J. B. Ranson
Encyclopedia
Captain J. B. Ranson OBE was a commander of White Star Line
liners. He was born in 1864. His marine career began at the age of 14, when he joined the Pacific Steam Navigation Company
. He joined the White Star Line in 1891.
(sailing from New York to Gibraltar and Mediterranean ports) when it collided with the Italian liner Florida in fog off the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts
, Saturday, January 23, 1909. Submarine bells, depth sounding, and radio signals were used by Ranson to locate the drifting RMS Republic.
This was the first occasion on which the CQD
distress call had been sent by wireless
transmission.
Ranson was awarded the Lloyd’s Life Saving Medal "as an honorary acknowledgement of his extraordinary exertions in contributing to the saving of life on the occasion of the steamships Republic and Florida being in collision in the vicinity of the Nantucket Lightship on the 23 January 1909".
As a joint expression of the gratitude of saloon passengers from the White Star's Baltic and Republic, Ranson received a special commemorative award CQD "Gold" Medal, in recognition of the gallantry of the seamen who had taken part in the rescue.
American wrist-watch millionaire, Ralph Ingersoll, undertook the striking and distribution of the medals, presented to all crew members and captains involved in the incident.
to Liverpool
on 11 April 1912.
On Sunday 14 April 1912, the Baltic warned the RMS Titanic by radio that iceberg
s had been sighted. Titanic hit an iceberg at 11:40 that same night. This warning became notable after the sinking when Titanic's captain took the warning from the bridge and handed it to White Star Line managing director J. Bruce Ismay
. He took it and reportedly later showed it to some other passengers. Ismay later said he gave the warning back when Captain Smith asked for it later that evening. Some Ismay critics have pointed to this as evidence that Ismay had convinced Captain Smith to increase the ship's speed, which Ismay denies, and that this was Captain Smith showing Ismay there was danger.
At 00:30 the ship Caronia relayed a CQ
message from Titanic to the Baltic, and at 00:53 another CQD.
At 01:15, Baltic responded "Please tell Titanic we are making towards her".
At 01:35 Baltic reported receiving the message "Engine room getting flooded" from Titanic, and responded "We are rushing to you".
Later in the morning, at 08:07 Baltic radioed the RMS Carpathia
to offer assistance with survivors. Baltic travelled 134 miles west toward the scene of the sinking of the Titanic before turning back toward Liverpool.
Ranson subsequently provided testimony about the warnings of icebergs and standard operating procedure, to the British inquiry into the Titanic disaster Tuesday June 18, 1912. In "EXPENSES OF INQUIRY PAID BY THE BOARD OF TRADE" Ranson is shown to have received 15 shillings in his capacity as Master of the Baltic.
as a Senior Captain in World War I
. He commanded the Baltic from the outbreak of hostilities until October 1915, and thereafter, the Adriatic
until the end of the War. He was also awarded the British War and Mercantile Marine Medals.
White Star Line
The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British shipping company, today most famous for its ill-fated vessel, the RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of Titanics sister ship Britannic...
liners. He was born in 1864. His marine career began at the age of 14, when he joined the Pacific Steam Navigation Company
Pacific Steam Navigation Company
The Pacific Steam Navigation Company was a commercial shipping company that operated in the Pacific coast of South America, and was the first to use steam ships for commercial traffic in the Pacific Ocean.-History:...
. He joined the White Star Line in 1891.
Rescue of the RMS Republic
Ranson was the captain of the ship RMS Baltic, which rescued 1600 passengers and crew from the stricken liner RMS RepublicRMS Republic (1903)
RMS Republic was a steam-powered ocean liner built in 1903 by Harland and Wolff in Belfast, and lost at sea in a collision six years later while sailing for the White Star Line. A CQD distress call was issued on the new Marconi radio device, the first recorded, resulting in the saving of around...
(sailing from New York to Gibraltar and Mediterranean ports) when it collided with the Italian liner Florida in fog off the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket is an island south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in the United States. Together with the small islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget, it constitutes the town of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and the coterminous Nantucket County, which are consolidated. Part of the town is designated the Nantucket...
, Saturday, January 23, 1909. Submarine bells, depth sounding, and radio signals were used by Ranson to locate the drifting RMS Republic.
This was the first occasion on which the CQD
CQD
CQD, transmitted in Morse code as — · — · — — · — — · · is one of the first distress signals adopted for radio use...
distress call had been sent by wireless
Wireless
Wireless telecommunications is the transfer of information between two or more points that are not physically connected. Distances can be short, such as a few meters for television remote control, or as far as thousands or even millions of kilometers for deep-space radio communications...
transmission.
Ranson was awarded the Lloyd’s Life Saving Medal "as an honorary acknowledgement of his extraordinary exertions in contributing to the saving of life on the occasion of the steamships Republic and Florida being in collision in the vicinity of the Nantucket Lightship on the 23 January 1909".
As a joint expression of the gratitude of saloon passengers from the White Star's Baltic and Republic, Ranson received a special commemorative award CQD "Gold" Medal, in recognition of the gallantry of the seamen who had taken part in the rescue.
American wrist-watch millionaire, Ralph Ingersoll, undertook the striking and distribution of the medals, presented to all crew members and captains involved in the incident.
The sinking of the Titanic
As Captain of the RMS Baltic, he was sailing from New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
on 11 April 1912.
On Sunday 14 April 1912, the Baltic warned the RMS Titanic by radio that iceberg
Iceberg
An iceberg is a large piece of ice from freshwater that has broken off from a snow-formed glacier or ice shelf and is floating in open water. It may subsequently become frozen into pack ice...
s had been sighted. Titanic hit an iceberg at 11:40 that same night. This warning became notable after the sinking when Titanic
J. Bruce Ismay
Joseph Bruce Ismay was an English businessman who served as chairman and managing director of the White Star Line of steamships. He came to international attention as the highest-ranking White Star official among the 706 survivors Joseph Bruce Ismay (12 December 1862 – 17 October 1937) was...
. He took it and reportedly later showed it to some other passengers. Ismay later said he gave the warning back when Captain Smith asked for it later that evening. Some Ismay critics have pointed to this as evidence that Ismay had convinced Captain Smith to increase the ship's speed, which Ismay denies, and that this was Captain Smith showing Ismay there was danger.
At 00:30 the ship Caronia relayed a CQ
CQ (call)
CQ is a code used by wireless operators, particularly those communicating in Morse code, but also by voice operators, to make a general call . Transmitting the letters CQ on a particular radio frequency is an invitation for any operators listening on that frequency to respond...
message from Titanic to the Baltic, and at 00:53 another CQD.
At 01:15, Baltic responded "Please tell Titanic we are making towards her".
At 01:35 Baltic reported receiving the message "Engine room getting flooded" from Titanic, and responded "We are rushing to you".
Later in the morning, at 08:07 Baltic radioed the RMS Carpathia
RMS Carpathia
RMS Carpathia was a Cunard Line transatlantic passenger steamship built by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson. Carpathia made her maiden voyage in 1903 and became famous for rescuing the survivors of after the latter ship hit an iceberg and sank on 15 April 1912...
to offer assistance with survivors. Baltic travelled 134 miles west toward the scene of the sinking of the Titanic before turning back toward Liverpool.
Ranson subsequently provided testimony about the warnings of icebergs and standard operating procedure, to the British inquiry into the Titanic disaster Tuesday June 18, 1912. In "EXPENSES OF INQUIRY PAID BY THE BOARD OF TRADE" Ranson is shown to have received 15 shillings in his capacity as Master of the Baltic.
Other awards
Ranson received an O.B.E.Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
as a Senior Captain in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He commanded the Baltic from the outbreak of hostilities until October 1915, and thereafter, the Adriatic
SS Adriatic
SS Adriatic may refer to one of several notable steamships named after the Adriatic Sea:, operated by the Black Ball Line in the mid-19th century, and was among the first ships to be depicted on a postage stamp when used on a 12c value of the United States in 1869, operated by the White Star Line...
until the end of the War. He was also awarded the British War and Mercantile Marine Medals.
Other forms of name (including misspellings)
- J B Ranson
- J Barlow Ransom
- Joseph B Ranson
- John Barlow Ranson (as listed in transcriptions of Titanic Enquiry testimony, in error)
- J. B. Ransom (as minted on his C.Q.D Gold Medal, in error)
Photos
Photos of J.B. Ranson with Captain Inman Sealby of the RMS Republic are known to exist (on the RMS Republic official salvage web site but restrictions may apply see ).Known commands
- 23 January 1909 Ranson is the commander of the Baltic. He rescues the passengers of the Republic after a collision with the Florida.
- 11 April 1912 Captain Ranson sails the Baltic across the Atlantic, warning the Titanic of icebergs. He turns the ship around to participate in the rescue effort.
- 12 December 1915 Captain Ranson is recorded as the commander of the RMS BritannicHMHS BritannicHMHS Britannic was the third and largest of the White Star Line. She was the sister ship of and , and was intended to enter service as a transatlantic passenger liner. She was launched just before the start of the First World War and was laid up at her builders in Belfast for many months before...
, sailing into Liverpool dock to complete commissioning as a hospital ship. - 18 September 1918 Captain Ranson is listed as J. B. Ranson, O.B.E., Lieut.-Commr. R.N.R. (ret'd) and the commander of the RMS Adriatic on its voyage from LiverpoolLiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
to New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Quotes
- In a magazine article about the use of radio to locate RMS Republic in fog, he said "the passenger on a well-equipped transatlantic liner is safer than he can be anywhere else in the world" .
- Asked about icebergs in the Titanic inquiry he said; "We go full speed whether there is ice reported or not", "I always keep my course whether ice is reported or not, on the track"
External links
- The Outlook, February 6, 1909 Article Describing the Rescue of the RMS Republic
- Testimony to the Titanic Enquiry