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Frederick Fleet (15 October 1887 – 10 January 1965) was a British sailor, crewman and survivor of the sinking of the RMS Titanic after it struck an iceberg on 14 April 1912.[1] Alongside fellow lookout Reginald Lee, on duty, aboard the Titanic when the ship struck the iceberg, it was Fleet who first sighted the iceberg, ringing the bridge to proclaim, "Iceberg, right ahead!"[2]
Fleet testified at the subsequent inquiries into the sinking that, had he and Lee been issued with binoculars: "We could have seen it (the iceberg) a bit sooner." When asked how much sooner, he responded, "Well, enough to get out of the way."[3] In later life, Fleet suffered severe depression and as a result committed suicide by hanging in January 1965.
Fleet testified at the subsequent inquiries into the sinking that, had he and Lee been issued with binoculars: "We could have seen it (the iceberg) a bit sooner." When asked how much sooner, he responded, "Well, enough to get out of the way."[3] In later life, Fleet suffered severe depression and as a result committed suicide by hanging in January 1965.
Frederick Fleet - Wikipedia
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This video clip from 'What Happened After' looks at the life of Fredrick Fleet, the infamous lookout aboard the Titanic who first saw the iceberg that would ...
Thank you my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that October 15 is the anniversary of the birth of British sailor, WWI Merchant Navy Sailor and WWII navy veteran, Frederick Fleet who was a crewman on the RMS Titanic who was a survivor of the sinking of the RMS Titanic after it struck an iceberg on 14 April 1912.
He was a Lookout aboard the Titanic, and was part of the Deck Crew. It is noteworthy that he "first sighted the iceberg, ringing the bridge to proclaim, "Iceberg, right ahead!"
He grieved heavily after the wife he loved died in December of 1964 Two weeks later "her brother made him leave his house. On January 10th 1965 aged seventy seven Frederick Fleet hanged himself in the garden of the home of his brother-in-law."
Rest in peace Frederick Fleet.
Background from facts-about.org.uk/famous-people-facts-starting-with-f/frederick-fleet.htm
" Frederick Fleet Biography Summary: Frederick Fleet Summary:- Frederick Fleet (1887 - 1965) was famous for surviving the sinking of RMS Titanic. He lived through several major events in his lifetime. Frederick Fleet went to sea at a very young age not knowing his parents. Later he found employment working for the White Star Line and infamously on the Titanic and her fateful journey from Southampton to New York. Frederick Fleet would be the lookout that first saw the iceberg but was powerless to do anything about it. He was also fortunate enough to survive the ships sinking.
He served his country during World War I in the merchant navy and then worked for shipyard before joining the military again during World War II. His last job was as a newspaper salesman when times were still tough after the Second World War. He tragically took his live after his wife died.
Facts about Frederick Fleet
Frederick Fleet Fact File Biography: Lifespan: 1887 - 1965
Full Name: Frederick Fleet
Occupation: British Sailor
Date of Birth: Frederick Fleet was born on October 15th 1887
Place of Birth: Frederick Fleet was born in Liverpool, England
Family background: His father was not known to him and his mother abandoned him, leaving England for America with another man, never to make contact with him again
Early life and childhood: He grew up in a series of foster homes and with distant relatives
Education: Frederick Fleet may not have received much if any education.
Frederick Fleet Fact 1: Frederick Fleet was born on October 15th 1887 and during the late 19th century period in history when great strides were made in the industrial revolution, the Victoria era was coming to a close and there were vast technological advances being made.
Frederick Fleet Fact 2: By 1903 Frederick Fleet had boarded his first ship as a deck boy and would work his way up to able seaman.
Frederick Fleet Fact 3: He would become part of the crew of the RMS Oceanic as a lookout and was with the crew for four years.
Frederick Fleet Fact 4: Frederick Fleet joined the crew of the Titanic as a lookout in April 1912 at Southampton. In total the Titanic had six watchmen.
Frederick Fleet Fact 5: Having boarded the Titanic in Southampton the ship set sail and made two stops, one to Cherbourg in France and the next to Queenstown in Ireland.
Frederick Fleet Fact 6: All lookouts worked two hour shifts because the weather was bitterly cold up in the crow’s nest.
Frederick Fleet Fact 7: On April 14th 1912 the night was moonless and the sea calm. Fleet and fellow crewmate and lookout Reginald Lee went on shift replacing Archie Jewell and George Symons. The relieved crewmen passed on the orders given by Charles Lightoller, the second officer, to keep a lookout for icebergs. With the lack of moonlights and still waters they were difficult to spot.
Frederick Fleet Fact 8: Repeated requests had been made for binoculars but these were unavailable for the lookout teams.
Frederick Fleet Fact 9: There seem to be several possibilities why binoculars were not used, one being when the officers switched shifts one did not inform the other of their whereabouts, another is that they were locked away and the officer going off duty forgot he had the key. Regardless, it has been said that because of the unhelpful weather conditions binoculars would have been useless anyway.
Frederick Fleet Fact 10: Frederick Fleet would be the first of the two lookouts to spot the iceberg and proceeded with protocol and rang the lookout bell three times, followed by using the telephone to the bridge where he clearly said “Iceberg! Right Ahead!” to James Paul Moody, the sixth officer, who without hesitation, notified William McMaster Murdock, the first officer, who was in charge on the bridge at that time.
Frederick Fleet Fact 11: After they hit the iceberg both lookouts remained on duty for further twenty minutes until they were relieved by George Hogg and Alfred Frank Evans at midnight.
Frederick Fleet Fact 12: Frederick Fleet then proceeded to assist with preparing lifeboat 6. Within minutes it was ready and Lightoller, the second officer, put Robert Hichens, the quartermaster, in charge and ordered Fleet into lifeboat 6.
Frederick Fleet Fact 13: The lifeboat was lowered to water level and Margaret Brown, who was aboard the lifeboat requested another sailor be sent down to assist with rowing. There were no other crewmembers within distance and so Canadian Colonel Arthur Godfrey Peuchen volunteered himself to assist advising he had some sailing experience.
Frederick Fleet Fact 14: Once set away from the sinking ship, they attempted to reach a ship in the distance whose lights were visible from where they were. With Peuchen and Fleet manning the oars with Margaret Brown and Helen Churchill Candee and Hichens at the tiller there were minor disagreements and bickering.
Frederick Fleet Fact 15: Hichens was not popular and kept upsetting the rowers.
Frederick Fleet Fact 16: When they failed to reach the SS California the question of going back for survivors arose and Hichens cautioned against the idea for fear of being overwhelmed.
Frederick Fleet Fact 17: Eventually the occupants of lifeboat 6 intercepted RMS Carpathia at 6.00am the following morning.
Frederick Fleet Fact 18: Fleet was subject to both a British and American enquiry in to the tragedy after which he went on to serve on the RMS Olympic, Titanic’s sister ship run by the White Star Line.
Frederick Fleet Fact 19: He served his country during both World War I and World War II as well as working for Harland & Wolff in Southampton.
Frederick Fleet Fact 20: He and his wife lived with her brother but after her death in December of 1964 her brother made him leave his house. On January 10th 1965 aged seventy seven Frederick Fleet hanged himself in the garden of the home of his brother-in-law. His body laid to rest in a pauper’s grave at Hollybrook Cemetery in Southampton."
Titanic's Lookout | History
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G7d_oXXCgM
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Orlando Illi Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price CPT Jack Durish Capt Tom Brown CMSgt (Join to see) MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SGT (Join to see) Sgt Albert Castro SSG David Andrews Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT Mark Halmrast PO1 William "Chip" Nagel CPT Gabe SnellLTC Greg Henning
He was a Lookout aboard the Titanic, and was part of the Deck Crew. It is noteworthy that he "first sighted the iceberg, ringing the bridge to proclaim, "Iceberg, right ahead!"
He grieved heavily after the wife he loved died in December of 1964 Two weeks later "her brother made him leave his house. On January 10th 1965 aged seventy seven Frederick Fleet hanged himself in the garden of the home of his brother-in-law."
Rest in peace Frederick Fleet.
Background from facts-about.org.uk/famous-people-facts-starting-with-f/frederick-fleet.htm
" Frederick Fleet Biography Summary: Frederick Fleet Summary:- Frederick Fleet (1887 - 1965) was famous for surviving the sinking of RMS Titanic. He lived through several major events in his lifetime. Frederick Fleet went to sea at a very young age not knowing his parents. Later he found employment working for the White Star Line and infamously on the Titanic and her fateful journey from Southampton to New York. Frederick Fleet would be the lookout that first saw the iceberg but was powerless to do anything about it. He was also fortunate enough to survive the ships sinking.
He served his country during World War I in the merchant navy and then worked for shipyard before joining the military again during World War II. His last job was as a newspaper salesman when times were still tough after the Second World War. He tragically took his live after his wife died.
Facts about Frederick Fleet
Frederick Fleet Fact File Biography: Lifespan: 1887 - 1965
Full Name: Frederick Fleet
Occupation: British Sailor
Date of Birth: Frederick Fleet was born on October 15th 1887
Place of Birth: Frederick Fleet was born in Liverpool, England
Family background: His father was not known to him and his mother abandoned him, leaving England for America with another man, never to make contact with him again
Early life and childhood: He grew up in a series of foster homes and with distant relatives
Education: Frederick Fleet may not have received much if any education.
Frederick Fleet Fact 1: Frederick Fleet was born on October 15th 1887 and during the late 19th century period in history when great strides were made in the industrial revolution, the Victoria era was coming to a close and there were vast technological advances being made.
Frederick Fleet Fact 2: By 1903 Frederick Fleet had boarded his first ship as a deck boy and would work his way up to able seaman.
Frederick Fleet Fact 3: He would become part of the crew of the RMS Oceanic as a lookout and was with the crew for four years.
Frederick Fleet Fact 4: Frederick Fleet joined the crew of the Titanic as a lookout in April 1912 at Southampton. In total the Titanic had six watchmen.
Frederick Fleet Fact 5: Having boarded the Titanic in Southampton the ship set sail and made two stops, one to Cherbourg in France and the next to Queenstown in Ireland.
Frederick Fleet Fact 6: All lookouts worked two hour shifts because the weather was bitterly cold up in the crow’s nest.
Frederick Fleet Fact 7: On April 14th 1912 the night was moonless and the sea calm. Fleet and fellow crewmate and lookout Reginald Lee went on shift replacing Archie Jewell and George Symons. The relieved crewmen passed on the orders given by Charles Lightoller, the second officer, to keep a lookout for icebergs. With the lack of moonlights and still waters they were difficult to spot.
Frederick Fleet Fact 8: Repeated requests had been made for binoculars but these were unavailable for the lookout teams.
Frederick Fleet Fact 9: There seem to be several possibilities why binoculars were not used, one being when the officers switched shifts one did not inform the other of their whereabouts, another is that they were locked away and the officer going off duty forgot he had the key. Regardless, it has been said that because of the unhelpful weather conditions binoculars would have been useless anyway.
Frederick Fleet Fact 10: Frederick Fleet would be the first of the two lookouts to spot the iceberg and proceeded with protocol and rang the lookout bell three times, followed by using the telephone to the bridge where he clearly said “Iceberg! Right Ahead!” to James Paul Moody, the sixth officer, who without hesitation, notified William McMaster Murdock, the first officer, who was in charge on the bridge at that time.
Frederick Fleet Fact 11: After they hit the iceberg both lookouts remained on duty for further twenty minutes until they were relieved by George Hogg and Alfred Frank Evans at midnight.
Frederick Fleet Fact 12: Frederick Fleet then proceeded to assist with preparing lifeboat 6. Within minutes it was ready and Lightoller, the second officer, put Robert Hichens, the quartermaster, in charge and ordered Fleet into lifeboat 6.
Frederick Fleet Fact 13: The lifeboat was lowered to water level and Margaret Brown, who was aboard the lifeboat requested another sailor be sent down to assist with rowing. There were no other crewmembers within distance and so Canadian Colonel Arthur Godfrey Peuchen volunteered himself to assist advising he had some sailing experience.
Frederick Fleet Fact 14: Once set away from the sinking ship, they attempted to reach a ship in the distance whose lights were visible from where they were. With Peuchen and Fleet manning the oars with Margaret Brown and Helen Churchill Candee and Hichens at the tiller there were minor disagreements and bickering.
Frederick Fleet Fact 15: Hichens was not popular and kept upsetting the rowers.
Frederick Fleet Fact 16: When they failed to reach the SS California the question of going back for survivors arose and Hichens cautioned against the idea for fear of being overwhelmed.
Frederick Fleet Fact 17: Eventually the occupants of lifeboat 6 intercepted RMS Carpathia at 6.00am the following morning.
Frederick Fleet Fact 18: Fleet was subject to both a British and American enquiry in to the tragedy after which he went on to serve on the RMS Olympic, Titanic’s sister ship run by the White Star Line.
Frederick Fleet Fact 19: He served his country during both World War I and World War II as well as working for Harland & Wolff in Southampton.
Frederick Fleet Fact 20: He and his wife lived with her brother but after her death in December of 1964 her brother made him leave his house. On January 10th 1965 aged seventy seven Frederick Fleet hanged himself in the garden of the home of his brother-in-law. His body laid to rest in a pauper’s grave at Hollybrook Cemetery in Southampton."
Titanic's Lookout | History
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G7d_oXXCgM
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Orlando Illi Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price CPT Jack Durish Capt Tom Brown CMSgt (Join to see) MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SGT (Join to see) Sgt Albert Castro SSG David Andrews Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT Mark Halmrast PO1 William "Chip" Nagel CPT Gabe SnellLTC Greg Henning
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