Father Thomas Roussel Davids Byles (26 February 1870 – 15 April 1912) was an English Catholic priest who famously remained on board the RMS Titanic as she was sinking after colliding with an iceberg, hearing confessions and giving absolution.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Father Byles was born Roussel Davids Byles in Leeds, Yorkshire, the eldest of seven children of the Reverend Dr. Alfred Holden Byles, a Congregationalist minister, and his wife, Louisa Davids. He attended Leamington College and Rossall School, Fleetwood, Lancashire, between 1885 and 1889, then went to Balliol College, Oxford in 1889 to study theology, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1894. While at Oxford, Byles converted to the Roman Catholic faith, taking the name Thomas. In 1899, he went to the Beda College in Rome to study for the priesthood, and was ordained in 1902. He was assigned to St. Helen's Parish in Chipping Ongar, Essex in 1905.
An invitation to officiate at the wedding of his younger brother William prompted Father Byles to make the trip to New York City. He said Mass on the morning of the sinking, Low Sunday, 14 April 1912, for both Second and Third Class passengers in their respective lounges. The sermon was on the need for a spiritual lifeboat in the shape of prayer and the sacraments when in danger of spiritual shipwreck in times of temptation.
Aboard the Titanic[]
Father Byles was walking on the upper deck of the Titanic praying his breviary when the Titanic struck the iceberg. As the ship was sinking, he assisted many Third Class passengers up to the Boat Deck to the lifeboats. He reputedly twice refused a place on a lifeboat.
Drawn depiction of Father Byles' last heroic moments, consoling many scared Third Class passengers at the stern which rose ever higher when the ship went down quick.
Death[]
Toward the very end, he recited the rosary and other prayers, heard confessions, and gave absolution to more than a hundred passengers who remained trapped on the stern of the ship after all of the lifeboats had been launched. This was the last time he was seen, as he most likely died at the stern when the ship sank. His body, if recovered, was never identified.
Legacy[]
His brothers installed a door in his memory at St Helen's Catholic Church in Chipping Ongar, Essex.
Portrayals[]
Thomas Byles has four times been portrayed in films about the disaster.
Titanic (1953)[]
George S. Healey in Titanic (1953), loosely based on Father Byles
Richard Basehart plays a thinly-disguised Father Byles in the 1953 film.
S.O.S. Titanic (1979)[]
Matthew Guinness as Father Byles in S.O.S. Titanic
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Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. |
” |
—Thomas Byles | ||
In the 1979 television movie S.O.S. Titanic, he was portrayed by Matthew Guinness.
1996 Miniseries Titanic[]
A possible appearance of Father Byles in the 1996 Miniseries Titanic
Father Byles make a possible appearence in the 1996 Miniseries Titanic. He appears during the final plunge, along with the other passenger in the aft boat deck, just like Father Byles in real life.
Titanic (1997)[]
James Lancester as Father Byles in Titanic (1997)
| “ |
And God shall wipe away all the tears from their eyes... and there shall be no more death. Neither shall there be sorrow or crying. Neither shall there be any more pain... for the former world has passed away. |
” |
—Thomas Byles | ||
In the 1997 film Titanic, he was portrayed by James Lancester, reciting the Rosary with some of the passengers and quoting Revelation 21:4.
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