Carmelo Francesco (Charles Francis) “Charlie” Gouder was born in Cospicua, Malta, on the 4th March 1889, the son of Spiridione “Spiro” and Marianna Gouder (née Schembri). Nothing is known about his childhood or family, although it is thought that he had at least one younger brother.
He married Elizabeth Louisa Campbell in Malta around 1909, and the couple had a daughter and son, born in Malta, in 1912 and 1914; however, their son died soon after his birth. It is unknown where the family resided in 1915; however, it is likely they resided in Malta.
Charlie was a professional seaman in the British Mercantile Marine and on the 12th April 1915, engaged as a waiter in the Stewards' Department on board the Lusitania at
Liverpool, at a monthly wage of £4-5s.-0d. (£4.25p.). He reported for duty on the morning of the 17th April before the ship left the River Mersey for the last time.
Having successfully completed the liner’s outward journey to New York, he was still serving in the same capacity when she left New York in the early afternoon of the 1st May 1915.
Six days later, on the afternoon of the 7th May, the Lusitania was torpedoed by the German submarine U-20, twelve miles off The Old Head of Kinsale in southern Ireland and sank only eighteen minutes later. At that stage of her voyage, she was a mere twelve or fourteen hours away from her Liverpool destination.
Charles Gouder survived this action, however, and having been rescued from the sea, he was landed at Queenstown, from where he eventually made it back to Liverpool. Once there, at the offices of Cunard in Water Street, he was paid the balance of wages owed to him in respect of his service on board the liner, which was reckoned from the 17th April 1915, until the 8th May, 24 hours after the great ship had foundered.
Charles Gouder took six months to recover from his ordeal before returning to sea and continued to serve as a steward on liners and other vessels for many years. By 1921, he had moved to New York City, where he was joined by his wife and daughter. The couple had another two children born in New York City.
In the 1930’s, Charlie Gouder began working as a painter and decorator, in partnership with a man named Walter Walters, at 521. Brook Avenue, New York City, before returning to England with his family in 1935.
The family resided at 56. Maple Avenue, Gillingham, Kent, and Charlie Gouder continued to work as a painter and decorator until his retirement.
Charles Gouder died of cancer at St. Williams Hospital, Rochester, Kent, England, on the 9th May 1970, aged 81 years, and was subsequently buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Gillingham.
Register of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1921 Census of England, 1930 U.S. Federal Census, 1939 Register, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, UK Incoming Passenger Lists 1878 – 1960, Cunard Records, PRO BT 100/345, PRO BT 350, PRO BT 351/1/52783, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 10th December 2023.