06/09/2026
Titanic Live: June 8th, 1912, mid morning - In a scene almost identical to that which played out two days ago aboard SS Ottawa, one final Titanic victim is found by chance this morning by British registered freighter SS Ilford, the ship’s log indicating by her position that these remains have now drifted more than 560 miles (900 km) from the site of the disaster. Once again, with nearly eight weeks elapsed since the tragedy, the elements have taken their toll, and the six Ilford crewmen who row over to collect the body report being unable to recognize any distinguishing features of the man. He is identified instead by his personal effects as Titanic first class saloon steward William Frederick Cheverton, a native of Newport on the Isle of Wight who had transferred from Olympic’s crew roster along with other members of her victualing crew on the morning of April 4th. Cheverton was 27 years old at the time of his death, with a number of years experience at sea - including six years in service with the Royal Navy beginning at the age of 17 in July of 1902. Following his discharge in 1908, Cheverton worked a handful of jobs as a laborer and painter before joining the White Star Line as a steward, the steadier pay sent back home allowing him to help support his parents and disabled sister Nellie. Following the identification of his remains and another brief Anglican service, William Cheverton is buried at sea.
With this final confirmed discovery of a Titanic victim adrift, the number of recovered bodies stands at 337 out of the 1,496 known dead, meaning that only 22% of those lost with the wreck are ever found. Doubtlessly, many floating victims have disappeared over weeks adrift in the vast expanse of the Atlantic, and a number still may have gone undiscovered by crossing vessels for some time following this last encounter by SS Ilford. Several unsubstantiated reports of small wreckage and possible bodies are made later into the year, though none of these are confirmed, and no conclusive identifications of any more Titanic remains are made at sea after today. The final numbers of Titanic victims found thus stand as follows:
Recovered remains by vessel
RMS Carpathia - 4 bodies buried at sea
CS Mackay-Bennett - 190 bodies recovered, 116 buried at sea
CS Minia - 15 bodies recovered, 2 buried at sea
CGS Montmagny - 3 bodies recovered, 1 buried at sea
SS Algerine - 1 body recovered
RMS Oceanic - 3 bodies buried at sea
SS Ottawa - 1 body buried at sea
SS Ilford - 1 body buried at sea
Photograph of SS Ilford via Stuart Smith/Tyne Built Ships
Inset portrait of William Frederick Cheverton via ET
