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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name = George Thomas Macdonald Symons
|name = George Thomas Macdonald Symons
|image = File:GeorgeSymonsTItanic.jpg
|image = GeorgeSymonsTItanic.jpg
|image_size = 250px
|image_size = 250px
|caption = George Symons, 1912, shortly before joining the crew of the ''Titanic''
|caption = George Symons in 1912, shortly after the ''Titanic'' survivors arrive in New York
|birth_date = {{birth date|1888|2|23|df=y}}
|birth_date = {{birth date|1888|2|23|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Weymouth, Dorset|Weymouth]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom]]
|birth_place = [[Weymouth, Dorset|Weymouth]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom]]
|death_date = {{death date and age |1950|12|3|1888|2|23|df=y}}
|death_date = {{death date and age |1950|12|3|1888|2|23|df=y}}
|death_place = [[Southampton]], England, UK
|death_place = [[Southampton]], England, UK
|occupation = [[Seaman]], [[Sailor]]
|occupation = Seaman, [[Sailor]]
|known_for = Titanic survivor
|known_for = ''Titanic'' survivor
|module = {{Infobox military person
|embed = yes
|allegiance = {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} United Kingdom
|branch = {{navy|United Kingdom}}
|serviceyears = 1914–1918
|battles = [[World War I]]
}}
}}
}}


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Symons was born in [[Weymouth, Dorset]], [[England]], son of Robert James Symons and Bessie Newman. He was one of thirteen children.
Symons was born in [[Weymouth, Dorset]], [[England]], son of Robert James Symons and Bessie Newman. He was one of thirteen children.


On the night of 14 April 1912, Symons was off-duty when the [[iceberg]] struck the ship. Shortly afterwards, he was ordered to go up to boat deck and help with the task of loading the [[Lifeboats of the RMS Titanic|lifeboats]]. At around 1:00am, First Officer [[William McMaster Murdoch]] began to load Boat #1. Despite the orders of loading the boats with [[women and children first]], Murdoch put Symons in charge of the lifeboat and loaded it with five stokers, [[Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon]], [[Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon]], her secretary and three other First-class passengers. The boat finally rowed away from the ''Titanic'' at 1:05am. It was picked by the [[RMS Carpathia|RMS ''Carpathia'']] hours later.
Symons worked with [[Archie Jewell]] as a lookout on the ''Titanic''. On the night of 14 April 1912, Symons and Jewell were replaced by their colleagues [[Reginald Lee]] and [[Frederick Fleet]] and off-duty when the ship struck the [[iceberg]]. Shortly afterwards, he was ordered to go up to boat deck and help with the task of loading the [[Lifeboats of the RMS Titanic|lifeboats]]. At around 1:00{{nbsp}}am, First Officer [[William McMaster Murdoch]] began to load Boat #1. Murdoch put Symons in charge of the lifeboat and loaded it with five stokers, [[Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon]], [[Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon]], her secretary and three other First-class passengers. The boat finally rowed away from the ''Titanic'' at 1:05{{nbsp}}a.m. The lifeboat was picked by the [[RMS Carpathia|RMS ''Carpathia'']] hours later.


On board the ''Carpathia'', Symons stumbled upon his brother Jack who was a crew member of that ship.<ref name="echo">{{cite news|last=Walton|first=Harry|title=Family’s amazing high sea dramas|url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/1453244.familys_amazing_high_sea_dramas/|accessdate=23 February 2014|newspaper=Daily Echo|date=7 June 2007}}</ref>
On board the ''Carpathia'', Symons stumbled upon his brother Jack who was a crew member of that ship.<ref name="echo">{{cite news|last=Walton|first=Harry|title=Family's amazing high sea dramas|url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/1453244.familys_amazing_high_sea_dramas/|access-date=23 February 2014|newspaper=Daily Echo|date=7 June 2007}}</ref>


==Later life==
==Later life==
After the sinking, he returned to Britain and married Mary Jane Bolt and they had two daughters.
After the sinking, he returned to Britain and married Mary Jane Bolt. The couple had two daughters.


After the outbreak of [[World War I]] in 1914, Symons served for the [[Royal Naval Reserve]]. Then again, Symons ran into his brother Jack and then both ran into their other brother Bob who had been seriously wounded in combat. They all survived the war.
After the outbreak of [[World War I]] in 1914, Symons served for the [[Royal Naval Reserve]]. Then again, Symons ran into his brother Jack and then both ran into their other brother Bob who had been seriously wounded in combat. They all survived the war.
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==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* [http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-survivor/george-thomas-macdonald-symons.html George Thomas Macdonald Symons] at [[Encyclopedia Titanica]]
* [http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-survivor/george-thomas-macdonald-symons.html George Thomas Macdonald Symons] at [[Encyclopedia Titanica]]
* {{cite web|title=Testimony of George Symons|url=http://www.titanicinquiry.org/BOTInq/BOTInq10Symons01.php|work=[[British Wreck Commissioner's inquiry into the sinking of the RMS Titanic|British Wreck Commissioner's Inquiry]] : Day 10|publisher=Titanic Inquiry Project}}
* {{cite web|title=Testimony of George Symons|url=http://www.titanicinquiry.org/BOTInq/BOTInq10Symons01.php|work=[[British Wreck Commissioner's inquiry into the sinking of the RMS Titanic|British Wreck Commissioner's Inquiry]] : Day 10|publisher=Titanic Inquiry Project}}

{{RMS Titanic}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Symons, George}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Symons, George}}
[[Category:1888 births]]
[[Category:1888 births]]
[[Category:1950 deaths]]
[[Category:1950 deaths]]
[[Category:Royal Navy personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:RMS Titanic's crew and passengers]]
[[Category:RMS Titanic survivors]]
[[Category:RMS Titanic survivors]]
[[Category:People from Weymouth, Dorset]]
[[Category:People from Weymouth, Dorset]]
[[Category:British Merchant Navy personnel]]
[[Category:British Merchant Navy personnel]]
[[Category:Royal Navy sailors]]
[[Category:Royal Navy sailors]]
[[Category:Royal Naval Reserve personnel]]

Latest revision as of 02:53, 6 July 2023

George Thomas Macdonald Symons
George Symons in 1912, shortly after the Titanic survivors arrive in New York
Born(1888-02-23)23 February 1888
Weymouth, England, United Kingdom
Died3 December 1950(1950-12-03) (aged 62)
Southampton, England, UK
Occupation(s)Seaman, Sailor
Known forTitanic survivor
Military career
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Service / branch Royal Navy
Years of service1914–1918
Battles / warsWorld War I

George Thomas Macdonald Symons (23 February 1888 – 3 December 1950) was a British sailor who worked as a lookout on board the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Symons, who was 24 at the time of the sinking of the ship, was put in charge of one of the first lifeboats to be launched, lifeboat #1. The boat was an emergency cutter which was launched with only 12 people on board, including seven crew members, and had gained notoriety after the disaster.

Early life and Titanic

[edit]

Symons was born in Weymouth, Dorset, England, son of Robert James Symons and Bessie Newman. He was one of thirteen children.

Symons worked with Archie Jewell as a lookout on the Titanic. On the night of 14 April 1912, Symons and Jewell were replaced by their colleagues Reginald Lee and Frederick Fleet and off-duty when the ship struck the iceberg. Shortly afterwards, he was ordered to go up to boat deck and help with the task of loading the lifeboats. At around 1:00 am, First Officer William McMaster Murdoch began to load Boat #1. Murdoch put Symons in charge of the lifeboat and loaded it with five stokers, Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon, Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon, her secretary and three other First-class passengers. The boat finally rowed away from the Titanic at 1:05 a.m. The lifeboat was picked by the RMS Carpathia hours later.

On board the Carpathia, Symons stumbled upon his brother Jack who was a crew member of that ship.[1]

Later life

[edit]

After the sinking, he returned to Britain and married Mary Jane Bolt. The couple had two daughters.

After the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Symons served for the Royal Naval Reserve. Then again, Symons ran into his brother Jack and then both ran into their other brother Bob who had been seriously wounded in combat. They all survived the war.

Symons died in Southampton on 3 December 1950.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Walton, Harry (7 June 2007). "Family's amazing high sea dramas". Daily Echo. Retrieved 23 February 2014.

Further reading

[edit]
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