Albert Horswill
Albert Edward James Horswill was one of Titanic's Able Seamen.
Background[]
Albert Edward James Horswill was born on 26 March 1879 in West Ham, Essex, England. He was one of ten children, being born to policeman Roger Horswill and Mary Jane Prouse. Both originated from Devon. His mother passed as early as 1884 and his father had found a new wife the next year, Mary Frances Staples. Albert's stepsister, Kate, was born shortly afterwards. Kate sadly lost her mother and Roger Horswill was widowed once again in 1888. Albert went to school around that time, still living in West Ham.
After running away from home in Liverpool at the age of 11 as he went too seek his luck on the sea. On October 13, 1896 he joined in the Royal Navy, The noise. He had experienced a disaster onboard the ship Royal Sovereign when there was an explosion, after the breech was not fully closed on one of the 6" guns. This happened on 9 November 1901. Of his crewmates, 25 were killed. Albert's hearing was effected by the loud bangs because of noise that came with working the heavy artillery. He served on a large number of ships, before being discharged and joining the White Star Line.
Titanic[]
Albert lived in Southampton for a while, when he came over from the RMS Oceanic to be transferred to the RMS Titanic for it’s ill-fated Maiden Voyage, on April 6. On the 10th of April, early in the afternoon, the steamer was guided from her pier to the river Test to begin her trip to New York.
On the night of April 14, when the Titanic came in range of an iceberg which was unavoidable, she struck it. Albert noticed this impact and immediately got up and when he had dressed, the boatswain had come down and told them to stay there for the moment. After returning, he also ordered them to go up as soon as possible. Albert then got to the Boat Deck and helped preparing lifeboats on port side as well as supplying them with useful amenities like a chronometer and a lamp for lifeboat 2. Then he went to the other side.
He escaped the sinking ship on lifeboat 1 after First Officer Murdoch ordered him in.
After the sinking[]
Albert testified at the British Inquiry, when the rumours of bribery swired around events on boat 1. He maintained that he heard no conversations take place with regards returning to the scene of the wreck or worries about the lifeboat being swamped. He conceded however that it would have been perfectly safe to return to the wreck to pick up survivors, feeling it to be "inhuman" to leave them behind. The negatively from the bribery accusations impacted him for the remainder of his life.
Later life[]
He worked with White Star Line until 1913 before settling in Illinois and regaling audiences in theatres with stories of his survival. In November 1913, he put a ring on Augusta R. Paetsch, originating from German parents and born in Illinois. His marriage hit trouble at some point, since he felt it was difficult to provide for his wife and children with the work he was doing, but they worked it out nevertheless. Four children were born from the love between Albert and Augusta. Agnes Marie was their first child to emerge in 1915, who had a brother in 1920: Walter John, Albert Edward being next in 1921 and they had Leroy Wilfred in 1930. At the start of the roaring twenties, they moved to Indiana.
After retiring in 1946, having worked as carpenter, he moved with family to Texas. He also had earlier jobs in a powder factory followed by painter in a steel mill.
Albert Horswill died on April 7, 1962 in Humble, Texas, USA. He was buried exactly 50 years after Titanic left Southampton, on April 10, 1962. They honored him with the 'Nearer my God to Thee' hymn.