William Moss (3rd quarter of 1876 - 15 April 1912) was the Head First Class Saloon Steward on the RMS Titanic. He did not survive the sinking of the Titanic.
On April 2, 1912, he boarded the RMS Titanic in Belfast, Ireland, for the delivery trip to Southampton. When they made it to Southampton William signed on again for the Titanic's maiden voyage. He listed his place of residence as 37 Charlton Road, and his last ship as the Titanic's sister ship; the RMS Olympic. On the ship he would work as the Head First Class Saloon Steward; he was possibly even the Head Saloon Steward. In that position, he would earn £6 monthly. After he likely said goodbye to his wife and daughter, William boarded the ship on 10 April.
Aboard the Titanic, Mr. Moss would have worked in the First Class Dining Saloon. What he did as head of the saloon stewards is not known; he possibly managed them and/or helped with the average saloon steward duties. These duties would have included setting the tables, serving passengers food and drinks and cleaning up after them. When he was not working, William would have stayed in his cabin which was located on E Deck in the Scotland Road corridor. His exact cabin location is not known, but he likely stayed in the superior steward's cabin made for 12 stewards, or, though less likely, in one of the three cabins designated for saloon stewards.
During the sinking of the Titanic, where or what William did is heavily unknown. However, it is known that earlier in the sinking William was in Scotland Road on E Deck talking to James William Cheetham Witter and another steward when John Hall Hutchinson, one of the ship's carpenters, rushed over to them and told them of the situation. In the end, however, William did not survive the sinking. His body was not recovered. At the time of his death he was 35, his pregnant wife Susan was 31 or 32 and Elizabeth was 6 years old. Of the 94 First Class Saloon Stewards, only 19 survived the sinking of the Titanic.
Portrayals[]
A Night to Remember (1958 film)[]
In A Night to Remember, Moss is played by Douglas Bradley-Smith.