Joseph Thompson

Who was Joseph “Joey” Thompson?

Mr. Joseph “Joey” Thompson was a skilled painter and decorator, a respected trades unionist, and a valuable employee of Harland & Wolff shipyard. He was part of the Titanic’s guarantee group but uniquely survived the disaster by disembarking at Southampton. Thompson’s life was tragically cut short in a workplace accident just five years after the Titanic’s maiden voyage.

Early Life and Family

Joseph Thompson was born on January 18, 1878, at 60 Tyrone Street in Belfast, Ireland. He was 34 (thirty-four) years old at the time of the Titanic’s voyage. His parents were Joseph Thompson, a Presbyterian stonemason, and Sarah Wilson, an Episcopalian. Joey had one known sibling, a brother named Robert.

Childhood and Education

While details about Joey’s early education are scarce, his later profession suggests he likely received training in painting and decorating during his youth. Growing up in Belfast, he would have been exposed to the city’s thriving shipbuilding industry from an early age.

Career and Professional Life

House and Ship Painter

By 1901, at the age of 23 (twenty-three), Thompson was already established in his trade. The census of that year lists him as a “house and ship painter” living with his widowed mother at 15 Lewis Street in North Belfast.

Marriage and Family Life

On January 1, 1903, Joseph married Susanna Kyle in the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Bangor, Co Down. Susanna, born on March 8, 1874, was a native of Bangor and the daughter of Alexander Kyle, a laborer, and Catherine McClure.

The couple had four children:

1. Alexander (born April 1904, died May 1909 from meningitis)
2. Sarah Josephine (born April 1906)
3. Kathleen (born September 1908)
4. Joseph (born February 1912)

By 1911, the Thompson family was living at 52 Ogilvie Street in south Belfast, with Joseph still working as a house and ship painter.

Rise in Harland & Wolff

Joey Thompson’s skill and work ethic did not go unnoticed. He became a well-known trades unionist and eventually rose to the position of shipyard painters’ foreman at Harland & Wolff.

The Titanic Connection

What was Thompson’s role in the Titanic’s maiden voyage?

Thompson was part of the Harland & Wolff guarantee group, a team of skilled workers tasked with ensuring the smooth operation of the Titanic during its initial run. This prestigious assignment underscores the trust placed in Thompson’s abilities.

A Fortunate Decision

In a twist of fate that would save his life, Thompson was the only member of the guarantee group to disembark the Titanic at Southampton and return to Belfast. This decision spared him from the tragic fate that befell his colleagues who continued on the maiden voyage.

Later Career and Untimely Death

Promotion and Relocation

Around 1914, Thompson’s exemplary work earned him a promotion. He was appointed foreman painter at Harland & Wolff’s works in Bootle, near Liverpool. This appointment led to his relocation with his family to the Liverpool area.

Tragic Accident

Sadly, Joseph Thompson’s life was cut short on July 18, 1917, in a workplace accident at the Bootle Works. While working as a foreman painter, he was struck by a dislodged steel wedge. Thompson never regained consciousness and passed away three hours after the incident, at the age of 39 (thirty-nine).

Legacy and Remembrance

The Belfast Telegraph on July 21, 1917, reported on Thompson’s death, describing him as “an assiduous and conscientious worker” whose “merit was recognised by his employers.” His body was repatriated to Belfast and buried in Dundonald Cemetery on Sunday, July 22, 1917 (plot E4 140).

Thompson’s widow, Susanna, returned to her native Bangor after his death. She passed away on April 22, 1922, and was laid to rest alongside her husband.

Joseph “Joey” Thompson’s life, while tragically short, was marked by professional achievement and a remarkable brush with one of history’s most famous maritime disasters. His story serves as a poignant reminder of the skilled workers behind the Titanic’s construction and the far-reaching impact of the ship’s legacy.