George Patchett

Who was Mr George Patchett?

Mr George Patchett was a 19 (nineteen) year-old English shoemaker who tragically lost his life aboard the RMS Titanic. Born in Wollaston, Northamptonshire, on October 11, 1892, Patchett was embarking on a journey to start a new life in Canada when fate intervened.

Early Life and Family

A Shoemaking Legacy

George Patchett was born into a family with deep roots in the footwear industry. His father, George Henry Patchett (born 1859), started as a boot-maker before later becoming a castrator. His mother, Eliza Rebecca Pratt (born 1857), was also a native of Wollaston. The couple married in 1879 and went on to have a large family.

Siblings and Childhood

George was one of five surviving children out of a total of eight. His known siblings included:

• Annie Elizabeth (born 1880)
• Emma (born 1882)
• William (born 1884)
• Henry (born 1888)
• Elizabeth (born 1890)
• Annie (born 1896)

Growing up in Wollaston, George’s early years were spent in a bustling household. The 1901 census shows the family residing at Hinwick Road, Wollaston, where they would remain for at least the next decade.

Career and Aspirations

Following in His Father’s Footsteps

By the time of the 1911 census, George, then 18 (eighteen) years old, was described as an unmarried boot factory pressman. This occupation clearly followed the family tradition in the shoemaking industry.

Dreams of a New Life

What drove a young man from a small English town to seek his fortune across the Atlantic? George’s elder brother William had already made the journey to Berlin, Ontario (now Kitchener), and had found employment opportunities for both George and his friend John Garfirth.

The Fateful Journey

A False Start

George’s eagerness to embark on his new life was evident when he purchased his ticket in October 1911, months before his planned departure. However, his first attempt to leave England was thwarted by circumstances beyond his control.

The Empress of Ireland Mishap

Originally, George and John were scheduled to sail from Liverpool aboard the Empress of Ireland on April 5, 1912. However, their plans were derailed by coal strikes affecting train services. Their train from Wellingborough Station ran late and was only able to reach Manchester. Disappointed but determined, the young men returned home and transferred their passage to another ship - the Titanic.

A Mother’s Premonition

Before leaving home for the second time, George showed his mother a photograph of the Titanic. In a chilling moment of foresight, she expressed her reservations:

“I don’t want you to go by that boat. It’s too big…”

These words would prove hauntingly prophetic.

Boarding the Titanic

On April 10, 1912, George Patchett and John Garfirth boarded the RMS Titanic at Southampton as third-class passengers. Their joint ticket, number 358585, cost £14 10s (fourteen pounds, ten shillings).

The Tragedy and Its Aftermath

Loss at Sea

George Patchett, at just 19 (nineteen) years old, perished in the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. His body, if recovered, was never identified. His friend and travel companion, John Garfirth, also lost his life in the disaster.

Family Legacy

Both of George’s parents continued to live in Wollaston after the tragedy. His father passed away in 1941, followed by his mother in 1946. George’s brother William, whose move to Canada had inspired George’s own journey, remained in Ontario. There, he married, raised a family, and lived until his death in 1962.

A Life Cut Short

George Patchett’s story is a poignant reminder of the human cost of the Titanic disaster. A young man full of hope and ambition, setting out to make his mark on the world, only to have his dreams tragically cut short. His tale serves as a testament to the countless individual tragedies that made up the larger catastrophe of the Titanic’s sinking.