Unsung Titanic hero’s gold watch could go for £100k

An 18-carat gold pocket watch, once belonging to a lesser-known Titanic savior, might sell for as much as £100,000 during an upcoming auction, according to the sellers. The timepiece, set to be auctioned in Penshurst next month, was presented to an engineer who played a crucial role in rescuing over 700 survivors from the Titanic’s lifeboats in April 1912.

The Engineer’s Role in the Rescue

John Richardson, a 26-year-old Scottish-born engineer, was pivotal in the RMS Carpathia’s operation, which swiftly rescued Titanic passengers in the North Atlantic shortly after the ship sank. His team’s relentless work under extreme conditions ensured the vessel reached the disaster site in time to save hundreds of lives.

Justin Matthews, director of Hansons Auctioneers, noted that the watch evoked a strong emotional response when he first encountered it. He remarked, ‘It’s spine-tingling to realize this timepiece is linked to one of the 20th century’s most iconic and tragic events.’

Matthews emphasized that the Carpathia’s rapid response was thanks to Richardson and his crewmates, who endured extreme heat to maintain the coal-fired boilers under emergency conditions. The team transformed the vessel from a typical transatlantic passenger ship into a high-speed rescue unit amidst urgent circumstances. Their expertise, perseverance, and quick decision-making saved numerous lives.

Legacy and Family History

Richardson, among several engineers recognized by the Liverpool-based Carpathia Engineers’ Presentation Fund, received the watch weeks after the disaster. The fund’s creators felt the engineers’ essential contributions during the rescue had been significantly underestimated. The timepiece remained in Richardson’s family for nearly a century before its initial auction in 2003.

In 1992, the watch was showcased at a Southampton Maritime Museum exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking. It also fetched a record £1.56 million in 2024 when a pocket watch given to the Carpathia’s Captain Arthur Rostron by a wealthy widow of a Titanic victim sold at auction.

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