Douglas Bullen Sage

Who was Mr Douglas Bullen Sage?

Mr Douglas Bullen Sage was an 18 (eighteen) year-old English baker who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. Born in Hackney, London, he was part of a large family of eleven who all perished in the disaster, making their story one of the most heartbreaking among the Titanic’s casualties.

Early Life and Family

A Large and Close-Knit Family

Douglas Bullen Sage was born on November 23, 1893, in Hackney, London, England. He was one of nine children born to John George Sage and Elizabeth Ann Cazaly. His siblings were:

• Stella Anna (b. 1891)
• George John (b. 1892)
• Frederick (b. 1895)
• Dorothy Florence (b. 1897)
• Anthony William (b. 1899)
• Elizabeth Ada (b. 1901)
• Constance Gladys (b. 1904)
• Thomas Henry (b. 1907)

Family Moves and Occupations

The Sage family’s journey took them from London to various parts of England:

1. Around 1900: The family moved to Norfolk
2. 1901: They lived in Gaywood, Norfolk, where John Sage worked as a publican at the New Inn
3. By 1911: The family had settled at 246 Gladstone Street in Peterborough, Northamptonshire

Career and Aspirations

Following in His Father’s Footsteps

By 1911, both Douglas and his father were working as bakers. Douglas’s professional experience included:

• Employment at the Great Northern Hotel in Peterborough
• Learning the trade of baking alongside his father

A Family’s Dream of a New Life

In April 1911, a series of events set the stage for the family’s fateful journey:

1. Douglas’s father and elder brother George traveled to Winnipeg, Manitoba
2. They worked as cooks with the Central Pacific Railway
3. After saving money, John Sage purchased a fruit farm in Jacksonville, Florida
4. The plan was to cultivate pecans on this new property
5. The father and son returned to Britain to bring the entire family to Florida

The Titanic Journey

How did the Sage family end up on the Titanic?

The Sage family’s presence on the Titanic was not their original plan:

• They initially intended to travel on the Philadelphia
• A coal strike forced them to change their booking to the Titanic
• The family boarded the Titanic on April 10, 1912, in Southampton

Titanic Ticket Details

• Class: 3rd Class
• Ticket Number: 2343
• Cost: £69 11s (equivalent to £8,500 or $10,500 in 2023)

The Tragic Sinking

What happened to the Sage family during the disaster?

The events of April 14-15, 1912, remain heartbreaking:

• It’s believed the family reached the deck shortly before the Titanic sank
• Reports suggest Stella Sage briefly entered a lifeboat
• Stella reportedly left the lifeboat when other family members couldn’t join

A Family Lost

The sinking of the Titanic claimed the lives of all eleven members of the Sage family:

• Douglas, at 18 (eighteen) years old, perished along with his parents and siblings
• Out of the entire family, only the body of Anthony William Sage was recovered

Legacy

The story of Douglas Bullen Sage and his family stands as one of the most poignant tragedies of the Titanic disaster. Their loss underscores the human cost of the sinking, particularly among third-class passengers. Today, the Sage family is remembered not only for their tragic end but also for their aspirations of a new life in America—a dream shared by many aboard the ill-fated ship.