Mr Ambrose Hood Jr: A Young Life Cut Short on the Titanic

Who was Ambrose Hood Jr? He was a 21-year-old English farm laborer whose life was tragically cut short when he became one of the victims of the Titanic disaster in 1912. Born in the rural parish of Bramshaw, Hood was part of a close-knit community that would lose several of its young men to the ill-fated voyage.

Early Life and Family

Ambrose Hood Jr was born on April 14, 1891, in Bramshaw, a small parish straddling the borders of Hampshire and Wiltshire in England. He was baptized just two months later, on June 21, 1891, marking the beginning of a life deeply rooted in his local community.

Family Background

Ambrose came from a large family, typical of the era. His parents were:

• Father: Ambrose Hood Sr. (born 1847), a carpenter from Plaitford, Wiltshire
• Mother: Sarah Jane Dibden (born 1850), a native of Bramshaw

The couple married in 1867 and went on to have eleven children, with Ambrose Jr being one of ten who survived infancy.

Siblings

Ambrose grew up in a bustling household with nine siblings:

1. Mary (born 1869)
2. Frank (born 1872)
3. Ernest (born 1874)
4. Harry (born 1878)
5. Michael (born 1880)
6. Mabel (born 1883)
7. Hope (born 1884)
8. Tom Harvey (born 1887)
9. Dora Sarah (born 1894)

Life in Bramshaw

Where did the Hood family live?

The Hood family made their home in Furzley, a hamlet within the parish of Bramshaw. They were recorded living at this address in the 1891 census, just months before Ambrose Jr’s birth, and continued to reside there through to the 1911 census.

What was Ambrose’s occupation?

By the time of the 1911 census, Ambrose Jr, then 19 (nineteen) years old, was described as an unmarried farm laborer. This occupation was common for young men in rural England at the time, reflecting the agricultural nature of the region.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

Why was Ambrose traveling on the Titanic?

Ambrose boarded the Titanic at Southampton on April 10, 1912, as a second-class passenger. His destination was Eden, Manitoba, suggesting he may have been seeking new opportunities in Canada, a common aspiration for young British men of the time.

Who were Ambrose’s traveling companions?

Interestingly, Ambrose was not traveling alone. He was part of a group of seven men from the same locale, all of whom tragically perished in the disaster. His companions included:

• William Dibden (his cousin)
• Charles Henry Davies
• Percy William Deacon
• Leonard Mark Hickman
• Lewis Hickman
• Stanley George Hickman

What were the details of Ambrose’s ticket?

• Ticket Number: 14879 (joint ticket)
• Cost: £73, 10s (73 pounds, 10 shillings)

The Tragic Sinking

Ambrose Hood Jr lost his life when the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, just one day after his 21st (twenty-first) birthday. His body, if recovered, was never identified, adding to the heartbreak his family must have endured.

Remembering Ambrose Hood Jr

Family Memorials

Ambrose’s parents outlived him by many years. His father passed away in 1922 at the age of 75 (seventy-five), while his mother lived to the remarkable age of 100 (one hundred), dying in 1950. They ensured their son’s memory lived on through a touching inscription on their headstone in St Peter’s Churchyard, Bramshaw:

ALSO AMBROSE HOOD SON OF THE ABOVE WHO LOST HIS LIFE IN S.S. TITANIC APRIL 1912 AGED 21 YEARS

Community Memorial

The loss of seven young men from one small parish was a devastating blow to the community of Bramshaw. To honor their memory, a plaque was erected in St Peter’s Church, listing all seven victims:

The plaque bears the poignant inscription:

All Of The Parish Who Were Lost In The Wreck Of The S S Titanic On April 15th 1912 Through Collision With An Iceberg In The Atlantic

A Life of Promise Cut Short

Ambrose Hood Jr’s story is a poignant reminder of the human cost of the Titanic disaster. A young man of 21 (twenty-one), just setting out to make his way in the world, his life was cut tragically short. Yet, through the memorials in his home parish and the ongoing research into Titanic victims, Ambrose’s memory lives on, a testament to a life that, while brief, was valued and mourned by his family and community.