Now and Then ©
John Kerrigan 2005
Locations in North Liverpool, as they are today, and their links to past events
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Grey Road - The Titanic
Henry Wilde
lived at 25 Grey Road, Walton with his wife and four children,
Mrs Wilde gave birth to twin boys on 19th November 1910, one named Archie who died on the 2nd December 1910 and was
buried on the same day, and his baby
brother Richard, who died on 13th December 1910, also buried on the same day.
Their mother was to go the grave on 24th December 1910, leaving
Henry Wilde to bring up four children by himself.
He still went to sea and sailed with the White
Star Line.
He was a friend of Commodore Edward
John Smith who was White Stars' highest paid Captain, and although due to
retire, Captain Smith was persuaded to Captain the Titanic on her maiden
voyage, as a fitting finale to a glittering career.
Henry T Wilde was asked by Captain
Smith if he would take the post of Acting Chief 
Officer and
he accepted - so becoming a last
minute substitute for another colleague. Tragedy struck the ship when it
hit an iceberg floating in the Atlantic, off the
coast of Newfoundland, and the
huge vessel began to sink.
Through sheer force of personality Wilde prevented
panic aboard the Titanic and supervised the loading of the lifeboats, saving
many lives.
Mr Wilde was one of the 1500 people, passengers and
crew, who perished in the freezing waters. His body was never recovered
Kirkdale Cemetery. Longmoor
Lane, Liverpool
To the headstone over the grave of Mrs Wilde was now
added a memorial inscription to the husband who was never to lie beside her,
'Acting Chief Officer Henry Wilde Who Met His Death in the SS
Titanic Disaster 15th April 1912 aged 38 years. A man of great talent, energy, and
in the final assessment, courage'.
Extensive Biography of Chief Officer
Henry Tingle Wilde:
Biography of Henry
Tingle Wilde