Frank John William Goldsmith

Who was Master Frank John William Goldsmith?

Master Frank John William Goldsmith was a young Titanic survivor who became a prominent figure in preserving the memory of the disaster. Born on December 19, 1902, in Strood, Kent, England, Frank was just 9 (nine) years old when he boarded the ill-fated RMS Titanic with his family. His survival story and subsequent life experiences made him an invaluable source of information for Titanic historians and enthusiasts.

Early Life and Family

Frank was born to Kent natives Frank John Goldsmith (born 1879) and Emily Alice Brown (born 1880). He had a younger brother, Albert John, born in 1905. Tragically, Albert died of diphtheria in 1911 at the age of 6 (six).

The Goldsmith family lived at 22 Hone Street, Strood, as recorded in the 1911 census. Following the emigration of Frank’s maternal grandparents and several aunts and uncles to Detroit, Michigan around 1910, the Goldsmiths decided to join them in search of a new life in America.

The Titanic Journey

Boarding and Life on the Ship

On April 10, 1912, the Goldsmith family boarded the Titanic at Southampton as third-class passengers. Their ticket (number 363291) cost £20, 10s, 6d. Accompanying them were two acquaintances: Thomas Theobald from Strood and Alfred Rush from Surrey.

Young Frank quickly made friends with other boys his age on the ship. He later recalled their adventures:

We spent the days running wild around the ship. I remember popping our heads into a stokehold and seeing the firemen busy at work, singing and banging their shovels in time with the music.

The Night of the Sinking

On the fateful night of April 14-15, 1912, Frank was asleep in his cabin when the Titanic struck the iceberg. His father woke him, and the family made their way to the upper decks with Thomas Theobald and Alfred Rush.

They reached the forward end of the starboard boat deck where collapsible lifeboats were being prepared. In a heart-wrenching moment, Frank’s father bid farewell to his wife and son as they boarded Collapsible C. Young Alfred Rush was offered a place but chose to remain with the men.

Frank later recounted a poignant memory:

Thomas Theobald, sensing the hopelessness of the situation, gave his wedding ring to my mother so that she might send it on to his wife back in England.

Survival and Aftermath

Frank and his mother survived the sinking, but his father was among the lost. Aboard the rescue ship Carpathia, young Frank found comfort in the company of surviving crew members, including fireman John “Sam” Collins.

Upon arriving in New York, the Salvation Army cared for Frank and his mother before they continued to Detroit to reunite with their family.

Life After the Titanic

Growing Up in Detroit

Frank’s mother remarried in 1914 to Harry Illman, another man from Strood. Growing up in Detroit, Frank lived near a baseball stadium, but the roar of the crowd reminded him of the sounds of people struggling in the water during the Titanic’s sinking. This traumatic association was so strong that he never took his own children to a baseball game.

Career and Family

By age 17, Frank was working as a stock chaser in an automobile factory. He later became a salesman for a dairy company. While coaching a girls’ basketball team at the Woodward Avenue Presbyterian Church, he met Victoria Agnes Lawrence, whom he married in 1926. They had three sons:

• James Richard (1927-2009)
• Charles B. (born 1934)
• Frank John (born 1936)

In the 1940s, Frank moved to Mansfield, Ohio, where he ran a photographic supplies store and authored manuals on aerial photography. He retired in 1973 and relocated to Florida in 1979.

Titanic Historical Society Involvement

Frank’s involvement with the Titanic Historical Society began in 1966 when he was asked to recount his experiences at a Rotary Club meeting. This led to numerous interview requests and appearances at Titanic conventions in the 1970s, where he met other survivors.

Final Years and Legacy

Frank suffered his first of many strokes in 1970 and developed painful arthritis. On January 27, 1982, he passed away from another stroke, just months before he was due to attend a Titanic Historical Society convention in Philadelphia.

In a fitting tribute to his life and connection to the Titanic, Frank’s ashes were scattered from a Coast Guard reconnaissance plane on April 15, 1982, over the estimated location of the Titanic’s sinking.

Frank John William Goldsmith’s life story serves as a poignant reminder of the Titanic tragedy and its lasting impact on survivors. His willingness to share his experiences in later life contributed significantly to our understanding of the disaster and helped keep the memory of the Titanic alive for future generations.