Sid Daniels
Encyclopedia
Sidney Edward Daniels, or also known as Sid Daniels (November 19, 1893 – May 25, 1983) was a British
merchant marine worker and the last surviving RMS Titanic crewmember. Daniels, who was only 18 when the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank on April 15, 1912, survived by clinging onto an upturned collapsible boat and was rescued by the Carpathia
hours later. He also served in World War I
for the Royal Army Service Corps
and World War II
for the merchant navy.
, England
and in 1911, he joined the crew of the Olympic
on the ship's maiden voyage and was onboard when it collisioned with the HMS Hawke
in Solent
after a couple of voyages. After some other trips on the ship, he was transferred to serve on the RMS Titanic which was due to make her maiden voyage in early 1912. By then, Daniels was 18 years old.
According to him, it went all smooth and quiet and he was sleeping in a bunk when one of the watchmen went down and said that they all had to put their life belts on and go up to deck. Daniels then went up to deck where he said they just stood around waiting for orders, dancing around on the deck. They then got orders to get all the women and children up to their lifeboats. Then, all boats had been gone excepting the last one, which was a collapsible boat, secured to the top of the wireless room and lashed down with different lashings. Someone then asked for a pocket knife and Daniels passed his pocket knife up.
Afterward, he went up near the bridge where he stood and looked from the port side over to the starboard side, from where he saw the water going up the bridge for which he decided to do something. While standing up with water up to his knees, he jumped up onto the rail and dived into the water.
Fearing that suction would take him down, he swam away and came across a lifebuoy. He then saw something flash and swam toward that. It was the upturned lifeboat that they had tried to cut adrift. Daniels climbed on and managed to sit up on the keel of the lifeboat.
While on the boat, they said their prayers and waited for help. Daniels then said to an older man on the boat that he was 'tired', and that he was 'going to sleep' but the old man didn't let him to and Daniels realized that had he gone to sleep he would have never woken up again, it being so cold.
They sat there through the night and toward dawn they say a ship, the Carpathia
, which finally rescued them all. Once onboard the Carpathia
, he tasted coffee for the first time in his life, he said he hated the taste of the coffee, but he didn't care what it was then just something to warm him up. They took him down to the hospital where he stayed for a while.
, Sidney Daniels joined the Royal Army Service Corps
, but saw no direct combat, something that angered him. He returned home in 1915 and when interviewed by a local newspaper, he said that he "couldn't help but laugh to think of all he had been through".
He then served in World War II
for the merchant navy.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
merchant marine worker and the last surviving RMS Titanic crewmember. Daniels, who was only 18 when the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank on April 15, 1912, survived by clinging onto an upturned collapsible boat and was rescued by the Carpathia
Carpathia
Carpathia can refer to various things:*RMS Carpathia was a steamship, notable for its role in the rescue of survivors from the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912*Carpathian Mountains, part of a mountain range in Europe...
hours later. He also served 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...
for the Royal Army Service Corps
Royal Army Service Corps
The Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
for the merchant navy.
Sea career and Titanic
Daniels was born in PortsmouthPortsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and in 1911, he joined the crew of the Olympic
Olympic
Olympic may refer to:In sports:* Olympic Games, international multi-sport event held since 1896* Ancient Olympic Games, ancient multi-sport event held in Olympia, Greece between 776 BC and 393 AD...
on the ship's maiden voyage and was onboard when it collisioned with the HMS Hawke
HMS Hawke (1891)
HMS Hawke, launched in 1891, was the sixth British warship to be named Hawke. She was an Edgar-class protected cruiser.-Service:...
in Solent
Solent
The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
after a couple of voyages. After some other trips on the ship, he was transferred to serve on the RMS Titanic which was due to make her maiden voyage in early 1912. By then, Daniels was 18 years old.
According to him, it went all smooth and quiet and he was sleeping in a bunk when one of the watchmen went down and said that they all had to put their life belts on and go up to deck. Daniels then went up to deck where he said they just stood around waiting for orders, dancing around on the deck. They then got orders to get all the women and children up to their lifeboats. Then, all boats had been gone excepting the last one, which was a collapsible boat, secured to the top of the wireless room and lashed down with different lashings. Someone then asked for a pocket knife and Daniels passed his pocket knife up.
Afterward, he went up near the bridge where he stood and looked from the port side over to the starboard side, from where he saw the water going up the bridge for which he decided to do something. While standing up with water up to his knees, he jumped up onto the rail and dived into the water.
Fearing that suction would take him down, he swam away and came across a lifebuoy. He then saw something flash and swam toward that. It was the upturned lifeboat that they had tried to cut adrift. Daniels climbed on and managed to sit up on the keel of the lifeboat.
While on the boat, they said their prayers and waited for help. Daniels then said to an older man on the boat that he was 'tired', and that he was 'going to sleep' but the old man didn't let him to and Daniels realized that had he gone to sleep he would have never woken up again, it being so cold.
They sat there through the night and toward dawn they say a ship, the Carpathia
Carpathia
Carpathia can refer to various things:*RMS Carpathia was a steamship, notable for its role in the rescue of survivors from the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912*Carpathian Mountains, part of a mountain range in Europe...
, which finally rescued them all. Once onboard the Carpathia
Carpathia
Carpathia can refer to various things:*RMS Carpathia was a steamship, notable for its role in the rescue of survivors from the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912*Carpathian Mountains, part of a mountain range in Europe...
, he tasted coffee for the first time in his life, he said he hated the taste of the coffee, but he didn't care what it was then just something to warm him up. They took him down to the hospital where he stayed for a while.
World War I and World War II
During World War IWorld 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...
, Sidney Daniels joined the Royal Army Service Corps
Royal Army Service Corps
The Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
, but saw no direct combat, something that angered him. He returned home in 1915 and when interviewed by a local newspaper, he said that he "couldn't help but laugh to think of all he had been through".
He then served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
for the merchant navy.