Charles Joseph Shorney

Who was Mr Charles Joseph Shorney?

Mr Charles Joseph Shorney was a 22 (twenty-two) year-old English gentleman’s valet who tragically perished in the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. Born in Cannington, Somerset in 1889, Shorney was a well-traveled and ambitious young man who had dreams of starting a taxicab business in New York City. His life was cut short during his journey to America aboard the ill-fated Titanic, where he was a third-class passenger.

Early Life and Family

A Modest but Comfortable Upbringing

Charles Joseph Shorney was born on August 17, 1889, in Cannington, Somerset. He was the only child of Austin and Margaret (née Nelson) Shorney. His father, Austin, was a cabinetmaker by trade who later acquired Clare House and an adjacent builder’s and undertaker’s business. The family enjoyed modest prosperity, even employing a maid.

Tragedy Strikes

When Charles was 15 (fifteen) years old, tragedy struck the Shorney family. In 1905, his mother Margaret died suddenly at Uckfield Hospital. The cause of her death was blood poisoning, resulting from pricking her finger with a rusty needle while sewing. This left young Charles and his father alone at Oak Cottage, their home in Sussex, with only the company of their servants.

A New Chapter

On June 16, 1906, Austin Shorney remarried at St John’s Church in Heron’s Ghyll. His new bride, Mary Anne Naughton, was thirty years his junior. This union brought a step-sister into Charles’s life - Margaret Mary (Greta), born in 1907.

Education and Early Career

Academic Promise and Religious Barriers

Charles attended Uckfield Grammar School, where he demonstrated his academic prowess by winning a scholarship to Christ’s Hospital. However, in an ironic twist of fate, he was unable to attend the institution due to his Catholic faith, despite the school having been founded by Catholics.

Worldly Pursuits

By his late teens, Charles had embarked on a career as a gentleman’s valet. This profession allowed him to travel extensively, and he became fluent in French. Much of his time was spent in fashionable European destinations such as Paris, Cannes, and Biarritz.

A Brush with Fame

During his time at Oak Cottage, Charles and his father had an unexpected encounter with literary greatness. One day, none other than Rudyard Kipling’s motor car broke down near their home. The Shorneys invited the famous author to lunch, resulting in what was described as “a most enjoyable afternoon” at the cottage.

American Dreams and Romance

New York Aspirations

During his travels, Charles visited New York City and became enamored with the opportunities it presented. He began to envision a promising future for himself in America, specifically planning to establish a taxicab business in the bustling metropolis.

A Transatlantic Engagement

While in New York, Charles became engaged to a young American woman named Marguerite Alacoque Morphy (though she was known more simply as Maggie Murphy). This romance further cemented his desire to build a life in the United States.

The Fateful Journey

A Change of Heart

After returning to England on the White Star liner Oceanic - a journey that took nine days due to bad weather - Charles vowed never to travel with White Star again. However, fate had other plans.

Titanic’s Allure

While visiting the Thomas Cook office in Brighton, Charles was persuaded by a clerk’s enthusiastic praise of the new RMS Titanic. Despite his previous reservations about White Star, he purchased a third-class ticket for the ship’s maiden voyage (ticket number 374910, priced at £8 1s).

Final Communications

Charles’s last communication was a postcard to his father and stepmother, postmarked from Queenstown on April 12, 1912. In it, he wrote:

“This is the boat. She is a peach. She smashed into another boat leaving Southampton. There is great vibration in the stern. Shall be in Queenstown today, Get New York next Thursday so will write again later. Sea quite calm.”

The Tragedy and Its Aftermath

Charles Joseph Shorney lost his life when the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912. He was just 22 (twenty-two) years old. His body, if recovered, was never identified. With him went his dreams of a new life in America and the family silver he had brought to finance his taxicab business.

Legacy

While Charles Joseph Shorney’s life was cut tragically short, his story serves as a poignant reminder of the many individual dreams and aspirations that were lost with the Titanic. His journey from a small town in Somerset to the decks of the most famous ship in history encapsulates the spirit of adventure and ambition that characterized many of the Titanic’s passengers. Today, Shorney’s tale continues to be told as part of the broader narrative of the Titanic disaster, ensuring that his memory, like those of his fellow passengers, lives on.