THE IMPORTANT TITANIC WATCH BELONGING TO ALBERT CALDWELL A SURVIVOR OF THE DISASTER.
WATCH DESCRIPTION:
An 18ct gold half hunter cased keyless pocket watch by Sutherland & Horne, Edinburgh, No.265022, circa 1876.
The white enamel dial with Roman chapters ( hairline crack by XII), recessed subsidiary seconds at VI, gilt hands, signed and numbered three quarter plate gilt movement, cut bimetallic compensated balance to lever escapement, gold cuvette engraved Presented to JAMES CALDWELL by the employees of the Pumpherston Oil Co. Ltd on his leaving to take charge of the Mining Department at Deans, June 3 rd 1896, polished case with blue Roman chapters, hall marks for Birmingham 1876 - 1⅞in (4.7cm) dia.
PROVENANCE: CHRISTIES 5 TH NOVEMBER 1998 MARITIME SALE, LOT 32.
SOLD WITH COPY OF CHRISTIES AUCTION CATALOGUE AND RECEIPT OF SALE AND ALSO SOLD WITH THE FOLLOWING LETTER:
ADD TO WILL
David ,
Father left his much treasured pocket watch and chain / cufflinks to me upon his death and I should like you to have them as a gesture of my gratitude for your many kindnesses over the years.
Sadly it was necessary for me to sell the gold watch chain at a time of financial need.
The watch has some history attached to it which you will be interested to read.
I have included mothers watch bought by my father as a 25 th wedding anniversary present in the early twenties when he worked for the White Star Shipping Line, also her rings and diamond pendant which your wife may like to wear.
Thanks
Elliott C,
_______________________________________
Everybody will know the story about the owner of the Titanic, Mr Bruce Ismay, gaining access to a lifeboat dressed as a woman, and although disputed, the scandal served to haunt him for the rest of his life.
HE WAS NOT THE ONLY MALE SURVIVOR WHO HAD TO ENDURE PRESS SCRUTINY OVER THEIR “GOOD FORTUNE” IN BEING ABLE TO GET ONTO A LIFEBOAT WHEN THE ORDER WAS “WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST”.
Albert Caldwell was another – according to Encyclopaedia Titanica, he changed his story several times over the years as to exactly how he was able to board Lifeboat No. 13.
His great niece wrote a book entitled “ A Rare Titanic Family” in 2012, based on family research, which again validated his actions and distances himself as best possible from any disgrace (sold with lot).
There is also a mystery about his wife. They had left Siam as she had allegedly contracted some tropical disease and were seeking some financial compensation from her employees. To this end, an ambulance was waiting for her as the rescue ship Carpathia docked at New York, organised by her employees (to presumably verify and deal with her complaint).
The Caldwell’s somehow managed to dodge this rendezvous and then lay low for the next 12 months. The outcome of the complaint and financial remedy the Caldwell’s were seeking is not known.
This casts doubts on the legitimacy of the Caldwell’s claim. If she was ill and wanted money, one would imagine she would have accepted the ambulance gratefully?
That was how the story stood until October 1998, long after their deaths, at the London Auction Room of Christies when they offered for sale the present lot, with the accompanying provenance, which alludes to a very different story of Albert Caldwell bribing his way onto the lifeboat, with the handing over of this watch to a member of the crew, Elliot C’s father.
Albert was obviously terrified that the truth would one day come to light and had excluded any mention of his benevolent relation James Caldwell, nor the watch. In fact, he goes to great pains to state he left his watch and his wallet in his cabin. Furthermore, in a radio interview in 1970, shortly before his death, Albert also mentions a stash of Siamese gold coins that he also left behind.
If this were the case, why does he mention his financial plight earlier in the story?
When Christies sold this lot in 1998, they erroneously made the assumption that Elliot C, the son of the crewman who took the watch, was Elliot C. Everett, which is incorrect. The letter of provenance, being signed off as Elliot C. indicates that the C was the surname and could possibly be one of the engine room crew that Albert had befriended, as mentioned in the book, in itself somewhat unusual.
Albert Caldwell died in 1977, thus avoiding this huge controversy.