People on board

SOLOMONS, David

David Solomons was born on the 2nd of July 1887 in the Bow / Poplar area of London to Henry Solomons and Sarah Garcia, formerly Cohen. David was the second of their eleven children, all of whom were living in 1911. They were living in Bow in 1891 with Sarah’s parents, and Henry gave his occupation as ‘Commission Agent’. In April 1896 David Solomons, aged eight, was admitted to Blakesley Street School in Tower Hamlets. The family was living in Stepney in 1901 when Henry’s occupation was ‘Electric Light Hand’, Sarah was a ‘Beer House Keeper’ and fourteen year old David was a ‘Smiths Paper Boy’. In 1911 the family was in Whitechapel and Henry was a ‘Fish Porter’ while David was a ‘Fish Frier’.

In 1913 David Solomons married Elizabeth Crow and they had two children, Henry Thomas and Sarah Elizabeth. When he enlisted in 1915, David’s civilian occupation was given as ‘Motor Driver’, and his family was living in Gratton Houses, Globe Road, Bow. He was an Air Mechanic with the Navy and his records show that he was of Very Good Character and Moderate Ability. By 1918 he was Air Mechanic 1st Class with the 19th Training Squadron, Royal Air Force. In July 1918 he was on the Dreadnought Seamen’s Hospital lists as having malaria, which was ‘Cured’.

The report of his death in 1918 came from the Curragh Camp in Ireland, which suggests that he may have been stationed there. Whether or not that was his base, David Solomons was travelling to England on the 10th of October 1918 on RMS Leinster. He did not survive the sinking, nor was his body recovered. He is listed on the Hollybrook Memorial in Southampton.