Henry Tingle Wilde

Lieutenant Henry Tingle Wilde

Biography
Encyclopedia Titanica (2019) Henry Tingle Wilde (ref: #1382, last updated: 26th October 2019, accessed 2nd September 2023 10:38:50 AM)
URL : https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/henry-tingle-w...

Titanic Crew Summary

Name: Mr Henry Tingle Wilde
Titanic Victim
Born: Saturday 21st September 1872 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Age: 39 years 6 months and 24 days (Male)
Nationality: English
Marital Status: Widowed
Last Residence: at 24 Grey Road Walton, Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Occupation: Chief Officer
Last Ship: Olympic
Deck Crew
Embarked: Southampton
Died in the Titanic disaster (15th April 1912)
Body Not Identified

Early life:

Henry Wilde was christened at the Loxley Congregational Chapel in Bradfield, Yorkshire on 24 October 1872. He was the son of Henry Wilde, an insurance surveyor from Ecclesfield, South Yorkshire. His mother was Elizabeth Tingle of Loxley, Bradfield. Henry went to sea in his teens. He apprenticed with Messrs. James Chambers & Co., Liverpool. His apprenticeship began on 23 October 1889, onboard the 1835-ton Greystoke Castle, and concluded four years later on 22 October 1893. From there, he served as third mate aboard the Greystoke Castle, and then moved on to third mate of the 1374-ton Hornsby Castle. His first steamship posting was aboard the S.S. Brunswick in 1895, where he served initially as third mate, then as second mate. In 1896, he transferred to the S.S. Europa and served aboard her as second mate. In July 1897, he joined the White Star Line.

Starting as a junior officer, Wilde rose steadily through the ranks while serving on several White Star ships. These included the Covic, Cufic, Tauric, and Delphic.Tragedy struck in December 1910 when Wilde's wife and twin sons Archie and Richard died. In August 1911, Wilde became Chief Officer of Titanic's sister, the RMS Olympic, where he served under Titanic's future captain, Edward J. Smith.

Marriages Sep 1898

• Jones Mary Catherine W. Derby 8b 1035
• WILDE Henry Tingle W.Derby 8b 1035

Titanic:

Wilde was scheduled to leave Southampton on Olympic on 3 April 1912 but was ordered by White Star to remain behind and await orders. It seems likely that Wilde was slated for his own command on a smaller ship, but was assigned as Titanic's Chief Officer at the last minute, possibly at the request of Capt. Smith. This eleventh hour assignment caused the so-called "officer reshuffle", whereby William Murdoch and Charles Lightoller were bumped down a rank to First and Second Officer, respectively, and Second Officer David Blair was removed from the ship entirely. On Titanic's sailing day, 10 April 1912, Wilde reported for duty at 6.00 AM. Around the time of departure, he was assisting Lightoller in the casting-off of mooring ropes and securing of tug lines. After putting to sea, Wilde worked the 2-6 watches.

While on the Titanic, Wilde supposedly wrote a letter to his sister in which he mentioned that he had "a queer feeling about the ship."

At 11.40 PM on 14 April, Titanic had her encounter with an iceberg. Because Wilde was off-duty at the time, and because he did not survive the night, his movements during the sinking are largely unknown. He took charge of filling and lowering the even-numbered lifeboats on the port side and also gave firearms to both Lightoller and First Officer Murdoch. By 1.40 AM, most of the port lifeboats had been lowered, and Wilde moved to the starboard side. He was last seen trying to free the collapsible lifeboats A and B from the roof of the Officers' Quarters. In The Night Lives On, Walter Lord noted that fewer survivors recalled seeing Wilde than Captain Smith or First Officer Murdoch, and that it is possible (though by no means certain) that Wilde was the officer who committed suicide in the last minutes of the sinking, an incident that was reported by several survivors. Wilde's body was never found.

Further Reading

http://www.williammurdoch.net/articles_17_Chief_Officer_Wilde.html