Michel Navratil

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Michel Navratil (August 13, 1880 – April 15, 1912) was a tailor and Slovak immigrant to France, passenger on the RMS Titanic who died when the ship sank, and was the father of two boys sometimes referred to as the Orphans of the Titanic. [1]

The Slovaks are a nation and West Slavic ethnic group native to Slovakia who share a common ancestry, culture, history and speak the Slovak language.

RMS <i>Titanic</i> British transatlantic passenger liner, launched and foundered in 1912

RMS Titanic was a British passenger liner that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean in 1912, after colliding with an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. Of the estimated 2,224 passengers and crew aboard, more than 1,500 died, making it one of modern history's deadliest commercial marine disasters during peacetime. RMS Titanic was the largest ship afloat at the time she entered service and was the second of three Olympic-class ocean liners operated by the White Star Line. She was built by the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast. Thomas Andrews, chief naval architect of the shipyard at the time, died in the disaster.

Sinking of the RMS <i>Titanic</i> Maritime disaster that occurred on the night of Sunday 14 April through the morning of Monday 15 April 1912

RMS Titanic sank in the early morning of 15 April 1912 in the North Atlantic Ocean, four days into the ship's maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. The largest ocean liner in service at the time, Titanic had an estimated 2,224 people on board when she struck an iceberg at around 23:40 on Sunday, 14 April 1912. Her sinking two hours and forty minutes later at 02:20 on Monday, 15 April, resulted in the deaths of more than 1,500 people, making it one of history's deadliest marine disasters during peacetime.

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Early years

Michel was born in Szered, Kingdom of Hungary, present day Sered', Slovakia, in 1880. He later moved to France, and finally settled, in 1902, in Nice. He married Italian-born Marcelle Caretto on May 26, 1907, and their two sons were born in Nice: Michel Marcel Navratil (born June 12, 1908) and Edmond Roger Navratil (born March 5, 1910). They separated in early 1912. Some factors which may have led to the separation include his failed attempt to open a tailor shop, and an alleged extramarital affair on her part. She was given custody of the boys in the separation.

Kingdom of Hungary former Central European monarchy (1000–1946)

The Kingdom of Hungary was a monarchy in Central Europe that existed from the Middle Ages into the 20th century. The Principality of Hungary emerged as a Christian kingdom upon the coronation of the first king Stephen I at Esztergom around the year 1000; his family led the monarchy for 300 years. By the 12th century, the kingdom became a European middle power within the Western world.

French Third Republic Nation of France from 1870 to 1940

The French Third Republic was the system of government adopted in France from 1870, when the Second French Empire collapsed during the Franco-Prussian War, until 10 July 1940 after France's defeat by Nazi Germany in World War II led to the formation of the Vichy government in France.

Nice Prefecture and commune in Provence-Alpes-Côte dAzur, France

Nice is the seventh most populous urban area in France and the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes département. The metropolitan area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits, with a population of about 1 million on an area of 721 km2 (278 sq mi). Located in the French Riviera, on the south east coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea, at the foot of the Alps, Nice is the second-largest French city on the Mediterranean coast and the second-largest city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region after Marseille. Nice is approximately 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) from the principality of Monaco and 30 kilometres (19 mi) from the French-Italian border. Nice's airport serves as a gateway to the region.

Aboard Titanic

Michel was granted visitation rights with Michel Jr. and Edmond during Easter break in 1912, but failed to return them to Marcelle at the designated time. He and the boys escaped from France via Monte Carlo, and sailed to England, where they stayed at the Charing Cross Hotel in London for a period of time. He purchased three second-class tickets for the Titanic, boarding under the assumed name of "Louis M. Hoffman" with his two sons, "Lolo" (a diminutive of Louis) and "Momon" (a diminutive of Edmond). He told other passengers that he was a widower, and that he was taking the boys to America. He rarely let them out of his sight, but at one point during the voyage, he allowed a Swiss girl, Bertha Lehmann, to watch them while he played cards.

Monte Carlo Quarter and ward of Monaco

Monte Carlo officially refers to an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco, specifically the ward of Monte Carlo/Spélugues, where the Monte Carlo Casino is located. Informally the name also refers to a larger district, the Monte Carlo Quarter, which besides Monte Carlo/Spélugues also includes the wards of La Rousse/Saint Roman, Larvotto/Bas Moulins, and Saint Michel. The permanent population of the ward of Monte Carlo is about 3,500, while that of the quarter is about 15,000. Monaco has four traditional quarters. From west to east they are: Fontvieille, Monaco-Ville, La Condamine, and Monte Carlo.

England Country in north-west Europe, part of the United Kingdom

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to the west and Scotland to the north-northwest. The Irish Sea lies west of England and the Celtic Sea lies to the southwest. England is separated from continental Europe by the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south. The country covers five-eighths of the island of Great Britain, which lies in the North Atlantic, and includes over 100 smaller islands, such as the Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight.

Charing Cross The point from which distances from London are calculated.

Charing Cross is a junction in London, England, where six routes meet. Clockwise from north these are: the east side of Trafalgar Square leading to St Martin's Place and then Charing Cross Road; the Strand; Northumberland Avenue; Whitehall; The Mall leading to Admiralty Arch and Buckingham Palace; and two short roads leading to Pall Mall.

On the night of the sinking, Michel, helped by another passenger, dressed his sons and took them to the boat deck. "My father entered our cabin where we were sleeping. He dressed me very warmly and took me in his arms. A stranger did the same for my brother. When I think of it now, I am very moved. They knew they were going to die," Michel Jr. recalled. [1] Contemporary witness reports said that Michel Jr. was wearing just a flannel shirt, and Edmond had no clothes on, and both were wrapped in blankets. [2] They were put into Collapsible D, the last lifeboat successfully launched from the ship. Michel perished in the sinking.

Michel's body was the fifteenth recovered by the Mackay-Bennett . In his pocket was a loaded revolver. Because he had used a Jewish surname on his ticket, on May 15, 1912, he was buried in the Baron de Hirsch Cemetery in Halifax.

A book, "Les Enfants du Titanic", was written in 1982 by Élisabeth Navratil, Michel's granddaughter, telling the story of him and the boys, and of their unfortunate adventures on the Titanic.

Notes

  1. 1 2 Master Michel Marcel Navratil - Titanic Biography - Encyclopedia Titanica at www.encyclopedia-titanica.org
  2. ↑ Votruba, Martin. "Michal Navrátil". Slovak Studies Program. University of Pittsburgh.
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