One of our recent customers is related to Sir Hayes and retold his story. We thought it was just too amazing to pass up! Sir Bertram Fox Hayes was captain of several White Star Line ships including the Adriatic during 1912 when he returned the surviving Titanic crew members following the NY investigative hearings. He was also the captain of the Olympic from 1915 through the early twenties and carried troops from the US and Canada to France. As a Captain in the Royal Naval Reserve, he was promoted to Commodore (first time a merchant officer ever received that honor). Hayes was employed by the White Star Line beginning in 1889 and retired in 1924 from the command of the Majestic (formally Bismark) the largest liner at that time in the world. When in command of the Olympic, he rammed and sank the "U-103" in the English Channel in May 1918. The Olympic was carrying 5,000 American troops and he was "knighted" for his efforts. He also was awarded the gold lifesaving medal from France for saving the crew members of a French cruiser that had sunk in the Med. during WW1. (this actually saved him from a court martial as he shouldn't have stopped the Olympic to save them. But that's another story). He authored a book (his autobiography) called "Hull Down: Reminiscences of Windjammers, Troops and Travelers". See his history here. and picture/awards. He also testified at the Titanic Inquiry.
2 Comments
Martyn Whiteman
11/13/2012 05:43:17 am
I am also related to Bertram Hayes and would be very interested to be put in touch with the customer Who gave you the story last March 2012. Is that possible?
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SignalFlags.US
11/13/2012 11:23:58 am
No problem! Please send me your email address ([email protected]) and I will send it to him.
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