George Symons (sailor): Difference between revisions
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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. |
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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 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. |
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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/|accessdate=23 February 2014|newspaper=Daily Echo|date=7 June 2007}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 02:34, 1 July 2020
George Thomas Macdonald Symons | |
|---|---|
 George Symons, 1912, shortly before joining the crew of the Titanic | |
| Born | 23 February 1888 |
| Died | 3 December 1950 (aged 62) Southampton, England, UK |
| Occupation(s) | Seaman, Sailor |
| Known for | Titanic survivor |
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
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 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. 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 hours later.
On board the Carpathia, Symons stumbled upon his brother Jack who was a crew member of that ship.[1]
Later life
After the sinking, he returned to Britain and married Mary Jane Bolt and they 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
- ^ Walton, Harry (7 June 2007). "Family's amazing high sea dramas". Daily Echo. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
Further reading
- George Thomas Macdonald Symons at Encyclopedia Titanica
- "Testimony of George Symons". British Wreck Commissioner's Inquiry : Day 10. Titanic Inquiry Project.
