Since this is a Titanic site, I will stick to Harry's Titanic memories. As for background, Lucy didn't know Harry at the time of the disaster but afterwards she definately knew of him. Her feelings toward him began as admiration and a bit of hero-worship. She clipped out all the newspaper articles dealing with the wireless boys (especially Harry) and saved them. They met by chance on the street September 25, 1912 when Lucy recognised him from all her clippings and introduced herself. It was love at first site for both of them. Harry was so flustered that he couldn't even talk--he just stood there, staring down at her, eyes wide and mouth hanging open. When he finally regained his voice, he invited Lucy to dine with him. After the meal, Harry walked her home to her flat--eyes practically never leaving her face. (It's a wonder he didn't run into a lamp-post or tree or something.) They were already on a first name basis and Lucy was calling him "Harry"--a name only his mother, and two best friends, Jack Phillips and Harold Cottam, ever used.

Harry suffered survivor's guilt and post traumatic stress after the disaster--all steming from Jack's death. He always blamed himself and thought it should have been him instead of Jack. He woke, practically nightly, from nightmares of the sinking always sitting up in bed and repeating over and over, with tears in his eyes: "I'm sorry, Jack. I'm sorry, Jack. I'm so, so sorry, Jack." Lucy would hold him, stroke his hair, and he would tell her what he lived through the night the Titanic foundered.

Harry's Titanic Memories

Up until the 14th, the crossing had been smooth. Jack celebrated his 25th birthday on the 11th and they always found ways to amuse themselves during the long hours stuck in the wireless shack. They told jokes (Jack was the King of X-rated comedy) and just enjoyed themselves. There was naturally a lot of work, but the company was ideal. On the 13th, the wireless broke down and it took them seven hours to fix it. The 14th began quietly enough. That afternoon, they had their first contact via-wireless with Harold Cottam on the Carpathia. Everything was going well. By seven o'clock, Harry was getting tired and Jack knew it. He looked at him and said: "You get some rest, boy." Harry went into their sleeping quarters and changed into his pajamas (solid red) and was soon fast asleep. He woke at 11:55 (about 15 minutes after the collision) and decided to relieve Jack early since he had let him go to sleep before he was scheduled to.

Back in the work room (still dressed in pajamas), Jack mentioned that he thought the ship might have thrown a propellor. They joked for a few moments before Jack retired and left the set to Harry. The captain came in at this time (a little after midnight) and said to be prepared to send out a distress call but not until he told them too. Jack--over-hearing from their sleeping quarters--rushed back into the room half dressed. He had taken off his jacket, shoes, vest and tie. On his way back to the bridge, the captain stuck his head in the door and told them to send the distress call.

"What should I send?" Jack asked.

"The International Call for help...CQD...Just that."

Jack immediately took control of the set back from Harry and began tapping out CQD MGY CQD MGY and the ship's position. Harry--not yet knowing the seriousness of the situation--leaned over, tapped him on the shoulder, and joked: "Why don't you send SOS? It's the new call and it may be your last chance to use it." They both laughed and continued with their typical banter. (Harry would later regret saying that remark since it did prove to be Jack's last and only chance to use SOS.)

Throught out that night's events, Harry ran messages to the bridge (once in his pajamas till Jack noticed he wasn't dressed and yelled: "Get some clothes on, boy!") and took over the wireless at least three times while Jack "checked out the action on deck." Every time he came back, he mentioned how "queer" it looked and that they were putting people off in little boats. Harry, when he got dressed, had taken the opportunity to put on his extra jacket, heavy boots, and life-belt. He put Jack's jacket on him when he wasn't bothering with it himself and also fastened his life-belt. Harry tried to figure out how to get Jack into his boots (he was still only in stocking feet) but couldn't manage. Jack never did get his boots on that night.

The Captain released them around 2 a.m., barely sticking his head in the door, but Harry and Jack stuck to their post. Captain Smith repeated the "abondon your cabin, men. You have done your duty, there is nothing else to do. That's the way in these situations." He then left and Harry glanced at Jack to see if he was ready to go. Jack was still Morsing--trying to rouse even more help--when the power to the wireless was too weak to get a spark. Harry had to shake him into awareness, saying: "Jack. Jack, it's time to go now. Jack, we've got to leave. Captain's orders. Jack..." Jack finally looked up, said "Let's clear out", and they abondoned their cabin.

Once outside, Jack and Harry climbed to the roof of the officers' quarters to help the group trying to free Collapsibles A and B. B was pushed off and landed upside down. Harry scrambled down with the rest of the group to try to right it. He looked up for Jack and saw him still standing on the roof, leaning over with his hands on his knees, and trying to catch his breath. This was the last time Harry saw Jack alive.

The wave created by the forward funnel falling washed Collapsible B and the men working on her overboard. Harry had a grip on one of the oar locks so was washed off and found himself under the boat. He lay on his back, bumping his head on the seats, and gasping for air in the air-pocket, before taking a deep breath and diving out and clear.

He ended up a bit of distance from the overturned Collapsible B so swam back toward it. On his way, he saw First Officer Murdoch dead in the water (he had seen him struck and washed off by the same wave that that swept him and nearly everyone else off the deck) and passed Sixth Officer Moody in the water. Moody was bleeding from a head wound, but he was still swimming and making every effort to save himself.

Harry found his way back to Collapsible B and was pulled on by Jack Thayer. (He didn't know who the boy was at the time--just a passenger who helped greatly.) There was no room for him to sit on the boat, so he just lay across the end--feet and legs up to the knees submerged in 28 degree water. The first thing Harry did when he was pulled onto B was call for Jack.

"Jack! Jack Phillips! Has anyone seen the senior wireless operator Jack Phillips?" (after retelling the nightmare, he always concluded this section with: "I called and called for Jack but he never answered. He never answered.")

Harry and Jack Thayer held on to each other's jackets to stay on the upset raft and, whenever anyone doubted their rescue, Harry would repeat: "The Carpathia is coming as fast as she can. I gave her our position. There is no mistake. We should see her lights at 4 or a little after." At 3:30, the Carpathia's rockets were sighted and at 4 she stopped at Titanic's last radioed position.

Harry's time on B consisted of repeating that the Carpathia was on her way, squinting into the distance trying to catch a glimpse of her, and worrying about Jack. He never thought of himself--survival instinct just kicked in--but only wondered where Jack was and if he was alright. Boats 4 and 12 rescued the men on Collapsible B. Harry, Jack Thayer, and the majority of the others jumped for 12. Second Officer Lightoller lifted a dead body from B to 12 and then took charge.

When 12 finally pulled up along side Carpathia, Harry stood to move toward the rope ladder for men. His feet were severely frost-bitten and crushed and numb, but he still managed to stand and head for the rope ladder that would take him to the decks of the rescue ship. While walking the length of 12 (it seemed to be in slow-motion and always played out that way in his memories), Harry turned his head and saw a dead man on the bottom of 12. It was Jack. His hair was plastered against his forehead and his arms were at an odd angle, but it was unmistakably Jack. He was the dead man Lightoller lifted from B to 12.

Once he reached the decks of the Carpathia, Harry fainted and was carried below to the infirmary to treat his wounded feet. Fainting on the decks of the Carpathia was always the point where he woke up from the nightmares.

Marriage, Kids, and Beyond

World War I delayed any marriage plans. Harry and Lucy finally married on April 10, 1920. It being the anniversary of 'sailing day' was not a coicedence. Harry's life changed on that date in 1912, and now it was going to change again (for the better). It was the beginning of their own 'sailing day.' The start of a life voyage together. The kids! The kids were absolute dolls, who grew into wonderful adults. Lucy and Harry were both extremely doting parents and enjoyed every second together and with their family.

Lulu: Lucy 'Lulu' Bride was born March 9, 1921, a month shy of Harry and Lucy's one year anniversary. As a toddler, she was a perpetual motion machine--skinny arms and legs always on the go. She had dark, dark curly brown hair (like Harry) and wore it in ringlet pigtails for as long as she could. As she grew older, she was the most serious and quiet one of the three. Lulu became a nurse and married William Desmond Wilson in 1949. She is a widow now, and lives in Ireland.

Jack: John 'Jack' William Bride was born September 7, 1924. He was named for Jack Phillips and was as percosious as his namesake! Jack had light brown wavy hair and was very much like Harry in a lot of his mannerisms. Jack attended Oxford and graduated with a forrestry degree. He married a Dutch girl and had a daughter. While working in Nigeria in the late 50s, Jack was killed in a car accident.

Jeanette: Jeanette Marie Bride was born September 23, 1929. She was "Baby Jeanette" and the one closest to her mother. As a baby, she was adorible--big eyes, round face, and reddish-brown pigtals sticking straight out from the side of her head. As she grew older, her hair darkened to a light brown. Jeanette became a teacher and taught in Scotland, but really found her calling when she did missionary work in Etheopia. She never married and died a few years ago from cancer.

The hardest memories for me are Harry's death and funeral. Even with the hindsight of 43 years and another life to cushion the blow, it's like I'm transported back to that exact moment and reliving it--emotions and all. That's something I barely got through the first time, let alone seeing it repeat itself again and again in memory. There's just so much intense sadness. Sadness at Harry's passing, sadness that their beautiful life together was really at an end, sadness that nothing would never really be the same. I blocked it for a long time because it was too painful. I will always remember what Harry's last words were. He promised "good bye is not forever. I'll find you again soon. I love you, Lucy. My angel." (That's my edited version it.) I dedicate this page to Harry and the kids. Never forget

Thanks ever so much to Mandy for making me this wonderful background.