Two Perth women have uncovered a remarkable family connection that traces back to the engine rooms of the Titanic. Dawn McIntyre, 66, and Susan Harris, 79, recently discovered that their relatives worked side-by-side during the ship's final hours more than a century ago.
A Shared History Below Deck
Mrs McIntyre's great-granduncle, Joseph James Richards, was a 30-year-old fireman who lost his life in the disaster, leaving behind a wife and young son. Mrs Harris' uncle, William Charles Lindsay, also worked below deck as a fireman — a critical role that helped keep the Titanic running.
Firemen, also known as stokers, were responsible for shovelling coal into the ship's boilers, maintaining the fires that powered the engines. It was physically gruelling work carried out in extreme heat, deafening noise, and thick coal dust, often for hours at a time with minimal breaks.
An Unexpected Discovery
The two women came forward independently after a public call-out for West Australians with a connection to the Titanic, completely unaware their stories were intertwined. Mrs McIntyre said meeting Mrs Harris brought to life a story she had carried since childhood.
"My nan told me about my great-granduncle Joseph when I was little, so I've always known about him," she said. "But meeting someone whose family was there alongside him makes it feel incredibly real. I almost feel like a wire running from myself to him. He was part of my late mother's family who I didn't get the chance to grow up with, so this piece of history is a really special connection to me."
She said discovering the link had been extraordinary. "We've worked out that they lived a couple of kilometres apart in Southampton and likely worked side-by-side. The fact we've found each other all these years later, it's quite unbelievable, really."
Mrs Harris said the meeting had brought new meaning to her own family's history. "It's very special to meet someone connected to the same part of the ship and that same moment in time," she said.
The Role of Firemen on the Titanic
More than 300 men worked below deck to keep the Titanic running, including 174 firemen. During the sinking, many remained at their posts to maintain power so lifeboats could be launched safely, with the ship's lights staying on until just minutes before it disappeared beneath the ocean.
Mrs McIntyre said visiting the Titanic: The Human Story exhibition in Northbridge and finding her great-granduncle's name on the wall of crew was a powerful experience. "Titanic stories should never be forgotten," she said. "When you think about what happened, not just on the ship but to the families left behind, it's both heartbreaking and fascinating."
Luis Ferreiro, the CEO of exhibition organiser Musealia, said the story highlighted the disaster's enduring legacy. "The engine room crew played a crucial role in saving lives that night. Many remained at their posts out of a profound sense of duty, keeping the ship's systems running until the very end. Stories like this show how the legacy of Titanic continues to connect people across generations and across the world."
Titanic: The Human Story is open in Northbridge until June 14.
