William Lindsay and William Mintram had much in common; they shared a Christian name, had married local women and both signed on as firemen on the Titanic – the big difference – one survived and the other did not.

William Lindsay, who was often known by his middle name Charles, was born in Bedminster but his family settled in Southampton sometime before the turn of the century.

The 1901 census records the family as living at 30, Chantry Road, Southampton.

William was listed as a Lance Corporal in the Royal Engineers Mounted and Imperial Yeomanry stationed at Aldershot.

He saw service in the Boer War and only joined the Merchant Service upon his return from South Africa.

In 1919 he married Harriet Maria Gates and they went on to have two children.

In contrast to Lindsay’s apparently blameless early life, William Mintram, brought up in the poorest of area of St Mary’s, had a very dubious record.

There is a newspaper report of a William Mintram before a court in 1882 for stabbing one George Barton in the Victory Inn, East Street. He is described as impudent and treating the matter as a joke but probably a month’s hard labour in Winchester Castle was less amusing.

There were later charges of drunkenness and assaulting a police officer.

It seems beyond the bounds of coincidence that this was not the William Mintram who later signed onto the Titanic.

Mintram’s criminality reached its apotheosis when one evening he arrived home drunk.

He had married Eliza May Rose Veal in 1886 and they had five children.

Their relationship was tempestuous and alcohol-fuelled. On this particular evening a violent argument resulted in him stabbing his wife in the back.

At his trial he was found guilty of manslaughter and he was sentenced to 12 year’s penal servitude but for some reason only served three.

At the time of signing onto the Titanic, he was living with his daughter, Rosina and her husband Walter Hurst, also a fireman, in Chapel Road.

It is possible that Walter was instrumental in procuring a post on the Titanic for his father-in-law.

Lindsay was fortunate to have been saved that morning on April 15, 1912.

He related after the sinking that he had been standing next to the first funnel of the Titanic when the ship plunged and he was washed off.

He managed to scramble onto upturned collapsible lifeboat B.

There were 39 of them on it including his mate, Walter Hurst, who offered him a hip flask. Thinking it was whisky or brandy, he took a hefty swig only to nearly choke upon finding that it was peppermint essence.

Mintram and his son-in-law had been sleeping in the same cabin. When they were awakened by a grinding crash on the starboard side, Mintram ran on deck, came back with a lump of ice and urged Walter to get up and dress warmly.

In the events that ensued, Mintram managed to find a lifebelt but his son-in-law did not. Perhaps hoping to find another one or perhaps already seeing the possibility of redemption for past sins, William gave his life belt to Walter.

Rosina’s husband came home to her, safe and sound. Her father did not.

Unsurprisingly William Lindsay found it difficult to talk about his experiences on that fateful night. He wrote a brief, halting letter to his brother:

“Oh, but the sight was awful. I shall never forget it, for she broke in three pieces. I only hope that the wife and mother know by now, for the company sent a cable for us.”

In 1958 he was mentioned in a Daily Echo article:

“A handful of survivors from the Titanic disaster, in 1912, will be at the Odeon, Leicester Square to see the premiere of the new film, A Night to Remember.

“Among the survivors will be the Commander H.G. Boxall, the Titanic’s 4th officer, who has acted as technical adviser on the picture, and Mr W. Lindsay, of 159, Manor Farm Road, Southampton.”

Ally Hayes is a tour guide with SeeSouthampton.co.uk .