Joseph Davies

Who was Mr Joseph Davies?

Mr Joseph Davies was a 17 (seventeen) year-old English ironworker who tragically lost his life in the Titanic disaster. Born on March 25, 1895, in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, Joseph was one of nine children in a working-class family. He embarked on the ill-fated voyage with dreams of a better life in America, alongside his brothers and uncle.

Early Life and Family

A Large Staffordshire Family

Joseph Davies was born into a bustling household, the son of Richard James Davies, a puddler (iron worker), and Mary Ann Cox. His parents, both hailing from Sedgley, Staffordshire, had married in 1885 and went on to have nine children:

William (b. 1886)
Alfred (b. 1888)
John (b. 1890)
Richard (b. 1892)
Joseph (b. 1895)
Alice May (b. 1898)
Matilda Doris (b. 1902, later Mrs Peter Schroff)
Mary Gladys (b. 1904, later Mrs Charles Benedict)
Arthur (b. 1907)

Childhood and Early Work

Young Joseph’s early years were spent in West Bromwich, a town at the heart of England’s industrial Black Country. The 1901 census shows the family residing at 131 Bak Lane. By 1911, they had moved to 29 Harwood Street, West Bromwich. At this time, the 16-year-old Joseph was already following in his father’s footsteps, described as a “puddler’s assistant” in the iron industry.

The American Dream

A Family’s Aspiration

The Davies family, like many others in early 20th century Britain, looked to America as a land of opportunity. Joseph’s eldest brother, William, had settled in the USA around 1905, with another brother following suit in late 1911. Their success in Pontiac, Michigan, inspired the rest of the family to consider making the journey across the Atlantic.

The Fateful Decision

In the spring of 1912, Joseph Davies, along with his brothers Alfred and John, and their uncle James Lester (husband of their mother’s sister Alice), made the momentous decision to travel to America. Their plan was to work hard, save money, and eventually bring the rest of the family to join them in their new home.

The Titanic Journey

A Hurried Departure

The group’s Titanic adventure began with a bit of chaos. On April 9, 1912, they left West Bromwich for Southampton, but a mix-up with train times forced them to make a hasty detour. They took a tram to Birmingham to catch an alternative train, narrowly avoiding missing their connection to the ship.

Life Aboard the Titanic

The four men boarded the Titanic at Southampton as third-class passengers. Their ticket, number 48873, cost £8 1s (equivalent to about £1,000 or $1,300 in 2023). Despite their humble accommodations, Joseph and his companions were in high spirits. They wrote home from Southampton and Queenstown, describing their quarters as “comfortable” and the journey as “enjoyable.”

The Tragedy and Its Aftermath

Lost at Sea

Tragically, all four men - Joseph, his brothers Alfred and John, and their uncle James Lester - perished when the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912. Joseph was just 17 (seventeen) years old, his life cut short before it had truly begun.

A Father’s Grief

The loss devastated the Davies family. Joseph’s father, in his sorrow, remembered his sons as “fine big lads” and “the best of sons.” These poignant words paint a picture of the deep bond within the family and the magnitude of their loss.

The Family’s Migration

In the wake of the tragedy, the remaining Davies family members decided to fulfill the dream that Joseph and his brothers had died pursuing. On February 16, 1913, they departed from Liverpool aboard the Carmania, bound for America. By the 1920s, they had settled in Royal Oak, Oakland, Michigan.

Legacy

While Joseph Davies’ life was tragically short, his story embodies the hopes and dreams of countless immigrants who sought a better life across the Atlantic. His journey, cut short by one of history’s most famous maritime disasters, serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the Titanic tragedy.

The Davies family’s perseverance in the face of unimaginable loss - ultimately making the journey to America that Joseph never completed - stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Today, Joseph Davies is remembered not just as a victim of the Titanic, but as a young man full of promise, whose story continues to touch hearts over a century later.