Victualing Crew

There were 421 men and women assigned to the Victualling Department on the Titanic. The Victualling Department provides all the services for the occupants of the ship; food, housekeeping, laundry, room service etcetera.

Victualing Crew Distinctions

1. The Purser: who supervised all of the Victualling Department and was the direct link between passengers and the ship's officers.
2. Stewards: who performed over 57 different functions in each class's dining saloon, public rooms, cabins and recreational facilities. The male stewards' duties were similar to the stewardesses', although they predominantly served male passengers. Around 60 male stewards survived,
3. Galley and kitchen staff: including chefs, cooks, bakers, butchers, and scullions who worked in the kitchens of each class to cook the various meals for the passengers. Scullions, called dishwashers today, were responsible for washing and drying the dishes. Around 13 survived.
4. Stewardesses and a matron who were, along with two restaurant cashiers, the only female members of the crew; all but three of whom survived. The stewardesses' duties were similar to the male stewards', although they usually served only female passengers.
5. Storekeepers, kept track of the depository Only two of them survived
6. Clerks, employed in the Purser's Office to deal with passenger's enquiries and requests (including depositing valuables for safekeeping).
7. Wirless operators who were actually employed by the Marconi Company and not directly by the White Star Line, were assigned to the Victualling Department.
8. Barbers: They were assigned to the Titanic as part of the vendor group; Augustus Henry Weikman worked in First Class, assisted by Arthur White. Herbert Klein in Second Class. None of them were employed by the White Star Line for all three were self-employed and worked mostly for cash tips. The White Star Line only provided their meals and living quarters. Only Weikman survived.

Steward Distinctions:

• Bath Stewards: they were responsible for maintaining supplies in the communal bathrooms utilised by everyone except for a few First Class Passengers.
• Bedroom Stewards: There were assigned to each class. The First Class Bedroom stewards not only cleaned the rooms and made beds, they were also available to serve food in the rooms or help the passengers in getting dressed. Most stewards were poorly paid and relied on tips for their income. Each First Class Bedroom Steward was responsible for three to five rooms, Second Class Stewards for up to 10 rooms, and Third Class Stewards for as many as 25.
• Bellboys (known today as bellhops or porters), teenage boys as young as 14, who helped carry passengers' luggage when needed.
• "Boots" (shoe shiners): stewards responsible for cleaning and shining the passengers' boots and shoes.
• Glory Hole Stewards: Stewards that took care of the accomodations of the crew
• Linen Stewards: men responsible for washing and maintaining all the linen on board (bed sheets, bathroom towels, table linen, etc.).

The victualing crew consisted of:

• a Chief Purser
• a Second Purser
• Clerks
• a Chief First Class Steward
• a First Class Second Steward
• First Class Assistant Second Stewards
• a Chief First Class Saloon Steward
• a First Class Saloon Second Steward
• a First Class Saloon Third Steward
• First Class Saloon Stewards
• First Class Bedroom Stewards
• First Class Bathroom Stewards
• First Class Stewardesses
• First Class Reception Stewards
• a First Class Lounge & Pantry Steward
• a First Class Lounge Steward
• a First Class Assistant Lounge Steward
• First Class Smoking Room Stewards
• Cafe Parisien Stewards
• a Veranda Cafe Steward
• an Assistant Veranda Cafe Steward
• a Gymnasium Instructor
• a Squash Court Attendant
• Turkish Bath Attendants
• Turkish Bath Masseuses
• a Deck Steward
• Assistant Deck Stewards
• Lift Attendants
• a Linen Keeper
• a Clothes Presser
• an Assistant Clothes Presser
• First Class Barbers
• a Chief First Class Boots
• First Class Assistant Boots
• a Chief First Class Pantryman
• a First Class Second Pantryman
• First Class Assistant Pantrymen
• a Chief Second Class Steward
• Second Class Saloon Stewards
• Second Class Bedroom Stewards
• Second Class Bathroom Stewards
• a Second Class Bath Steward
• a Second Class Smoking Room Steward
• a Second Class Library Steward
• a Second Class Lift Attendant
• a Second Class Deck Steward
• a Second Class Barber
• Second Class Boots
• a Chief Third Class Steward
• a Second Chief Third Class Steward
• a Matron for Third Class
• a Third Class interpreter
• Third Class Stewards
• a Third Class Steward Porter
• a Third Class Stewardess
• a Third Class Pantryman
• a Steward for the Captain
• Glory Hole Stewards
• A Chief Storekeeper
• A Second Storekeeper
• Storekeepers
• a Bugler
• a Printer
• an Assistant Printer
• a Senior Wireless Operator
• a Junior Wireless Operator
• a Telephone Operator
• a Stenographer
• a Baggage Master
• Bell Boys
• Post Office Clerks for the Royal Mail
• Post Office Clerks for the US Mail
• a Chef Cook
• an Assistant Chef
• a Second Class Cook
• an Entree Cook
• a Sauce Cook
• a Larder Cook
• Grill Cooks
• A Vegetable Cook
• Assistant Vegetable Cooks
• Roast Cooks
• an Assistant Roast Cook & Chief Night Baker
• a Pastry Cook
• an Assistant Pastry Cook
• a Hebrew Cook
• Assistant Cooks
• Scullions
• Kitchen Porter Scullions
• Plate Washers
• a Ship's Cook
• an Assistant Ship's Cook
• a Ship's Scullion
• a Chief Baker
• a Second Baker
• an Extra Second Baker
• a Third Baker
• an Extra Third Baker
• Assistant Bakers
• a Confectioner
• an Assistant Confectioner
• a Vienna Baker
• a Chief Butcher
• a Second Butcher
• a Third Butcher
• Assistant Butchers