Herbert John Pitman, more commonly nicknamed ‘Bert’ was born in November, 1877 in Somerset. Pitman came from a family of farmers. This would seem logical due to the rural setting of Cornwall. In 1895 Pitman joined the Merchant Navy. In 1900 he passed his nautical examination following his success in 1902 Pitman passed his first mate examination and by 1904 Pitman joined the Blue Anchor Line on the Australian run. It’s commonly thought that Pitman first joined the White Star Line in late 1906. His role had swapped between third, fourth and second officer on many White Star Vessels such as the Oceanic, Majestic and S.S Dolphin. According to the testimony given by Pitman after the Titanic disaster he said that he had been serving the White Star Line for five and a-half years.
In early 1912, Pitman had been offered a position on the R.M.S Titanic, he collected his ticket from the White Star headquarters located on James Street, Liverpool. Pitman then joined Titanic in Belfast on March 27th, 1912. He had also been present during the sea trials that took place on Belfast Lough.
On April 14th, 1912 Pitman had been on duty between 12 and 4pm and in his testimony said he was aware that Titanic would be entering an ice field later in the evening. At the time of the collision Pitman was asleep in his cabin. In his testimony Pitman hadn’t been woken up by the impact but had said “ I thought the ship was coming to anchor.” Following this instead of getting up and checking he simply laid on his bunk for a few minutes before briefly skirting round the officer’s quarters. It was second officer Charles Lightoller who had confirmed to pitman that the ship had struck something. Shortly after this Pitman retired back to his cabin until Titanic’s fourth officer Joseph Boxhall came and told him that the mail room was afloat.
Pitman had been sighted near Titanic’s forecastle deck trying to look for any damage. According to his testimony he was soon greeted by some of Titanic’s firemen. Who came and reported that water was coming quickly into their quarters. Pitman was originally put in charge of boat number one however, he first went to check lifeboat number five because first officer William Murdoch had placed him in charge of that boat. during the loading of the lifeboats Pitman recalled that he had seen managing director of the White Star Line, Joseph Bruce Ismay hovering around.
Commissioner: Did you see Mr. Ismay close to this boat?
Pitman: - I did.
Commissioner: Was he taking any part, saying anything, or doing anything?
Pitman: - He remarked to me as we were uncovering the boat, "There is no time to lose." Of course, I did not know who he was then, and therefore did not take any notice.
Pitman had left Titanic on lifeboat number 5 and recalled that the Titanic sank in one piece:
Commissioner: supposing that is the head of the ship and going down in this way with the afterpart coming up in that way; a number of Witnesses have said that before she finally foundered, plunged into the sea, the afterpart righted itself like that and then she went down. The question is whether you think that is true that she broke in two in that way bringing her afterpart level with the water again and then went down in that way. Did she crack in the middle?
Pitman - I do not think so. If the afterpart had broken off it would have remained afloat.
Pitman had suggested that the lifeboat should row towards the wreckage in hope of picking up any survivors. Many passengers were then transferred from lifeboat 7 into lifeboat 5. Lifeboat 5 reached the Carpathia at roughly 3:30 am on April 15th, 1912. Once in New York Pitman was allowed leave on the 2nd May 1912, after the Inquiry conducted by the US Senate. Pitman left New York on another White Star Vessel, the S.S Adratic alongside fellow crew members Charles Lightoller, Joseph Boxhall and Harold Lowe, travelling with the officer was Titanic’s owner Joseph Bruce Ismay.
The Titanic disaster did not stop Pitman working for the White Star Line. He served for another twenty years. Pitman died in 1961 at the age of 84 as a result of a haemorrhage. His ashes were scattered in Pitcombe, Somerset.
As always, I’ll leave a few external links on Herbert Pitman. If you have any questions, please feel free to get in contact.
Have a Titanic week, Millie.
Herbert Pitman’s Testimony Before the US Senate Day 2 : https://www.titanicinquiry.org/USInq/AmInq02Pitman01.php
Titanic Officers: Third Officer Herbert Pitman: https://www.titanicofficers.com/titanic_05_pitman_03.html
Herbert Pitman’s Testimony Before the US Senate Day 4: https://www.titanicinquiry.org/USInq/AmInq04Pitman01.php
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