Arthur John Bright was a Quartermaster on the Titanic.
Early life[]
Arthur John Bright was a native of Wiltshire. He was born on August 2nd, 1869, to John Bright and Mathilda Jemima Gomm. His father was an agricultural laborer. He was the first of three children: In 1871 a sister was born, named Margaret Ann. Another sister was born in 1874: Rosina Mathilda Jane. The same year that his first sister was born, he seemingly stayed with his grandparents. His father passed away in 1876.
Two years later, his mother was found another husband in Thomas Pringle Cummings. Between 1876 and 1902, Arthur was part of the Royal Navy.
Early sea career[]
Bright first joined the Royal Navy on 16 April 1887, serving initially aboard the St Vincent. Other ships he served aboard included Active, Australia, Excellent and Sovereign before his final service at HMS Victory 2 in February 1902 after which he joined the Merchant Service. He was described as standing at 5' 7½", with brown hair, hazel eyes and a fair complexion and sported a tattoo on his left forearm, whilst his character was universally described as very good.
Titanic[]
When Bright signed-on for the Titanic on 6 April 1912, he gave his local address as 105 Fir Grove Road, Southampton and his previous ship as the Olympic. As a Quartermaster he could expect monthly wages of £5. Also serving aboard was Henry Joseph Bailey as Master-at-Arms; their respective wives Ada Maria and Mary Jane were sisters and it appears that Bright and Bailey may have served together whilst both in the Navy.
On Sunday 14 April, in the evening, Bright had been on duty until 8 P.M. before retiring to his bunk to await his next watch scheduled for midnight and he slept through the collision. Quartermaster Wynn arrived from up top informing him that the ship was going down by the head, so Bright got up and got dressed, left his quarters and headed towards the stern to take over his midnight watch from Quartermaster George Rowe. The two men waited there a short while, not knowing what to do before telephoning up to the bridge to ask for instructions and they were asked to bring flares to the wheelhouse. Carrying a box each when they reached the bridge they began firing them with fourth officer Boxhall, assisting in loading the boats between each rocket over a span of time that Bright estimated to be 30 minutes. From the bridge he could see the light of a vessel 4 or 5 miles away and what he took to be a fishing boat.
After this Bright indicated that there were only two boats left, Collapsibles C and D, and he and Rowe assisted in preparing them. Rowe would leave the ship in command of Collapsible C after which Bright crossed to the portside where he assisted Lightoller in filling boat D with what he understood was 25 persons, based on the head count taken by Chief 2nd steward Hardy. Bright noted that the Forecastle was going under as his boat left.
Following the lowering Collapsible D, Bright estimated that they were 100 yards away from the ship when she went down, stating that the ship up-ended, broke in two with the forward end disappearing and the stern-section righting herself before flooding and sinking, observing that he could clearly see the propellers and adding that there was no suction.
Collapsible D would take another dozen or so passengers from Lifeboat 14 during the night but Bright felt that it could have comfortably taken more. Bright reported officer Lowe later brought Lifeboat 14 alongside Collapsible D for a second time that night, tying the two together as D now had insufficient seamen after passing several of her crew to Lifeboat 14 previously. The two boats made their way toward the waterlogged collapsible A; Bright recalled hearing a chorus of voices calling for help but it was not until daybreak that those people became visible and boat D and 14 made their way to Collapsible A and took in those survivors into 14, including one woman, Rosa Abbott. Collapsible A was then cast adrift with, according to Bright, two bodies that they had taken time to cover their faces with lifebelts.
After the sinking[]
Arthur gave a testimony at the American Inquiry. He tells Senator Smith about the submerging Collapsible A, which they met when daylight came. Boat D aided in rescuing 13 occupants from the boat with the help of Fifth Officer Lowe in lifeboat 14. He mentions two corpses that were left behind.
Arthur returned to Southampton and continued working at sea. During WWI he rejoined the Naval Service, finding himself again assigned to HMS Victory which he joined on 3 August 1916. His service was short-lived and he was invalided a fortnight later due to an eye problem.
Later life[]
Arthur and his wife Ada continued to reside in Southampton and was widowed when Ada died on 11 June 1928. He spent his final days living at 61 Aberdeen Road, Southampton, where he died on 15 October 1955 aged 86. He was buried in South Stoneham Cemetery, Southampton.
Portrayals[]
'Titanic' (1997)[]
Arthur John Bright in the 1997 movie, during the evacuation
Arthur John Bright played a significant role in the launch of the lifeboats, which is shown in James Cameron's blockbuster from 1997. He's seen helping prepare the first lifeboat, nr 7 as well as lifeboat 10. His actor was not credited.
He can also be seen aboard Carpathia when the survivors are picked up the rescue vessel.