Arthur Ernest Read Lewis
Arthur Ernest Read Lewis was a Third Class Steward on the Titanic.
Background[]
Arthur Ernest Read Lewis was given life as the second child and son of a account keeper of a beer manufactorer. His name was Thomas William Lewis and he had taken the hand of Elizabeth Maria Read in 1881 in Southampton, were both were born. They started their family by conceiving Albert Henry first, the only elder sibling of Arthur. Arthur, after seeing the light on May 24, 1884, was followed by a brother in 1887, Percy. Percy however was not destined to live long. The family had to part ways with him the same year before they had Victor Owen in 1888. They welcomed yet another son in 1891: Edward Leonard. Frederick Montague was his brother since 1893 and preceeded Horace Augustus, begotten in 1896. Their next line of kin were three girls: Their first daughter would become Adelaide Dorothy, who received her name in 1898.
Arthur was ready to ride the waves while only being 14. He was involved as a Private in the Boer War and made himself useful on a Hospital ship around that time. This was his first taste of the sea and it would become a familiar place for him. There were also developments in his personal life later.
Violet Clara Kearslake, a girl about his age, became his wedding partner on the 9th of February 1902. She was from a huge family, of perhaps as much as fifteen children. They had settled in Southampton, also Violet’s birthplace, in the next few years and much new life was formed since they pledged their vows. It started off with Archibald Albert in 1902. Besides his own children, Arthur still had gotten new siblings. The same year that he would marry, his mother gave birth to Grace Mabel Lewis, who was followed by another baby girl, in 1905. She was the last and named Marjorie Winnifred.
Archibald's father had left the mainland again in 1908, in the role of a steward onboard the Augustine, that started her trip in Liverpool. Archibald's brother Stanley Claude Lewis came much later than him, in 1909.
Titanic[]
Now a father of two, Arthur Lewis had made himself available for the first passage of the new, 46,000 ton giant, fresh from delivery. RMS Titanic was her name and she was impressive. Arthur would take care of the needs of the steerage passengers as as Third Class Steward. He was 27 years old when he got onto Titanic, being registered on the 4th of April as part of her Victualling Crew.
It was April 10 when Titanic saw the last of Southampton. Soon, the city was just a stip behind her. Large crowds had gathered to see her off when she began her Maiden Voyage.
Titanic had entered zone of ice on the night of April 14. She was in a field with large icebergs. Unusual weather circumstances led her to one large iceberg with the lookout crew not being able to see it in time. When the iceberg was detected, Titanic was less than a minute away, especially with her large speed, of 22,5 knots. The bridge reacted by turning the helm hard over to starboard, in an attempt to clear the massive wall of ice on portside and the speed was immediately reduced. There was no time however. The iceberg impacted Titanic on her starboard bow and disrupted parts of her steel plates, which became openings. This was bad news for the new ship, that had suddenly tons of water crawling up inside her.
This water became a problem fast as it made its way up fast. The Captain had looked over this complication with Titanic’s own designer, who had a tough assessment to make. At midnight, April 15, the captain heard Thomas Andrews’ words, which must have struck him lightning. The inflow of water proved too much for Titanic and she could not be salvaged no matter what they did from now on. The Captain had to act fast. He gathered his officers and other hands on deck and instructed them to unfasten the lifeboats. They had to evacuate as many passengers as they could, within 2 hours.
Later in the night, Arthur Lewis was at starboard side on the aft Boat Deck, close to one remaining lifeboat on that part of the ship. They needed a man to row the lifeboat. Arthur got in as a crew member and they commenced to lower the boat, deemed to be lifeboat 15. Because the lifeboat that had been placed in front of 15, number 13, which was lowered a few minutes before, had an inconvenience when her blocks held the end of her ropes, right after pump water had made her drift aft when she touched the sea. She had now moved into 15’s way, nearly being squashed by the descending 15 but quick action of a two men made the difference in over 100 people being saved.
Like most boats, number 15 had taken a distance away from the sinking liner. Lewis noticed a erry quietness among his passengers in the boat. Nobody knew eachother so they didn’t engage in any conversation, according to him, as he told an interviewer in his later life. The scene in front of them was anything but still. About half an hour after lifeboat 15 was detached from her, Titanic had heaved her stern out of the water while her forward section had gone from view, with her lights still burning bright. It was not long before those were no longer burning after which Titanic was bursted into two seperate parts. The parts followed eachother into the depths and had left those still onboard in those last minutes alone to the darkened seas, which were unbearably algid as she made her her deep fall to the Atlantic. The despair, anguish and terror of hundreds of souls passing into eternity, was not lost on many who survived and gazed at the horrific event from their boats.
These people waited to be picked up and lucky enough for them, the Carpathia was there, over half and hour after the death of Titanic. Carpathia had steamed and dodged several icebergs, to finally arrive and take all occupants away from the open ocean. Carpathia was pointed westward, to get to New York with her new load. This is where Titanic was headed. Carpathia, actually bound for Europe, got there instead, on the 18th of April.
For Lewis, this meant he could pick up from where he left off. A large investigation was started in the US, but Lewis was not part of it. A similar inquiry was done back in England, for which Lewis was reserved for a while, to hear that he was actually not going to be heard so they let him go. For his troubles, he was granted £7, 18s, more than double the amount of monthly wage for a Third Class steward.
Later life[]
In the later months of 1912, Ernest was appointed to the sister of Titanic, RMS Olympic. He made at least five crossings with her as a steward, while also being on the New York between crossings. This was the vessel that nearly struck Titanic in Southampton after the suction of Titanic had pulled her from her moorings.
In November 1914, he had stopped his sailing across the seas and focused on doing labor at port, like running the logistics of bagage and cargo. With World War I ripping across Europe and Arthur felt a calling to do his bid and received the honor of a Victory Medal after making it through with his life, having carried out his missions for the Army Service Corps as well as the Labour Corps.
It had been a long time since his wife had given him his child. This would now be Leslie Arthur Lewis in 1915. Leonard Edward Lewis saw the light in 1920 and Thomas Williams was their last, raised since 1922.
Arthur Ernest Read Lewis celebrated his 70th wedding anniversary with his wife Violet Clara Lewis (néeKearslake) in 1972.
Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Arthur was usually busy as steward on various vessels. He worked for Cunard Line most of the time, most notably the ship beautiful, Aquitania, sister to Lusitania and Mauretania, but a vessel even larger than Titanic.
In the 1940s, as the famous Queen Mary was given the task of transporting many soldiers during the Second World War, her National Fire Service also consisted of Arthur Lewis. After having done his duties for then he was active for the Red Funnel Line, a ferry service that shipped between Southampton and the isle of wright.
For all these decades, he was inhabitant of Southampton. At 72 years old, he could enjoy his pension. The Titanic had gone down in 1912, but Lewis didn’t let the memories of the tragedy sink. With co-survivors Edith Rosenbaum and Gershon Cohen, he wanted to share his personal rendering for a documentary between the 1960s and 70s.
Arthur's' life got as far as January 18, 1873, not having lived anywhere else than Southampton and was 88 when he lived his last day.
Violet outlived him by nearly 9 years.
Thomas Williams Lewis, her youngest son, was still alive in 2001.
His first sister, Grace Mabel Lewis, was still alive of 2006.