Date of birth: 11th September 1876 Place of birth: Gosport, Hampshire Marital status: Married Age: 35 (in 1912) Spouse: Eliza Jean Glendenning Steele Children: Herbert John Dean(1908–1973), Elizabeth P Dean (1921–1983) Date of death: 6th February 1943 (age 66)
In 1839, Samuel Cunard was awarded the first British transatlantic steamship mail contract, and the next year formed the British and North American Royal Mail Steam-Packet Company in Glasgow with shipowner Sir George Burns together with Robert Napier, the famous Scottish steamship engine designer and builder, to operate the line's four pioneer paddle steamers on the Liverpool–Halifax–Boston route. For most of the next 30 years, Cunard held the Blue Riband for the fastest Atlantic voyage. However, in the 1870s Cunard fell behind its rivals, the White Star Line and the Inman Line. To meet this competition, in 1879 the firm was reorganised as the Cunard Steamship Company Ltd, to raise capital. In 1919, Cunard relocated its British homeport from Liverpool to Southampton, to better cater for travellers from London.
(Source: Wikipedia)
First Officer Horace Dean - Post-Titanic
Dean remained with the Carpathia for a year, until transferring to the much larger Mauretania on the New York service on the 31st of January 1913, as its First Officer. However the appointment was very short-lived and ended in a few days (31.1.13 - 1.2.13)
Franconia passing Castle Island, Boston harbor in 1911 (Library of Congress - Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-det-4a25441).
A more permanent posting took place when he became the Franconia's First Officer, also on the New York service in March 1913, a posting that lasted into 1914. (26.3.13 - 20.4.13, 25.4.13, 22.5.13, 19.6.13, 17.7.13 , 19.8.13, 11.9.13, 28.10.13, 22.11.13, 16.1.14 - 20.4.14). He had previously worked aboard the Franconia as its Second Officer, and was promoted to First aboard her in 1911, so his return seems logical.[1.]
During the August voyage to New York the Franconia stopped over the site of the Titanic sinking, so that the family of W.T. Stead who was lost in the disaster could lay a wreath.[2.]
Passengers and crew of Cunard Liner Franconia laying a wreath in August 1913 over the site of the sinking of the Titanic at the request of Titanic passenger and newspaper editor W. T. Stead's children. (Daily Mirror, 11 August 1913).
First World War
Dean's RNR records for the dates of World War One are presently illegible (please refer to image), but it does appear he may have stayed aboard the Franconia, as she was contracted by British Admiralty in late 1914 to perform troopship journey's to Canada.
Dean's illegible RNR record conceals his activites during the First World War. (Click image to enlarge)
The Franconia became part of a convey of ships - including Cunard's Ivernia, Saxonia and Laconia - that would pick up soldiers from Canada. She later became a hospital ship in early 1915 and was sent to the Mediterranean to assist the Dardanelles campaign, carrying wounded troops from Gallipoli to Alexandria.
On 4 October 1916 the Franconia was torpedoed by the UB47 195 miles East by South of Malta, on route for Salonika, under the command of Capt DS Miller. She was not carrying troops at the time (her normal capacity being 2,700), but lost 12 members of the crew. The survivors (302) were picked up by the hospital ship Dover
Castle.[3.]
Someone with the name of Horace John Dean is recorded in the National Archives as enlisting with the Royal Berkshire Regiment from 1915, with the rank of CQMS (Company Quartermaster Sergent) and receiving two medals. However this is likely to be someone of the same name, as the following year we know according to Dean's RNR records that the 5th of June 1917 is listed as his date of seniority, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the RNR.[4.]
Post-war
After the First Word War, 42 year old Dean was listed as living at "Douglas" Fairlight Avenue, Woodford Green, Essex (in London), dated 25.11.19, an address he held up until 1940. From 1921 he was listed as "still serving with the Cunard & Co in London" in the "Marine Department" that indicates that the war completed his time at sea and he took on land-based work.[5.]
In 1921 he also lost his younger brother Frederick, who was only 38 years old, on the 25th of February 1921. In the same year it was followed up by good news - the birth of a daughter, Elizabeth P Dean (1921–1983) on the 3rd of June 1921. But rather shockingly, only days later this joyous occasion was marred by the death of his father John Dean (1850–1921) in Southsea on the 9th of June 1921. His mother died just over ten years later on the 22nd of September 1932, also in Southsea, in St Mary's Hospital.[6.]
Between 1924 and 1936 his RNR records indicate he continued in the "Marine Department" in "Cunard & Co in London". On the 28th of Januaryu 1938 it was then reported he was "in receipt of a pension from Cunard."[7.]
Endnotes:
1. RNR records, ADM-340-39-36↩ 2. "Titanic's Grave - Wreaths from the Franconia". Liverpool Weekly Courier. No. 6, 091. 2 August 1913.↩ 3. "Cunard Liners" Martin's Marine Engineering Page↩ 4. ADM 240/54/5, National Archives, Rank: Lieutenant Commander. Date of Seniority: 05 June 1917.
↩ 5. RNR records, ADM-340-39-36 ↩ 6. Ancestry.com
↩ 7. RNR records, ADM-340-39-36
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