RMS Titanic and beginnings
The Guild originated from the Titanic Engineering Staff Memorial Benevolent Fund set up in 1912 by the Institute together with the Daily Chronicle newspaper to help the bereaved families of the engineers of the RMS Titanic, which sank on 15 April 1912.
Tragically, all 35 engineers on board lost their lives - from the Chief Engineer to the Engineer’s Clerk, as well as the ship’s designer and two engineers from Harland & Wolff. These heroic crewmembers stayed at their posts until the end, maintaining electrical power which kept lights on throughout the ship and provided power to the radio office, enabling them to transmit distress signals until the ship sank beneath the waves.
Post-Titanic
In 1934, the Fund was expanded in response to World War I and became The Institute of Marine Engineers Guild of Benevolence. Since then, the role of the Guild has further developed to assist more generally in the relief of hardship for marine engineers, scientists and technologists and their dependants.
Guild of Benevolence in the 21st century
Today, the Guild of Benevolence works directly with members of the marine community who are struggling financially, or to support anyone who depends on them for an income. We also work with other marine charities in order to consolidate our efforts and better provide support to those that need it most.
You can read just some of the stories of our applicants here.
An independent 82 year-old widower who served at sea as a Fourth Engineer, living on his own, had an accident while carrying out maintenance on his home.
He was hospitalised for a short while where tests showed he was suffering memory loss, possibly dementia, with glaucoma also being diagnosed. Shortly after returning home his boiler broke down. Having a very low income, with no savings or debts and the immediate family being unable to assist, he could not afford a replacement.
The Guild Trustees agreed to cover the cost of the new boiler and it's installation. In addition, the Guild made enquiries with other charities and received a contribution from the Shipwrecked Mariners Society towards the cost.
An ex-seafarer and IMarEST member who served at sea for a number of years became unemployed.
Being concerned that funds to cover his mortgage, bills and food would soon run out, he approached the Guild for assistance.
The Trustees assisted with a payment of £1,000 as well as covering the cost of a seafarer’s medical certificate. The Guild also offered their advice with respect to other organisations that could be contacted for help including the Seafarers Advice and Information Line, SAIL.