Fredrick Fleet was born on the 15th October 1887, in Liverpool. Fleet’s childhood only foreshadowed a life of tragic events that followed his birth. Fleet was abandoned by his Mother Alice. He was taken in by Dr Bernardo's and was passed through numerous foster families. After his traumatic youth he took up a sea faring career and moved to Southampton. His last address before boarding Titanic was number 9 Norman Road, Freemantle, Southampton. Records aren’t exactly clear on when Fleet joined the White Star Line but according to Fleet’s testimony before the US Senate, he had served as a lookout and a sailor for four years, on the White Star Vessel R.M.S Oceanic. But Fleet stated he had worked for the White Star Line “for five or six years.” So, it’s estimated that he most likely joined sometime around 1906.
Fleet joined R.M.S Titanic at Belfast and was present on the day of her sea trials. Fleet sailed from Belfast and arrived at Southampton on the 4th April,1912 where he would officially take up the position as Titanic’s lookout. On board Titanic, Fleet was one of six lookouts. On April 14th Fleet and Reginald Lee were on duty in the crow’s nest.
Iceberg Right Ahead!
Fleet had stated that before the collision he had only seen First Officer William Murdoch and Third Officer Herbert Pitman on the bridge and that Captain was not present. Fleet also acknowledged in his testimony that after relieving lookouts Archie Jewell and George Symons that they told Fleet and Lee to keep “a sharp lookout for small ice.” Fleet describes the iceberg that struck the Titanic as a “black mass.” After ringing the bell on the crow’s nest seven times he rang down to the bridge were sixth officer James Moody had asked Fleet what he saw.
After he was relived from his duty Fleet went up on to the boat deck where he found Titanic’s Second Officer Charles Lightoller. Lightoller had instructed Fleet to get into lifeboat 6 alongside Titanic’s Quartermaster Robert Hitchens to help the women and children in. It’s often thought that Charles Lightoller was very strict on letting women and children only into the lifeboats. Even in his testimony Lightoller admits to turning several female staff away from the lifeboats. But Fleet’s account of Lightoller tells a different story. According to Fleet in lifeboat number 6 there had been a total of five men, three were passengers and two had been serving members of the crew. By the time lifeboat 6 left Titanic he estimated that the boat had a total of 30 people. Titanic’s lifeboats had been designed to hold nearly 75 people. 30 was not nearly enough. Many criticise Lightoller’s methods of loading the boats as by only allowing the women and children on the boat deck to get in this resulted with some boats being launched only half full.
Fleet after the Titanic
Fredrick Fleet was detained after being questioned at both the US Senate and The British Board of Trade inquiries. After the Titanic disaster Fleet very briefly served on Titanic’s sister R.M.S Olympic. But, soon resigned after seeing other members of the crew, who had also served on the Titanic. Fleet did marry in 1917 and ended up serving in both World War One and World War Two. The emotional strain took a toll on Titanic’s former lookout and he resigned from the naval industry after the end of the Second World War. Fleet suffered from severe depression and PTSD as a result of serving in both wars and surviving one of the worst maritime disasters in history.
After Titanic Fleet led a relatively quiet and secluded life. He took up selling newspapers for The Echo in Southampton. He was often taunted by residents of the city, after all out the 725 natives from Southampton only 127 survived. He was subject to ridicule and many people often came up to him and asked if he had seen any icebergs.
Fleet’s torment did not stop there, in 1964 his wife died. At the time both Fleet and his wife had been living at his wife’s brother. After the death of his wife, Fleet’s brother in law evicted him from the house. On the 10th January 1965 Fleet broke back into his brother in law’s back garden and hung himself from a tree in the yard.
He was originally buried in an unmarked grave in Hollybrook Cemetery in Southampton. However, in 1993 the Titanic Historical Society managed to raise enough money to erect a headstone for Titanic’s lookout. In 2012 Fleet’s grave was vandalised by someone who placed a pair of binoculars on his headstone with a note attached which read “sorry for bringing these 100 years too late. But, better late than never.”
Fleet’s life was plagued with tragedy and loss, even in death he’s still highly criticised for his actions on the night Titanic sank.
As always, I’ll leave a few external links on the life of Fredrick Fleet. I will include the testimonies from both the British Board of Trade and the US Senate.
Have a titanic week, Millie.
Fleet’s Testimony before the US Senate: https://www.titanicinquiry.org/USInq2/AmInq04Fleet02.php
Fleet’s Testimony before the British Wreck Commissioners: https://www.titanicinquiry.org/BOTInq/BOTInq15Fleet01.php
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