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Arthur Rostron

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Sir Arthur Henry Rostron, KBE, RD (14 May 1869 – 4 November 1940) was a British merchant seaman and a seagoing officer for the Cunard Line.[1] He is best known as the captain of the ocean liner RMS Carpathia, when it rescued the survivors from the RMS Titanic after the ship sank in 1912 in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean.[1]

Sir

Arthur Rostron

KBE, RD
Capt. A.H. Rostron while master of Carpathia in April 1912, at the time of rescuing Titanic survivors.
Birth nameArthur Henry Rostron
Born(1869-05-14)14 May 1869
Bolton, England, UK
Died4 November 1940(1940-11-04) (aged 71)
Chippenham, England, UK
Buried
West End Parish Church, Southampton, England, UK
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branch Royal Navy Reserve
Years of service1886–1931 (British Merchant Navy)
1893–1924 (Royal Naval Reserve)
RankCaptain – RNR
Commodore – Cunard
CommandsRMS Pannonia
RMS Carpathia
RMS Carmania
RMS Lusitania
RMS Campania
RMS Aurania
RMS Mauretania
RMS Andania
RMS Saxonia
RMS Berengaria
Known forRescuing survivors from the RMS Titanic
Battles / warsWorld War I
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Reserve
Mentioned in Dispatches
Congressional Gold Medal

Rostron won wide praise for his energetic efforts to reach the Titanic before she sank, and his efficient preparations for and conduct of the rescue of the survivors. He was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal by the United States Congress, and in 1926, he was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He rose to become the Commodore of the Cunard fleet and retired in 1931.[2]

History

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Arthur Rostron was born at Bank Cottage, Sharples, a suburb of Bolton, Lancashire, England, to James and Nancy Rostron in 1869. He received his education at Bolton Grammar School and Bolton Church Institute.[3] In 1884 Rostron then joined the Merchant Navy Cadet School Ship HMS Conway as a cadet. After two years of training on the Conway, he was apprenticed to the Waverley Line of Messrs Williamson, Milligan and Co. in Liverpool on the iron clipper ship Cedric the Saxon.[4]

 
The barque Camphill - one of Rostron's earliest vessels

In 1887 Rostron joined the barque Red Gauntlet as a second mate. Soon after, he left the Waverley Line and joined the barque Camphill. He was commissioned a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) on 28 April 1893.[5] In December 1894 Rostron served on board the steamship Concord after which he passed the examinations for his extra master's certificate.

On 14 September 1899 Arthur Rostron married Ethel Minnie Stothert, daughter of Richard Stothert, in St John the Baptist church Atherton.[6]

Rostron joined the Cunard Line in January 1895 and earned a position as fourth officer on the ocean liner RMS Umbria. In the years afterward he would serve on other Cunard ships including the Aurania, Etruria, Servia, Cherbourg, Ultonia and Saxonia. As a member of the RNR, Rostron regularly attended training at HMS Excellent (including in September 1902[7]). He temporarily left the Cunard Line to serve with the Royal Navy during a period of international tension occasioned by the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905.[3]

Rostron subsequently returned to the Cunard Line. He was made first officer of RMS Lusitania in 1907, but was transferred to the Brescia and promoted to ship's captain the day before Lusitania's maiden voyage.[3] Brescia and his next several ships served the Mediterranean region, including his first passenger ship, RMS Pannonia, whose New York City – Mediterranean route he commanded from 1 January 1911.[8] He became captain of the passenger liner RMS Carpathia on 18 January 1912.[8] By this time a lieutenant in the RNR, Rostron was decorated with the RNR Officer's Reserve Decoration (RD) on 9 November 1909.[9] He was promoted to commander in the RNR on 18 January 1912.[10]

The Titanic rescue

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RMS Carpathia

Carpathia was on its regular route between New York City and Fiume, Austria-Hungary, when, early on 15 April 1912, she received a distress signal from the White Star Line ocean liner RMS Titanic,[11] which had struck an iceberg during its maiden voyage. Rostron was asleep when Carpathia's wireless operator, Harold Cottam, contacted Titanic at 12:20 a.m. to relay regular private party wireless traffic from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, United States.[12] Titanic, which had struck the iceberg about 11:40 p.m., replied with a distress message and call for help. Cottam ran to Rostron's cabin to alert him.[13]

Rostron immediately ordered the ship to race towards Titanic's reported position, posting extra lookouts to help spot and manoeuvre around the ice he knew to be in the area. Only after ordering Carpathia "turned to", towards the disaster scene, did Rostron confirm with Cottam that the latter was sure about Titanic's distress call.[14] About 58 nmi (67 mi; 107 km) separated Carpathia from Titanic's position. Rostron and his engineering crew, led by Chief Engineer A.B. Johnston, skillfully obtained the maximum speed possible from the engines of Carpathia, coaxing her up to 17.5 knots (32.4 km/h) – three and a half knots faster than her rated speed. Even so, Carpathia, travelling through dangerous ice floes, took about 3.5 hours to reach Titanic's radioed position.[13]

During this time, Rostron turned off heating to ensure maximum steam for Carpathia's engines and had the ship prepared for survivors, including getting blankets, food, and drinks ready, and ordering his medical crew to stand by to receive the possibly injured.[15] Crewmen were placed in the corridors to reassure passengers alarmed by the increased speed and changed direction of the ship.[13][3] Altogether, 23 orders from Rostron to his crew were successfully implemented before Carpathia had even arrived at the scene of the disaster. Rostron highly praised his crew for their efficiency in his report to line management.[16] Rostron was a pious man: issuing orders, he often raised a hand to his cap and closed his eyes in prayer. Speaking of the risk taken by running through dense ice at speed at night, he is reported to have said, "I can only conclude another hand than mine was on the helm."[17]

When Rostron believed he was nearing Titanic, he ordered green starburst rockets launched to alert the sinking ship if she was still afloat, or her survivors if she was not. Carpathia began picking up survivors about an hour after the first starburst was seen by those in the lifeboats. Carpathia would end up rescuing 705 survivors out of the 2,228 passengers and crew on board Titanic; at least one survivor is said to have died after reaching the ship. After consulting with White Star Line managing director and Titanic survivor J. Bruce Ismay, Rostron decided to turn the ship around and return to New York City to disembark the survivors.[13]

 
Margaret Brown along with awarded Arthur Rostron

Later, Rostron testified at both the US Senate and the British Wreck Commissioner's inquiries into the sinking. Titanic survivors, including Margaret Brown, presented Rostron with a silver cup and gold medal for his efforts the night Titanic sank. The cup was sold at US$200,000 at an auction by Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, Wiltshire, in October 2015.[18] He was also awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the Thanks of Congress, the American Cross of Honor, a medal from the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, and a gold medal from the Shipwreck Society of New York.[2]

Rostron was highly praised for his efforts in both the American and the British inquiries into the disaster.[19][20][21][22]

Later life

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Rostron continued in command of the Carpathia for a year before transferring to the RMS Caronia (1904). Afterwards, from 1913 to 1914 he took command of the RMS Carmania (1905), RMS Campania, and RMS Lusitania. Rostron was captain of the RMS Alaunia when the First World War began and the ship was requisitioned as a troopship, which Rostron continued to command. In 1915, Rostron and Alaunia were involved in the Gallipoli campaign in Ottoman Turkey, for which he was mentioned in dispatches for his services.[23]

In September 1915, Rostron joined the RMS Mauretania and in April 1916 he joined the Ivernia in the Mediterranean Sea. He returned to Mauretania in 1917 before taking command of the Andania, Saxonia, Carmania and Mauretania again. An acting captain in the RNR at war's end, he was promoted to captain in the RNR on 31 December 1918[24] and made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1919 New Year Honours list.[2]

Rostron continued to command Mauretania after it returned to normal passenger service in June 1919.[25] He took command of SS Imperator (later renamed Berengaria) in July 1920. From February to May 1924, he served as Royal Naval Reserve Aide-de-Camp to King George V.[26][27] Rostron retired from the Royal Naval Reserve in May 1924,[28] and in July 1926 he was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE). In July 1926 Rostron again took command of Berengaria and became the Commodore of the Cunard fleet shortly after.[29]

Rostron lived at Holmecroft, West End, Southampton. After his retirement in May 1931, he became a member, and later captain, of the Southampton Master Mariner's Club, and wrote his autobiography Home from the Sea.[30]

When his former ship, the Mauretania, sailed for Scotland to the shipbreakers in 1935, Rostron was supposed to have been on board; however, overcome with emotion, he refused to board her and instead waved farewell from the pierside, preferring to remember the ship as she was when he commanded her.[31] During his time commanding Mauretania, the ship was nicknamed "The Rostron Express" by passengers, due to Rostron's insistent adherence to the ship's scheduled departures and arrivals.

Death

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Rostron and his wife had been visiting their daughter Margaret in Calne when he was taken ill. He developed pneumonia and died at the Cottage Hospital, Chippenham, on 4 November 1940, aged 71. His funeral service took place at West End Parish Church, Southampton, on Thursday 7 November 1940. He was survived by his wife, Ethel Minnie, and their four children. Ethel died on 7 July 1943 at the age of 69 and is buried beside him in the graveyard of West End Church.[32]

Portrayals in Titanic films

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He has been portrayed in various Titanic films by several actors. In the 1958 A Night to Remember he is played by Anthony Bushell. In 1979's SOS Titanic he is portrayed by Philip Stone. In the 1996 TV drama Titanic he is portrayed by Terence Kelly.[33] Finally, in the 1999 TV documentary The Titanic Chronicles (about the U.S. Senate inquiry), he was portrayed (in voice) by John Cunningham.

References

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  1. ^ a b "The Captain who saved so many". ITV. 9 April 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Cohen, Steven. "5 Things You May Not Know About Titanic's Rescue Ship". History. Retrieved 2 June 2019.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ a b c d Clements, Eric L. (2016). Captain of the Carpathia: The seafaring life of Titanic hero Sir Arthur Henry Rostron (Bloomsbury Publishing ed.). Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 230. ISBN 9781844862887. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  4. ^ National, Archives UK. "The story of Arthur Henry Rostron Captain, Carpathia". National Archives UK. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  5. ^ "No. 26720". The London Gazette. 10 March 1896. p. 1612.
  6. ^ Family, Tree Marker 2003. "Family Tree Marker 2003" (PDF). Bolton Church Institute. Family Tree Marker. Retrieved 2 June 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36871. London. 12 September 1902. p. 4.
  8. ^ a b "United States Senate Inquiry, Day 1, Testimony of Arthur H. Rostron.", "Titanic" disaster, report of the Committee on Commerce, United States Senate, pursuant to S. Res. 283, directing the committee on commerce to investigate the causes leading to the wreck of the White Star liner "Titanic.", 19 April 2012
  9. ^ "No. 28305". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 November 1909. p. 8241.
  10. ^ "No. 28574". The London Gazette. 23 January 1912. p. 549.
  11. ^ "Carpathia History". Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  12. ^ "Day 15, Testimony of Harold T. Cottam". British Wreck Commissioner's Inquiry. Titanic Inquiry Project. 24 May 1912. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
  13. ^ a b c d Rostron, Arthur (2011). Titanic Hero: The Autobiography of Captain Rostron of the Carpathia. Amberley Publishing. ISBN 9781445604206.
  14. ^ United States Senate Inquiry, Day 1, Testimony of Arthur H. Rostron, part 1 (19 April 1912) at Titanic Inquiry Project Archived 13 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ Marex. "Carpathia's Role in Titanic's Rescue". Maritime Executive. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  16. ^ Rondeau, Rob (2012). Titanic Lives: On Board, Destination Canada. Formac Publishing Company Limited. ISBN 9781459500198.
  17. ^ David Watts, "Spirituality at work on Titanic" Archived 23 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Edmonton Journal, 14 April 2012
  18. ^ "Molly Brown's Titanic cup sold at auction for $200,000". Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  19. ^ United States Senate Inquiry, Day 1, Testimony of Arthur H. Rostron, part 3 (19 April 1912) at Titanic Inquiry Project Archived 13 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ British Wreck Commissioner's Inquiry, Day 28, Testimony of Arthur H. Rostron, part 1 Archived 26 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine (21 June 1912) at Titanic Inquiry Project Archived 13 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ United States Senate Inquiry, Report, part 8 at Titanic Inquiry Project Archived 13 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ British Wreck Commissioner's Inquiry, Report, §4 "Account of the Saving and Rescue of those who Survived", §4.5 "Rescue by the SS Carpathia" Archived 21 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine at Titanic Inquiry Project Archived 13 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ "No. 29603". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 May 1916. p. 5417.
  24. ^ "No. 31099". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1918. p. 116.
  25. ^ Buller, Daniel Allen (2009). The Other Side of the Night: The Carpathia, the Californian and the Night the Titanic was Lost. Casemate. ISBN 9781935149705. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  26. ^ "No. 32909". The London Gazette. 19 February 1924. p. 1456.
  27. ^ "No. 32939". The London Gazette. 27 May 1924. p. 4200.
  28. ^ "No. 32949". The London Gazette. 24 June 1924. p. 4888.
  29. ^ Rostron, Arthur (1912). Titanic Hero. Amberley Publishing. p. 107.
  30. ^ Rostron, Sir Arthur Henry (1931). Home from the Sea (Macmillan ed.). Macmillan. ISBN 9789112467918.
  31. ^ Defence, Ministry. "HMHS MAURETANIA". Ministry Defence. Roll of Honour. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  32. ^ Obituary, Captain Arthur Henry Rostron. Encyclopaedia Titanica
  33. ^ "Terence Kelly". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
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