Archie Jewell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Archie Jewell
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Jewell during his World War I service
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Archie Jewell
4 December 1888 |
| Died | 17 April 1917 (aged 28) |
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Archie Jewell (born December 4, 1888 – died April 17, 1917) was a brave sailor. He was famous for surviving two major shipwrecks. He was on the crew of the famous Titanic. He also survived the sinking of the Britannic. Sadly, he died when his third ship, the SS Donegal, was sunk during World War I.
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Archie Jewell's Early Life
Archie Jewell was born in Bude, Cornwall, England. He was the youngest of seven children. His father, John Jewell, was also a sailor. Archie had two older sisters and four older brothers. His mother, Elizabeth, passed away when Archie was very young.
When he was 15 years old in 1903, Archie started working on small sailing ships. He joined the famous White Star Line shipping company in 1904. For almost eight years, he worked as a full seaman on the Oceanic. During this time, he lived in Southampton, a port city in England. Around 1916, Archie married Bessie Heard. They moved to Bitterne together. Their son, Raymond Hope Jewell, was born in the autumn of 1916.
Archie Jewell's Sailing Career
Working on the Titanic
On April 6, 1912, Archie Jewell was moved to the Titanic. He became one of six lookouts on the ship. Lookouts were important crew members who watched for dangers. Archie was scheduled to be in the crow's nest, a high platform on the ship, during the night of April 15, 1912. He was supposed to work from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM and again from 2:00 AM to 4:00 AM.
At about 10:00 PM, Archie and his fellow lookout, George Symons, were replaced. They went to their cabins to rest. At 11:40 PM, the Titanic hit an iceberg. Archie was in his cabin when this happened. Around 12:40 AM, Archie was one of the first people to get into a lifeboat. He escaped the sinking ship in lifeboat 7.
After the Titanic Sinking
After being rescued, Archie arrived in New York City on the Carpathia. He returned to England on April 29, 1912, aboard the SS Lapland. Archie was one of the first people to be questioned about the Titanic accident. He answered many questions for the British Committee of Inquiry.
Surviving the Britannic
During World War I, Archie Jewell worked on another ship called the Britannic. This ship was a hospital ship, meaning it carried wounded soldiers. On November 21, 1916, the Britannic also sank. Archie survived this sinking too! Two other Titanic survivors, Violet Jessop and Arthur John Priest, were also on board and survived.
The Final Voyage of the Donegal
In 1916, Archie left the White Star Line. He started working on the SS Donegal. This ship was originally a passenger ship. But during World War I, it was also used as a hospital ship. It transported wounded soldiers from France to England.
On March 1, 1917, the Donegal had a dangerous encounter. It was attacked by a German submarine. The ship was badly damaged but managed to get to safety. However, it was never fully repaired. On April 17, 1917, another German submarine attacked the Donegal without warning. The ship quickly sank in the English Channel. Archie Jewell, who was 28 years old, was one of 12 crew members who died. Twenty-nine British soldiers also lost their lives. Archie's body was never found. John Priest, who had survived the Titanic and Britannic with Archie, was also on board but survived this sinking too.
A special plaque honors Archie Jewell at the Tower Hill Memorial in London. Archie was survived by his wife, Bessie, and their young son, Raymond. His father and all six of his siblings were also still alive. Sadly, Archie's son, Raymond, passed away in Exeter at the age of 14 after a serious illness.
