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Harold Sydney BrideSecond radio operator of the Titanic.
Date of Birth: 11.01.1890
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of Harold Sydney Bride
Harold Sydney Bride was born in Nunhead, South London, as the youngest of five children of Arthur John Lerner Bride and Mary Ann Lowe. Growing up, he was shy and introverted, but showed a sharp mind and a sense of humor when surrounded by close family members. After finishing school, Harold chose a career as a wireless telegraph operator. However, his parents couldn't afford to pay for his education, so he started working in the family business at the age of 16 to save up money. In 1910, he visited the London Post Office to inquire about the cost of telegraphy training and met Harold Cottam, who would later receive distress signals from the "Carpathia" two years later.
Early Career
In July 1911, after completing his training, Harold joined Marconi as a radio operator. He then went to sea and served on various ships, including the "Hefford," "Lusitania," "La France," and finally the "Anselm." During this time, radio operators were considered representatives of the maritime telegraph service and were rarely seen outside of their cabins. Due to the fierce competition between different telegraph companies, Marconi employees were prohibited from communicating with ships equipped with a different system unless it was a critical situation. Rudeness and harsh words towards operators from rival companies were almost the norm. In such an environment, it was difficult to rely on the quick assistance of other ships in unforeseen circumstances.
Onboard the Titanic
Harold boarded the Titanic in Belfast, along with Jack Phillips, who soon became his best friend. As a Marconi employee, Harold earned £2 26 cents per month. The two operators decided to split their duties into four shifts: Harold would be on duty from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM and from 2:00 AM to 8:00 AM, while Phillips would cover the remaining hours.
On the night of the sinking, Harold was transmitting and receiving messages for Captain Smith from the "Carpathia" and other ships with whom Phillips was negotiating. Both operators remained at their posts even after being relieved by the captain. When they heard rumors about a nearby ship, Harold tried to alert a stoker to stop shoveling coal into the ship's boilers, while Phillips rushed to the deck. A scuffle broke out, but Harold managed to restrain the stoker while Phillips struck him. After leaving the stoker in the radio room, both operators went up to the deck.
Surviving the Tragedy
When the Titanic went down, Harold managed to climb onto the overturned collapsible lifeboat. However, his ordeal was far from over. He and the other survivors spent the night on the collapsible boat until they were rescued by one of the main lifeboats and brought aboard the "Carpathia." Harold suffered severe frostbite and injuries to his legs. During the journey to New York, he and the exhausted Harold Cottam worked together on the ship's radio, sending personal messages and lists of survivors to the mainland.
Later Years
Even many years after the tragedy, Harold and Harold Cottam remained friends. As a token of appreciation for his bravery and dedication, Marconi awarded Harold Bride golden watches with the inscription: "In grateful recognition of faithful service rendered in connection with the gallant work that played its part in the rescue of passengers of the S.S. Titanic." After spending some time in the hospital, Harold returned to England and resumed his work as a radio operator. During World War I, he served as a telegraphist on the steamship "Mona's Isle."
Harold was engaged to a woman named Mabel Ladlow before the Titanic's voyage, but their relationship didn't work out, and they broke off the engagement in September of the same year. In April 1920, Harold married Lucy Johnston Downie, a teacher who recognized him from a newspaper photograph and approached him on the street. It was love at first sight. The couple had three children: Lucy (born in 1921), John (1924), and Janette (1929). Harold preferred not to discuss anything related to the Titanic and deeply mourned the loss of his friend and colleague, Jack Phillips. In an attempt to avoid the attention surrounding the Titanic, Harold moved with his family to Scotland, where he worked as a traveling salesman. He spent the rest of his life in relative obscurity and passed away from lung cancer on April 29, 1956, at the age of 66.
