Sidney Leslie Goodwin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sidney Leslie Goodwin
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Sidney Goodwin, circa 1911
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| Born |
Sidney Leslie Goodwin
9 September 1910 |
| Died | 15 April 1912 (1 year, 225 days) Atlantic Ocean
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| Known for | The Unknown Child |
| Parent(s) | Frederick Goodwin and Augusta Tyler |
| Relatives | Lillian, Charles, William, Jessie, and Harold Goodwin (siblings) |
Sidney Leslie Goodwin (born September 9, 1910 – died April 15, 1912) was a 19-month-old English boy. He was one of the many people who sadly died when the RMS Titanic sank. For many years, his body was known as The Unknown Child because no one knew who he was.
In 2008, scientists used special DNA tests to find out his true identity. They discovered he was Sidney Goodwin. Sidney is the only member of his family whose body was found and identified after the disaster.
Contents
The Story of Sidney Goodwin
Sidney Leslie Goodwin was born in Melksham, England. He was the youngest of six children. His parents were Frederick and Augusta Goodwin. Sidney had five older brothers and sisters: Lillian, Charles, William, Jessie, and Harold.
The Goodwin Family's Journey
The Goodwin family decided to move from England to the United States. They wanted to start a new life there. Frederick Goodwin, Sidney's father, planned to work in a new job. They originally had tickets for another ship, but a coal strike changed their plans.
Because of the strike, they were moved to the RMS Titanic. The Titanic was a very large and famous ship. It was known as "unsinkable." The Goodwin family boarded the ship as third-class passengers. They were excited about their journey to America.
The Titanic Disaster
On the night of April 14, 1912, the RMS Titanic hit an iceberg. The ship began to sink quickly. There were not enough lifeboats for everyone on board. Many people, especially those in third class, found it hard to get to the lifeboats.
The Goodwin family, including baby Sidney, did not survive the sinking. All eight members of the family were lost at sea. This was a very sad event for many families.
The Unknown Child
After the Titanic sank, ships were sent to find bodies. One ship, the Mackay-Bennett, found the body of a small boy. He was about 19 months old. No one knew who he was, so he was called "The Unknown Child."
The boy was buried in a cemetery in Halifax, Canada. His grave became a symbol for all the unknown children and victims of the Titanic disaster. People placed toys and flowers at his grave. They wanted to remember him and all those who were lost.
Identifying Sidney
For many years, people tried to figure out who "The Unknown Child" was. In 2002, scientists thought they had identified him as another child. However, more advanced DNA tests were done later.
In 2008, scientists used mitochondrial DNA from the boy's remains. They compared it to DNA samples from living relatives of the Goodwin family. These tests proved that "The Unknown Child" was indeed Sidney Leslie Goodwin. It was a big moment for the Goodwin family.
Sidney's identification brought closure to his family. It also helped to tell the full story of the Goodwin family's tragic journey. He remains a symbol of the many lives lost on the Titanic.
Images for kids
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The grave of the unknown child in Fairview Cemetery in 2002, before identification.
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The Goodwin family. From left to right: William, Frederick, Charles, Lillian, Augusta, Jessie. At the centre is Harold. Sidney is not present. All of the Goodwins perished in the sinking.
See also
In Spanish: Sidney Leslie Goodwin para niños
