Mr. Alfred (Albert) William Stanley Nichols was the boatswain or bo'sun aboard Titanic.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Mr. Alfred Nichols was born as Richard-Albert William Stanley Nichols in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on July the 16th of 1864. He was the son of a mariner by the name of Thomas George Charles Nichols, and Mary Nichols. Alfred grew up on the Island of Lord Howe. He had left his home at an early age, and left to the sea, allegedly.
When Alfred, nicknamed "Big Neck," arrived in Britain is not certain. What we do know is that Mr. Nichols was married in St. Cyprian's Church, in Edge Hill, in West Derby, Lancashire on April the second of 1893 to Mrs. Jane Porter (b. 7 Sep 1870, daughter of George and Robina Porter), a native of Mauchline, in Ayrshire, located in Scotland. At the time, the couple were living in a building of 46 Verdi Street, Seaforth, Lancashire and Alfred described himself as an experienced sailor. Jane and Alfred went on to have three children together: Grace (1897), Thomas Alfred (1899-1975) and Jane "Jean" Agnes (1903-1991).
Alfred was absent during the 1901 census, likely at sea, but Jane and first two children are listed as living at 66 Chelsea Road, Litherland, in Lancashire. The family eventually moved south in 1907 to the city of Southampton, possibly in order to adjust to the change of the White Star Line's main terminal to that city from Liverpool. In 1908, Mr. Nichols joined the Royal Naval Reserve Force. He managed to appear on the 1911 census living at 37 Oakley Road, in Shirley. Alfred's job is described as "experienced mariner and officer".
Titanic[]
In 1912, Alfred Nichols had now signed up to the newly constructor White Star Liner, RMS Titanic. Alfred was on board the Titanic for her delivery trip from Belfast to Southampton. When he signed-on again, in Southampton, on April the 6th, 1912, he would have given his address to be located in St. Cloud, Oak Tree Road, (Southampton). His last ship of duty had been the Titanic's sister ship, the Olympic and as Boatswain he received monthly wages of £8, 10s.
The Sinking[]
Lamp trimmer Samuel Hemming reported that after the collision, Boatswain Big Neck Nichols told his crew to "turn out" and that the ship had half-an-hour to live as per the advice of Thomas Andrews. He told everyone to stay calm and keep it to himself. Eventually he made his way to the Boat Deck.
Boatswain's mate Albert Haines testified that Nichols' assigned lifeboat was number 7. He stated that as the aft starboard boats were being swung out the forward boats were being filled. Nichols' missed joining his assigned boat, the first to be lowered, whilst Haines only just managed to join his (number 9) before it was launched at around 1:25-1:35AM.
Shortly before 1-o-clock, the Boatswain Nichols had helped lower the filled Lifeboat 3 and loaded the two-thirds empty Lifeboat 1 on the Boat Deck along with First Officer William Murdoch. Around 1:10AM, Boatswain Nichols looked if he could be of assistance on the port side of the ship, and crossed to it. Second officer Charles Lightoller was working on Lifeboat 6 there, and Lightoller would have asked Boatswain Nichols if he could take six seamen with him to the First Class Entrance on D-Deck, to open the port side gangway doors, allowing people to be loaded into the lifeboats from the inside.
It seems the Boatswain accomplished his task. He was allegedly on the aft starboard end of the First Class Promenade, on A Deck at around 1:30-1:40AM. As Lifeboat 13 was being loaded, a drenched fireman by the name of Frederick Barret arrived near him. Nichols told him to get into the boat and pull an oar. Barret obeyed the orders, taking charge of the lifeboat. There is skepticism regarding the claim.
A few minutes later, a First Class Dining Room steward, James Johnstone later reported seeing the Boatswain Nichols on the forward port side deck, near lifeboat 2, at around 1:45 A.M, roughly ten minutes after he was seen on the opposite end of the ship. He had apparently told the occupants of Boat 2 "Keep a star and keep looking at this star, and do not lose it. Keep within the vicinity of it." Doubts were cast on this claim as Johnstone was the only occupant of Boat 2 to notice; perhaps the man in charge of boat 2 was too busy firing rockets.
Legacy[]
Nichols' body, if found, was never identified as Nichols. The following death notice would later show up in an unidentified newspaper:
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April 15th, 1912, on the S.S. Titanic, Alfred Nichols, the deeply beloved husband of Jane Porter, Mauchline, Ayrshire, Scotland. Deeply mourned by his sorrowing wife and children. Gone but a little time before us. Scotch and Australian papers please copy. |
” |
—Unidentified newspaper | ||
Alfred's widow and children were assisted financially by the Titanic Relief Fund. What became of Jane Nichols is not certain.
Gallery[]
