Commodore CHARLES ALFRED BARTLETT CB, CBE, RD, RNR
PERSONAL DATA:
Ethnicity: British
Date of Birth: August 21st, 1868, 58 Lichfield Road, Mile End, London.
Date of Death: February 15, 1945, Park House Nursing Home, Waterloo, Liverpool. Aged 76. Kidney failure. Cremated at Anfield Crematorium.
Eyes: Blue/grey
Height: 5 ft. 11, (1.80 m)
Marital status: Married to Edith Bartlett
Children: One son, named Charles "Ellis" Bartlett (died on May 13, 1915 on HMS Goliath during the Gallipoli Campaign). One daughter, named Eileen.
CAREER:
Ethnicity: British
Date of Birth: August 21st, 1868, 58 Lichfield Road, Mile End, London.
Date of Death: February 15, 1945, Park House Nursing Home, Waterloo, Liverpool. Aged 76. Kidney failure. Cremated at Anfield Crematorium.
Eyes: Blue/grey
Height: 5 ft. 11, (1.80 m)
Marital status: Married to Edith Bartlett
Children: One son, named Charles "Ellis" Bartlett (died on May 13, 1915 on HMS Goliath during the Gallipoli Campaign). One daughter, named Eileen.
CAREER:
|
YEAR
1888 (?) 1891 1893 1894 1894 1894 1897 1898 1900 1901 1901 1901 1902 1903 1903 1904 1904 1905 1906 1906 1906 1907 1907 1907 1912 - 1914 1914 1915 1915 1916 1917 - 1931 |
VESSEL
Airlie (clipper) Rewa Jumna Dorunda Jelunga Germanic Doric Gothic Gothic Georgic (cargo) Georgic (cargo) Teutonic Celtic Oceanic Celtic Armenian (cargo) Germanic Victorian Canopic Gothic Republic Cymric Romanic Cedric - - - HMY Verona HMHS Britannic HMHS Britannic - |
COMPANY
D. Bruce & Co. British India Company British India Company British India Company British India Company White Star Line White Star Line White Star Line White Star Line White Star Line White Star Line White Star Line White Star Line White Star Line White Star Line White Star Line White Starl Line White Star Line White Star Line White Star Line White Star Line White Star Line White Star Line White Star Line - White Star Line Royal Navy Hugh Andrews DL, JP/Royal Navy White Star Line/Royal Navy White Star Line/Royal Navy White Star Line |
RANK
Apprentice - Second Officer Second Officer Second Officer Fourth Officer Second Officer Second Officer First Officer Second Officer First Officer First Officer First Officer First Officer First Officer Captain Captain Captain Captain Captain Captain Captain Captain Captain Retired Senior Marine Superintendent (Liverpool) Captain RNR Captain RNR Captain RNR Captain RNR Senior Marine Superintedent (Liverpool) |
POINTS OF INTEREST
While Bartlett was in command of the Gothic in 1906, there were 2 fires onboard within a week, which destroyed the saloon and staterooms. The ship managed to reach Plymouth, but she wouldn’t sail again for 8 months.
Despite being known as a disciplinarian, Bartlett was well-loved by crew and passengers alike. He had an excellent safety record. He was nicknamed "Iceberg Charlie" for his ability to "smell" ice.
When Captain Bartlett was in command of the Germanic, his 1st Officer was William McMaster Murdoch, who would late perish on the Titanic.
Charles Bartlett was questioned by the British Inquiry investigating the sinking of the Titanic. He was appointed Marine Superintendent in January 1912, therefore he was rather familiar with the Titanic and her crew. He was questioned several days about numerous things including boat drills, the course of the Titanic and he was asked several questions about her Officers.
When the First World War broke out Bartlett joined the Royal Navy as a member of the Royal Naval Reserve and commanded the armed yacht HMY Verona on trawler patrol in the North Sea. For his services he was promoted to Commodore R.N.R. and made a Companion of the Order of the Bath.
In 1921 Bartlett was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE). At his investiture, King George V commented that it was not often he gave a CBE to a man who had lost his ship.
He traveled several times on the Olympic as a 1st class passenger, in the years 1920/1924, and he also traveled on at least one occasion on the Homeric in 1922.
He retired as Marine Superintendent of the White Star Line on 31st December 1931.
While Bartlett was in command of the Gothic in 1906, there were 2 fires onboard within a week, which destroyed the saloon and staterooms. The ship managed to reach Plymouth, but she wouldn’t sail again for 8 months.
Despite being known as a disciplinarian, Bartlett was well-loved by crew and passengers alike. He had an excellent safety record. He was nicknamed "Iceberg Charlie" for his ability to "smell" ice.
When Captain Bartlett was in command of the Germanic, his 1st Officer was William McMaster Murdoch, who would late perish on the Titanic.
Charles Bartlett was questioned by the British Inquiry investigating the sinking of the Titanic. He was appointed Marine Superintendent in January 1912, therefore he was rather familiar with the Titanic and her crew. He was questioned several days about numerous things including boat drills, the course of the Titanic and he was asked several questions about her Officers.
When the First World War broke out Bartlett joined the Royal Navy as a member of the Royal Naval Reserve and commanded the armed yacht HMY Verona on trawler patrol in the North Sea. For his services he was promoted to Commodore R.N.R. and made a Companion of the Order of the Bath.
In 1921 Bartlett was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE). At his investiture, King George V commented that it was not often he gave a CBE to a man who had lost his ship.
He traveled several times on the Olympic as a 1st class passenger, in the years 1920/1924, and he also traveled on at least one occasion on the Homeric in 1922.
He retired as Marine Superintendent of the White Star Line on 31st December 1931.
Information researched and compiled by Remco Hillen and Michail Michailakis
SOURCES
Inger Sheil Mark Chirnside Mark Baber’s daily ‘White Star Line History’
‘HMHS Britannic, the Last Titan’ – Simon Mills
‘Hostage to Fortune’ – Simon Mills
‘RMS Olympic, Old Reliable’ – Simon Mills
‘William McMaster Murdoch – A Career at sea’ – Susanne Störmer
'The man who nearly commanded Titanic?' - Simon Mills - 'The Titanic Commutator' #154 (Vol.25, 2001)
www.ellisisland.org
www.encyclopedia-titanica.org
www.titanic-titanic.com/white%20star%20line%20ships.shtml
www.titanicinquiry.org
www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/bisn.html
www.william-mcmaster-murdoch.org
www.bytenet.net/kaleidoscope/osnc/fleet/baltic2.htm
http://www.titanictown.plus.com/titanictown/britannic.htm
SOURCES
Inger Sheil Mark Chirnside Mark Baber’s daily ‘White Star Line History’
‘HMHS Britannic, the Last Titan’ – Simon Mills
‘Hostage to Fortune’ – Simon Mills
‘RMS Olympic, Old Reliable’ – Simon Mills
‘William McMaster Murdoch – A Career at sea’ – Susanne Störmer
'The man who nearly commanded Titanic?' - Simon Mills - 'The Titanic Commutator' #154 (Vol.25, 2001)
www.ellisisland.org
www.encyclopedia-titanica.org
www.titanic-titanic.com/white%20star%20line%20ships.shtml
www.titanicinquiry.org
www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/bisn.html
www.william-mcmaster-murdoch.org
www.bytenet.net/kaleidoscope/osnc/fleet/baltic2.htm
http://www.titanictown.plus.com/titanictown/britannic.htm
