Harold Thomas Cottam | |
|---|---|
 Cottam in 1912 | |
| Born | Harold Thomas Cottam 27 January 1891 Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England |
| Died | 30 May 1984 (aged 93) Lowdham, Nottinghamshire, England |
| Occupation | Wireless telegraphist |
Harold Thomas Cottam (27 January 1891 – 30 May 1984) was a British wireless operator on the RMS Carpathia who fortuitously happened to receive the distress call from the sinking RMS Titanic on 15 April 1912.[1][2] Cottam's decision to awaken Captain Arthur Henry Rostron and relay Titanic's message in spite of the scepticism of the officer on watch[1] allowed Carpathia to arrive at the scene hours before any other ship and is "credited with saving hundreds of lives."[3] He was a personal friend of the Titanic's wireless operators Harold Bride and Jack Phillips.
- ^ a b Associated Press (31 May 1984). "Harold Cottam". The Blade. p. 34. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ Cottam, Harold Thomas (19 April 1912). "Titanic's "C.Q.D." Caught by a Lucky Fluke". The New York Times.
- ^ Belcher, David (28 November 2013). "Tracing a Precious Relic of the Titanic". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 October 2018.