🚢 His role on Titanic

John Haggan worked in one of the hardest jobs on the ship:

A fireman (stoker) fed coal into the boilers

This kept the engines running and the ship moving

The work was physically brutal—hot, dirty, and constant

Firemen were deep inside the ship, meaning:

They were among the last to escape danger

Many never made it out

During the sinking (April 1912)

After the iceberg collision, engine-room crew like Haggan were ordered to keep boilers running as long as possible

This helped maintain power for:

Lights

Pumps

Lifeboat operations

👉 This meant they stayed below deck while the ship flooded—extremely dangerous.

🛟 Survival

John Haggan escaped and survived in Lifeboat No. 3

Lifeboat 3 was one of the earlier boats launched from the starboard side

His survival is notable because:

Many firemen and stokers did not survive

Engine crew had one of the highest death rates on the ship

Later life

He never married after the disaster

Lived quietly after the event

Died in 1952

Like many survivors, he appears to have lived a relatively private life after such a traumatic experience.

⚓ Why his story matters

John Haggan represents a group often overlooked in Titanic history:

The working-class crew who kept the ship running

Men who stayed below decks to help others survive

Many of whom sacrificed their own chance of escape

Without them, far fewer passengers would have made it into lifeboats.