Mr Owen George Allum

Who was Owen George Allum?

Owen George Allum was a 17 (seventeen) year-old English gardener who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born on June 25, 1894, in Flushing, Cornwall, Allum was a third-class passenger embarking on a journey to New York City to reunite with his father when disaster struck.

Early Life and Background

A Cornish Beginning

Owen George Allum was born into a family with roots spread across England:

Father: William Allum (b. 1865), a gardener from Bray, Berkshire
Mother: Clara Alice Eggleton (b. 1862), originally from Guernsey, Channel Islands
Siblings:
- Stewart William (b. 1889)
- Chloe Elizabeth (1892-1910)
- Grace Alice (1898-1971)

Where did the Allum family live?

The Allum family’s residence changed over the years:

1901: 1 Calderwood Cottage, Holbrook Lane, Chislehurst, Kent
1911: 6 Gerald Villas, Vansittart Road, Clewer, Windsor, Berkshire
1912: Owen resided at 22 Oswald Road, Southall, London

What was Owen’s early career path?

Owen’s professional journey began at a young age:

Left school early in Clewer
Initially worked as a telegraph boy for his local post office
By 1912, he was employed as a gardener, following in his father’s footsteps

The Titanic Journey

Why was Owen traveling to New York?

Owen embarked on the Titanic at Southampton, bound for New York City. His purpose was to reunite with his father, who had recently secured a position in the United States. Interestingly, his father had crossed the Atlantic aboard the Olympic in February 1912, captained by Edward John Smith - the same captain who would later command the Titanic.

What were the details of Owen’s Titanic ticket?

Detail	Information
Class	Third Class
Ticket Number	2223
Fare	£8 1s

Fate During the Disaster

What happened to Owen during the Titanic sinking?

Tragically, Owen George Allum did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. His body was later recovered by the Mackay-Bennett and taken to Boston on May 4, 1912. The details of his recovery paint a poignant picture:

NO. 259 — MALE — ESTIMATED AGE 17 — HAIR, DARK CLOTHING— Grey tweed suit. EFFECTS— Gun metal watch and chain; hair brush; 2 knives; cigarette case; pocketbook. Third Class ticket number 1223. NAME - Owen George Allum 7 Gerrold Villas, Vansittart, Windsor.

How was Owen’s body returned to England?

Owen’s remains were returned to England aboard the Arabic, alongside the bodies of Wallace Hartley and steward Arthur Lawrance, arriving on May 17, 1912. He was subsequently interred in the Clewer Parish Churchyard, Windsor, Berkshire on May 22, 1912, alongside his sister Chloe.

Legacy and Family Aftermath

How did the Titanic disaster affect the Allum family?

The loss of Owen had a profound impact on his family:

The family moved back to the Midlands following the disaster.
Owen’s father, William, passed away in Great Witley, Worcestershire on August 27, 1932.
His mother, Alice, experienced mental health issues throughout her life, including periods of in-patient treatment in various asylums. She died in Warwickshire in 1946 at the age of 84.

What became of Owen’s siblings?

Owen’s siblings led varied lives after the tragedy:

Stewart became an electrician and served in the Royal Engineers during World War I. He is believed to have died in 1966, with his death registered in Stoke-on-Trent.
Grace, Owen’s last surviving sibling, passed away in Droitwich, Worcestershire in 1971.

A Young Life Cut Short

Owen George Allum’s story is a poignant reminder of the many young lives lost in the Titanic disaster. At just 17 years old, he was embarking on a new chapter of his life, following in his father’s footsteps both in profession and in crossing the Atlantic. His journey, like those of many third-class passengers, was cut tragically short, leaving behind a family forever changed by the events of April 15, 1912.