William John Mellors

William John Mellors was a 19 (nineteen) year-old English salesman who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born on January 14, 1893, in Wandsworth, London, Mellors embarked on a journey that would forever change his life and secure his place in history as a Titanic survivor.

Early Life and Background

What was William Mellors’ family situation?

William John Mellors was born to unmarried parents in 1893. His father, also named William John Mellors, was from Nottingham and worked as a porter at His Majesty’s Stationery Office in London. Shortly after William’s birth, his father married Harriet Stacey, a native of Shaftesbury, Dorset, on February 20, 1893. The couple went on to have two more children:

• Samuel Henry (born 1898)
• Violet Adelaide (born 1903)

Where did Mellors grow up?

The Mellors family’s early years were marked by movement and historical events:

1. In 1901, they lived as boarders in Enmore Green, Dorset. William’s father was absent, serving in the Boer War in Africa.
2. By 1911, the family had relocated to 8 Christ Church Terrace, Chelsea, London.

Titanic Journey

How did William Mellors come to be on the Titanic?

As a young man of 19, William Mellors had secured a job in Staten Island, New York. To reach his new opportunity, he booked passage on the RMS Titanic as a second-class passenger. Here are the key details of his journey:

• Embarkation Point: Southampton
• Ticket Number: SW/PP 751
• Fare: £10 10s (10 pounds, 10 shillings)

During the voyage, Mellors spent time with fellow passengers Mrs. Bessie Watt and her daughter Bertha, forming connections that would be remembered long after the tragic events that followed.

The Fateful Night

How did William Mellors survive the Titanic disaster?

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, when the Titanic struck an iceberg and began to sink, William Mellors found himself fighting for survival. His experience was harrowing:

1. He managed to board Collapsible Lifeboat A, one of the last boats to leave the sinking ship.
2. The lifeboat was waterlogged, exposing survivors to the frigid North Atlantic waters.
3. Mellors suffered from frost-bitten feet as a result of the exposure.

Despite these challenges, William Mellors was among the fortunate survivors rescued and taken aboard the RMS Carpathia.

Life After the Titanic

What became of William Mellors after his rescue?

Upon arriving in New York, Mellors’ life took several interesting turns:

1. He initially stayed with his cousin, Mr. Hale, at Richmond Country Club in Staten Island.
2. He worked at 400 West 57th Street in New York City.
3. In 1920, he married Juanita Veronica Sarber, a native of West Virginia.
4. The couple had a daughter, Virginia (later Mrs. Charles Bell), in 1921.

How did Mellors’ career progress?

William Mellors’ professional life evolved over the years:

• Initially worked in Staten Island (as planned before the Titanic voyage)
• Lived in Manhattan for some time
• Moved to Detroit, Michigan in the 1930s
• Became an editor for a magazine called “The National Republic”

Legacy and Final Years

William John Mellors’ life, shaped by his Titanic experience, came to an end on July 23, 1948, in Detroit, Michigan. He was 55 (fifty-five) years old at the time of his death. His wife, Juanita, passed away in 1954.

“The story of William John Mellors serves as a testament to the resilience of Titanic survivors and the lasting impact of that fateful voyage on their lives.”

Mellors’ final resting place is at Evergreen Cemetery in Detroit, where his remarkable life story, from Titanic survivor to magazine editor, is memorialized.