Carl Edgar Asplund

Who was Master Carl Edgar Asplund?

Master Carl Edgar Asplund was a 5 (five) year-old Swedish-American passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born on October 21, 1906, he was one of the youngest victims of the tragic sinking, perishing along with his father and two brothers on April 15, 1912.

Early Life and Family

A Young Life Cut Short

Carl Edgar Asplund was born into a loving family on October 21, 1906. At the time of the Titanic disaster, he was only 5 (five) years old, a tender age that underscores the tragedy of his untimely death.

The Asplund Family

Carl Edgar was part of a large family embarking on a new journey:

• Father: Carl Oscar Vilhelm Gustafsson Asplund
• Mother: Selma Augusta Emilia Asplund
• Siblings:
  • Clarence Gustaf Hugo Asplund
  • Edvin Rojj Felix Asplund
  • Filip Oscar Asplund
  • Lillian Gertrud Asplund

This family unit, hoping for a new life in America, would be tragically torn apart by the events of April 15, 1912.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

Embarking on a Dream

The Asplund family boarded the Titanic at Southampton, filled with hopes and dreams of a new life in America. They were traveling as third-class passengers, a common choice for immigrant families of the time.

Ticket Details

• Ticket Number: 347077
• Fare: £31 7s (£31 and 7 shillings)

This ticket represented not just a passage across the Atlantic, but the Asplund family’s investment in their future - a future that would never come to fruition for young Carl Edgar.

The Tragic Night

What Happened to Carl Edgar During the Sinking?

The exact details of Carl Edgar’s final moments are unknown, as is often the case with many of Titanic’s youngest victims. We can only imagine the fear and confusion he must have experienced as the ship met its fate in the early hours of April 15, 1912.

A Family Divided

In the chaos of the sinking, the Asplund family was separated:

• Carl Edgar, along with his father and two brothers, did not survive
• His mother and sister Lillian were among the fortunate survivors

This separation of families was a common and heartbreaking outcome of the Titanic disaster, leaving survivors to bear the weight of loss for years to come.

Legacy

Remembering the Young Victims

Carl Edgar Asplund’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the many young lives lost in the Titanic disaster. His age at the time of his death - just 5 (five) years old - highlights the indiscriminate nature of the tragedy.

A Body Never Found

“He died in the sinking, his body, if recovered, was never identified.”

This stark statement encapsulates the final chapter of Carl Edgar’s short life. Like many Titanic victims, his final resting place remains the North Atlantic, a sobering reminder of the vast human cost of the disaster.

The Asplund Family’s Titanic Story

The Asplund family’s experience aboard the Titanic is a microcosm of the larger tragedy:

This table starkly illustrates how the disaster split the family, with the mother and two youngest children surviving while the father and three older boys, including Carl Edgar, were lost.

Carl Edgar Asplund’s brief life and tragic death aboard the Titanic serve as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the disaster, particularly its impact on the youngest and most vulnerable passengers. His story, though short, continues to resonate as part of the larger narrative of one of history’s most famous maritime tragedies.