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Edward Arthur Dorking

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Edward Arthur Dorking
Undated photo
Born(1893-06-18)June 18, 1893
Stamford Hill, Middlesex, England
DiedApril 12, 1954(1954-04-12) (aged 60)
San Pedro, California, U.S.
Military career
AllegianceUnited States United States
Service / branchU.S. Army
Years of service1917—1919
1942—1945
Battles / wars

Edward Arthur Dorking (June 18, 1893 – April 12, 1954) was a passenger on RMS Titanic and a survivor from the sinking. Originally from England, he toured the United States and Canada with a vaudeville show. He then fought in World War I and World War II, surviving both. He died in prison in 1954.

Biography

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Edward Arthur Dorking was born on June 18, 1893, in Stamford Hill, Middlesex, England, the son of Edward Arthur Dorkings (b. 1867), a policeman, and Florence Derby (b. 1876).[1][2]

Dorking boarded the Titanic at Southampton on April 10, 1912, as a Third Class passenger.[3] He was emigrating to the United States to live with his uncle and aunt, Fred and Violet Cooke, in Oglesby, Illinois.[2] He survived the sinking swimming for 35 minutes to lifeboat B and was later rescued by the Carpathia.[4][5][1] He testified before the United States investigating committee and the British investigation.[6]

According to his relatives, Dorking was openly gay and that was the reason why the family was sending him off to the United States.[1]

After the sinking Dorking appeared on theaters with a tour of the Sullivan & Considine circuit, talking about the experience, like at Princeton, New Jersey, Fort Collins, Colorado, Salt Lake City, Utah,[6][7][8][9][10] Ogden, Utah,[11] San Francisco, California,[5] Los Angeles, California,[12] Portland, Oregon,[13][14] Decatur, Illinois,[15] Moline, Illinois, Tacoma, Washington,[16] Davenport, Iowa,[17] and Vancouver.[18] He described his profession as "Vaudeville".[1][2] According to him, none of the victims was to receive damages from the White Star company, and that was the reason why he was touring the theaters, to repay what he had lost.[19]

Dorking enlisted into the United States Army in 1917 and was discharged in 1919.[1]

After World War I he moved to Los Angeles, apparently after a run-in with the police in Chicago. In 1933 he was still living in Los Angeles and with his military pension entered a soldier's home in Sawtelle, Los Angeles.[1]

He was drafted in 1942 to fight in World War II. Estranged from his family, Dorking spent his final days in prison on Terminal Island, San Pedro, California, and died on April 12, 1954, three days before the forty-second anniversary of the Titanic's sinking.[1]

In 2024, British Theatremaker, Russell Lucas made a show about Edward's life called 'Third Class'

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Edward Arthur Dorking". Encyclopedia Titanica. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Eaton, John P.; Haas, Charles A. (1995). Titanic, Triumph and Tragedy. Norton. p. 340. ISBN 9780393036978. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Third Cabin Passenger List and Names of the Survivors - 18 Apr 1912, Thu • Page 4". The Washington Post. 1912. p. 4. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  4. ^ "The Survivors - 21 Apr 1912, Sun • Page 10". The Observer: 10. 1912. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Empress - 11 Aug 1912, Sun • Page 32". The San Francisco Call: 32. 1912. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  6. ^ a b "20 Nov 1912, Wed • Page 4". The Salt Lake Tribune: 4. 1912. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  7. ^ "20 Nov 1912, Wed • Page 4". The Salt Lake Tribune: 4. 1912. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  8. ^ "22 Nov 1912, Fri • Page 5". Salt Lake Telegram: 5. 1912. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  9. ^ "23 Nov 1912, Sat • Page 10". The Salt Lake Tribune: 10. 1912. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  10. ^ "A Titanic Survivor - 22 Nov 1912, Fri • Page 14". The Salt Lake Herald-Republican: 14. 1912. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Survivor of Titanic Disaster Lectures at Orpheum Tonight - 30 Nov 1912, Sat • Page 6". The Ogden Standard: 6. 1912. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  12. ^ "04 Nov 1912, Mon • Page 2". The Los Angeles Times: 2. 1912. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  13. ^ "06 Oct 1912, Sun • Page 35". The Oregon Daily Journal: 35. 1912. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  14. ^ "Survivor of Titanic to Tell Experience - 06 Oct 1912, Sun • Page 36". The Oregon Daily Journal: 36. 1912. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  15. ^ "Titanic Survivor Will Tell Story - 26 May 1912, Sun • Page 7". The Daily Review: 7. 1912. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  16. ^ "04 Oct 1912, Fri • Page 3". The Tacoma Times: 3. 1912. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  17. ^ "Titanic Survivor Tells How It Feels to Face Death - 28 Jun 1912, Fri • Page 14". Quad-City Times: 14. 1912. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  18. ^ "Varied Program at the Orpheum - 21 Sep 1912, Sat • Page 26". Vancouver Daily World: 26. 1912. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  19. ^ "Saved from Death - 23 Nov 1912, Sat • Page 14". The Salt Lake Herald-Republican: 14. 1912. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
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