Archie Jewell

Archibald Jewell known as Archie was the youngest child of John Jewell, a sailor and his wife Elizabeth Jewell. He had six older siblings, two sisters and four brothers. His mother died on 9 April 1891.

In 1903, at the age of 15, Jewell began working on smaller sailing ships. He joined the White Star Line in 1904. Jewell served as a full seaman on the Oceanic for almost eight years, during which time he lived in Southampton. He was married sometime around 1916 to Bessie Heard and moved to Bitterne with her. Bessie Jewell gave birth to her and Archie's son, Raymond Hope Jewell, in autumn 1916.

On 6 April 1912, Jewell was transferred to the Titanic as one of six lookouts along with 24-year-old George Symons. Jewell was scheduled to be in the crow's nest between 20:00 and 22:00 and then from 2:00 to 4:00, during the night of 15 April 1912.

At around 22:00 Jewell and Symons were replaced by their colleagues Reginald Lee and Frederick Fleet. Jewell was in his cabin at 23:40 when the iceberg collision occurred. At 00:45, Jewell was one of the first to escape the sinking in lifeboat 7.

After arriving in New York City on the RMS Carpathia, Jewell returned to England on 29 April 1912 on board the SS Lapland. He among the first witnesses interviewed by Lord Justice Mersey on 3 May 1912 before the British Committee of Inquiry on the accident. At least 331 questions were asked.

Jewell worked on the HMHS Britannic during World War I. He survived the sinking of the Britannic on 21 November 1916 along with two other Titanic survivors Violet Jessop, a stewardess and Arthur John Priest, a stoker.

In 1916, Jewell left the White Star Line and was hired on the SS Donegal, a passenger ship put into service in 1904. The Donegal was converted into a hospital ship during World War I and transported wounded soldiers from France to England. On 1 March 1917, one of these voyages involved enemy contact with a German submarine. Badly damaged, the Donegal could get to safety, but it was never repaired. On 17 April 1917, another German submarine fired without warning on the Donegal. The ship went down 19 nautical miles south of Dean, 12 crew members and 29 British soldiers died. Archie Jewell was among the 11 men in the crew; he was 28 years old. His body was never recovered. John Priest was also onboard, but survived.

A plaque commemorates Jewell at the Tower Hill Memorial, in Trinity Square. His son died on 10 December 1930 at the age of 14 after a serious illness in Exeter. Archie Jewell was survived by each of his siblings, wife, and also by his father, who died on 19 January 1936.

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