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Hugh McElroy
Hugh Richard Walter McElroy (28 October 1874 – 15 April 1912) was a British Merchant sailor who served aboard the RMS Titanic as Chief Purser during its ill-fated maiden voyage. He was the head of the ship's victualling department.
McElroy perished in the sinking. His body was the most senior crew member to be recovered and identified by the CS Mackay-Bennett. He was subsequently buried at sea.
McElroy was born in Liverpool to Richard McElroy (1844–1888), a shipwright born to Irish parents, and a Scottish mother from Edinburgh, Jessie Fox (1847–1927). He was one of four children, born after his sisters Charlotte and Jessie, and before his brother Richard. He was baptised in the Catholic faith and, at age 16 in 1890, left to train as a priest in St. Mary's Priory in Bodmin, Cornwall.
However, McElroy dropped out of priest training in 1892 and returned to his home in Liverpool, where he followed his father's footsteps by joining the British Merchant Navy.
McElroy joined the Allan Line in 1893 and served as purser for seven years aboard ships such as the SS Numidian and SS Sardinian. As Chief Purser, he was in charge of the victualling crew, which often made up the biggest department on a passenger liner. According to his White Star Line documents, he served on 12 voyages with the Allan Line in total.
In 1899, McElroy joined the White Star Line, where he remained for the rest of his career. His first ship with the line was the SS Cymric. During the Second Boer War, McElroy served aboard the troopship HMT Britannic under Captain Bertram Fox Hayes; he is mentioned in the Boer War Transport Medal Roll book and was awarded the Transport Medal with the South Africa Clasp.
McElroy went on to serve aboard notable ships such as the RMS Cedric, SS Laurentic, RMS Majestic, RMS Baltic, and RMS Republic. On the Baltic, he served under Captain Edward Smith, the White Star Line's distinguished captain, and was aboard for its maiden voyage. In 1911, he was aboard the RMS Olympic, with Smith and William Murdoch, for its maiden voyage and also when it collided with HMS Hawke at the start of its fifth voyage.
As Chief Purser, McElroy's role was considered of equal importance as that of Captain Edward Smith. He was stationed on C Deck, at the First Class Purser's office near the Grand staircase. As part of his duties, he had to ensure that all passengers had valid tickets, was in charge of all purchases for a trip, paid the wages to the crew, and sent passenger messages to the Marconi wireless room on the Boat Deck via a pneumatic tube.
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Hugh McElroy
Hugh Richard Walter McElroy (28 October 1874 – 15 April 1912) was a British Merchant sailor who served aboard the RMS Titanic as Chief Purser during its ill-fated maiden voyage. He was the head of the ship's victualling department.
McElroy perished in the sinking. His body was the most senior crew member to be recovered and identified by the CS Mackay-Bennett. He was subsequently buried at sea.
McElroy was born in Liverpool to Richard McElroy (1844–1888), a shipwright born to Irish parents, and a Scottish mother from Edinburgh, Jessie Fox (1847–1927). He was one of four children, born after his sisters Charlotte and Jessie, and before his brother Richard. He was baptised in the Catholic faith and, at age 16 in 1890, left to train as a priest in St. Mary's Priory in Bodmin, Cornwall.
However, McElroy dropped out of priest training in 1892 and returned to his home in Liverpool, where he followed his father's footsteps by joining the British Merchant Navy.
McElroy joined the Allan Line in 1893 and served as purser for seven years aboard ships such as the SS Numidian and SS Sardinian. As Chief Purser, he was in charge of the victualling crew, which often made up the biggest department on a passenger liner. According to his White Star Line documents, he served on 12 voyages with the Allan Line in total.
In 1899, McElroy joined the White Star Line, where he remained for the rest of his career. His first ship with the line was the SS Cymric. During the Second Boer War, McElroy served aboard the troopship HMT Britannic under Captain Bertram Fox Hayes; he is mentioned in the Boer War Transport Medal Roll book and was awarded the Transport Medal with the South Africa Clasp.
McElroy went on to serve aboard notable ships such as the RMS Cedric, SS Laurentic, RMS Majestic, RMS Baltic, and RMS Republic. On the Baltic, he served under Captain Edward Smith, the White Star Line's distinguished captain, and was aboard for its maiden voyage. In 1911, he was aboard the RMS Olympic, with Smith and William Murdoch, for its maiden voyage and also when it collided with HMS Hawke at the start of its fifth voyage.
As Chief Purser, McElroy's role was considered of equal importance as that of Captain Edward Smith. He was stationed on C Deck, at the First Class Purser's office near the Grand staircase. As part of his duties, he had to ensure that all passengers had valid tickets, was in charge of all purchases for a trip, paid the wages to the crew, and sent passenger messages to the Marconi wireless room on the Boat Deck via a pneumatic tube.