RMS TITANIC Steward's Silver Cigarette Case - Recovered from Body of George Herbert Hinckley
A silver cigarette case belonging to George Herbert Hinckley, Titanic Bath Steward, Birmingham assay mark dated 1905, mm William M. Hayes, approx. 109.9 gms. Hinckley served on the RMS Titanic and is believed to be the only Titanic victim born in Derby, son of veterinary surgeon Herbert John Hinckley who served the rural hinterland between Derby and Ashbourne. George spread his wings further afield and by his late teens he was a servant to a family of gentry at Huntroyd Hall in Lancashire. After filling a similar post in Staffordshire, and single, he gained a position with the White Star Line in 1906. He first worked on the RMS Olympic and on learning that he was to sail on the Titanic he wrote to his sister Ida Mary Knowles - co-owner of the Lonsdale Dairy expressing his excitement.
Mrs Knowles never heard from her brother again - the 39 year olds body was recovered and buried at sea on the 22nd April 1912. The cigarette case that bears his monogram GH was recovered from his body. His effects as listed on the Coroners report was a silver watch and chain, silver match case (being all it contained when found) engraved GH and a bunch of keys. George's personal effects were sent to his sister Ida Mary Knowles who treasured them until her death in 1969, it was inherited by Percival Henry Knowles, only son of Ida Mary and after his death in 1979 the case was bequeathed to his daughter Barbara Louisa. The case now forms part of a private collection Worcestershire.
This case comes with facsimile paperwork associated with the Crew Records of the Titanic, the Coroner and Burials at Sea report, newspaper cuttings and the Hinckley/Knowles family tree.
A silver cigarette case belonging to George Herbert Hinckley, Titanic Bath Steward, Birmingham assay mark dated 1905, mm William M. Hayes, approx. 109.9 gms. Hinckley served on the RMS Titanic and is believed to be the only Titanic victim born in Derby, son of veterinary surgeon Herbert John Hinckley who served the rural hinterland between Derby and Ashbourne. George spread his wings further afield and by his late teens he was a servant to a family of gentry at Huntroyd Hall in Lancashire. After filling a similar post in Staffordshire, and single, he gained a position with the White Star Line in 1906. He first worked on the RMS Olympic and on learning that he was to sail on the Titanic he wrote to his sister Ida Mary Knowles - co-owner of the Lonsdale Dairy expressing his excitement.
Mrs Knowles never heard from her brother again - the 39 year olds body was recovered and buried at sea on the 22nd April 1912. The cigarette case that bears his monogram GH was recovered from his body. His effects as listed on the Coroners report was a silver watch and chain, silver match case (being all it contained when found) engraved GH and a bunch of keys. George's personal effects were sent to his sister Ida Mary Knowles who treasured them until her death in 1969, it was inherited by Percival Henry Knowles, only son of Ida Mary and after his death in 1979 the case was bequeathed to his daughter Barbara Louisa. The case now forms part of a private collection Worcestershire.
This case comes with facsimile paperwork associated with the Crew Records of the Titanic, the Coroner and Burials at Sea report, newspaper cuttings and the Hinckley/Knowles family tree.
