Philip Francis Vigot
Philip Francis Vigot
Titanic survivor
Jerseyman Philip Francis Vigot, a crewman on RMS Titanic, survived when the ship sank in 1912
Philip Francis was born on 6 October 1879 and baptised on 16 October. He was born in St Mary, the third child of Philippe François (1853-1904) and his first wife, Eliza Jane Buesnel (1856-1891); she was the daughter of Clement (1828) and Rachel Godfrey (1830) of Grouville.
Family tree
He is believed to have gone to sea at about the age of 20. He did not feature on the 1901 census for the family. He spent most of his life as a seaman.
Prior to 1912 he served on the Kinfauns Castle, a ship of the Union-Castle Line. It has not been possible to find out if that was his first ship.
6 April 1912
On 6 April 1912 he joined his new ship, RMS Titanic of The White Star Line, as an able seaman, deck crew, for its maiden voyage. It was also her last.
On 15 April, at about 11.40 pm ship’s time, the Titanic collided with an iceberg. At about 2.30 am she broke apart and in a little over two hours she sank. Of the estimated 2,224 persons on board, more than 1500 perished.
Many survivors were rescued by the RMS Carpathia; one of those being Philip Francis Vigot. He was rescued from lifeboat 13.
It is estimated that the Carpathia rescued 705 survivors and they were taken to New York City. They arrived on Thursday, 18 April 1912. Some rare footage of the RMS Carpathia arriving at New York with the survivors can be seen by following this link
YouTube video of the arrival of the Carpathia in New York, with the survivors on board
Jersey newspaper report
The Jersey Morning News carried an account on 21 May 1912 when the total number of survivors was not yet accurately known:
- 'To meet and speak to one of the 500-odd survivors of the Titanic disaster is something of an experience, and yesterday, when Philip Vigot, who was an able seaman on the ill-fated leviathan, paid a visit to our offices, we could not help feeling that we were talking to someone who has gone through an experience which has riveted the attention of the whole civilised world.
- 'Mr Vigot informed us that he is now living at Southampton and is on a brief visit to a sister in Jersey. He, with two other seamen, was placed in charge of lifeboat No 13 on the ill-fated night, and crossed to England on the Lapland. He leaves the island on Wednesday morning and will later appear as a witness at the inquiry now proceeding in London. Under the circumstances Mr Vigot would be reticent concerning his share in helping torescue passengers, but we couldnothelp noting that he gives a close observer unmistakable evidence of having gone through a remarkable experience'.
Philip did not appear to lose any of his love for the sea, despite the ordeal of such a disaster. He spent much of his life at sea, serving during the Great War and was awarded medals for his service. A medal card relating to him is held at the National Archives.
He died on 2 July 1941. He lived at that time at 70 Manor Farm Road, Bitterne Park, Southampton. He left an estate of £770 14s 2d.
