Mr William Alfred Brocklebank

Who was William Alfred Brocklebank?

William Alfred Brocklebank was a 40 (forty) year-old English groom who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. Born in 1872 in Torver, Lancashire, Brocklebank’s journey from a small English town to his fateful voyage on the Titanic is a poignant tale of ambition, hard work, and ultimately, a life cut short.

Early Life and Family Background

A Lancashire Upbringing

William Alfred Brocklebank was born in early 1872 to John Brocklebank and Hannah Kellett. His father worked as a railway platelayer, providing a modest living for the family. William grew up in a large family, with ten known siblings:

Mary Jane (b. 1857)
Thomas (b. 1858)
Henry (b. 1861)
Isabella (b. 1867)
John Kellett (b. 1868)
Ellen Hannah (b. 1870)
Margaret (b. 1874)
Emily Kate (b. 1876)
Betsey Dora Agnes (b. 1878)
Edith Alice (b. 1880)

The Brocklebank family lived at Dalton Gate Crossing in Torver, as recorded in the 1881 and 1891 censuses. This stable home environment would have shaped young William’s early years.

From Iron Miner to Horse Groom

By 1891, William had left the family home and was working as an iron miner, lodging at Limestone Hall Crossing, Millom, Cumbria. This early foray into the workforce demonstrated his willingness to leave home and seek employment opportunities.

William’s career took a significant turn when he moved south to Essex. The 1901 census shows him living in Lilley Green, Great Waltham, where he had found employment as a horse groom. He later worked at Sedgemere Stud, also in Great Waltham, further honing his skills with horses.

Marriage and Family Life

In 1903, William married Eleanor Mary Matthams in Essex. Eleanor, born in 1878 in Great Waltham, became his life partner. The couple had two children:

Phyllis (born 1904)
William (born 1906)

The family made their home at Alpha Villa, Broomfield, Chelmsford, establishing roots in the community.

Pursuit of the American Dream

A New Life in Illinois

Around 1909, William made the bold decision to move to the United States, seeking new opportunities. He settled in Illinois, where he found work as a groom. His skills with horses were put to good use as he exhibited his firm’s champion horses at shows, earning numerous prizes. This success in America must have been a source of pride for Brocklebank and his family back in England.

A Fateful Return Journey

After three years in America, William returned to England for a three-month vacation in early 1912. This visit home would have been a joyous occasion, reuniting with his wife and children after years apart. However, it was to be their last time together.

The Titanic Journey

Boarding the Ill-Fated Ship

For his return to the USA, William boarded the RMS Titanic in Southampton on April 10, 1912. He traveled as a third-class passenger, with ticket number 364512, which cost £8 1s (eight pounds and one shilling).

Titanic Boarding Details
Class: Third Class
Ticket Number: 364512
Fare: £8 1s
Port of Embarkation: Southampton

The Tragic Sinking

William Alfred Brocklebank, like many other third-class passengers, did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. His body, if recovered, was never identified. The loss of life in the disaster was particularly high among third-class passengers, who faced numerous obstacles in reaching the lifeboats.

Legacy and Remembrance

Impact on His Family

William’s death at the age of 40 (forty) left his young family without a husband and father. His estate, worth £101, was administered to his widow Eleanor on October 12, 1912. This sum, while not insignificant for the time, would have been little consolation for the loss of a loved one.

Eleanor Brocklebank never remarried, a testament to her devotion to William’s memory. She later moved to Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, where she passed away on October 12, 1928, exactly 16 years after William’s estate was administered.

A Life of Determination

William Alfred Brocklebank’s life, though cut tragically short, was marked by determination and a willingness to seek out new opportunities. From his early days as an iron miner to his success as a horse groom in America, he demonstrated a strong work ethic and adaptability. His story serves as a poignant reminder of the many individual tragedies that made up the larger disaster of the Titanic sinking.

William’s journey from Torver to Titanic encapsulates the dreams and aspirations of many who sought a better life across the Atlantic, only to have those dreams dashed by one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history.