fateful Titanic Journey

What prompted Alice and Charles to board the Titanic?

The couple’s journey on the Titanic was inspired by family connections. Charles’s brother William and his wife (also named Alice) had moved to California to establish a laundry business. Alice and Charles planned to visit them, leading to their fateful decision to book passage on the Titanic.

What were the details of their Titanic voyage?

Embarked: Southampton
Date: April 10, 1912
Class: Second Class
Ticket Number: 3085
Ticket Cost: £26

During the voyage, Alice and Charles shared a dining table with fellow passengers:

Edwina Troutt
Edgar Andrew
Frank Andrew
Jacob Milling
Bertha Ilett

The Titanic Disaster and Its Aftermath

How did the Titanic disaster affect Alice?

The sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912, had a profound impact on Alice’s life:

Alice survived the disaster, being rescued in lifeboat 12
Charles, unfortunately, perished in the sinking
His body was recovered by the Mackay-Bennett on April 23, 1912, and buried at sea

What happened to Charles’s estate?

Charles’s estate, valued at £5,537, 19s, 4d, was administered to Alice on June 3, 1912.

Life After the Titanic

Alice returned to England aboard the Celtic, arriving on April 25, 1912. In the years following the disaster:

She moved to Stoke Bishop, Bristol
Tragically, she outlived two of her children:
- Son William died in 1927
- Son Clarence emigrated to the USA, settling in California, and died in San Francisco on October 13, 1945

Alice’s Final Years and Legacy

Alice Adelaide Louch passed away on April 29, 1949, at the age of 79 (seventy-nine). She was laid to rest on May 4, 1949, in Canford Cemetery and Crematorium, Bristol, England (section WW, plot 118).

Alice’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the human impact of the Titanic disaster. Her survival and subsequent life, marked by both tragedy and resilience, offer a unique perspective on the aftermath of one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters.