During the course of researching Henry Wilde's life and career I was able to access some key RNR documents that lists in great detail his training and the ships he subsequently served aboard. Combined with his Board of Trade certificates which also recorded the ships he served aboard to gain the qualifications, it allowed me to reconstruct his career in great detail. It also meant that some mysteries could indeed be solved - notably that he was a Master (Captain) prior to his appointment to Chief Officer aboard Titanic. This page will list some of that documentation.
On the 26th of June 1902 he was officially recognised as the Royal Naval Rerserve rank Sub Lieutenant.
RNR listing Wilde as officially recognised as the Royal Naval Rerserve rank Sub Lieutenant on the 26th of June 1902. (Click image to enlarge)
At the beginning of 1904 he began his Royal Naval training. He is listed as aboard the HMS Defiance from the 4th of January 1904 until the 26th of February 1904. The HMS Defiance (shore establishment 1884) was the Royal Navy's torpedo school. So it is also not surprising that he is described as having " Torpedo training" as an acting lieutenant and receiving a 2nd class Torpedo certificate. In the RNR notes it states: "bearing and behaviour, sobriety and attention v.g. (very good). Recommended for training."
Then on the 29th of February until the 12th of April he was aboard the HMS Cambridge for "gunnery training" for which he received a 2nd class Gunnery certificate. The HMS Cambridge was a Royal Navy shore establishment south of Plymouth UK.
This documents lists all the ships Wilde served aboard between 1903 and 1912. It also confirms he was "Master" (Captain) of the Zeeland in 1911. (Click image to enlarge)
He received his Torpedo certificate 2nd class on the 26th February 1904. This was followed by further training on the HMS Cambridge from the 27th of February 1904 unitl 22nd of April 1904, resulting in a 2nd class Gunnery certificate.
He was then briefly aboard the ships HMS Vivid and HMS Kent between the 23rd of April and 10th of May 1904, boarding HMS Endymion on the 11th of May for a total 7 months until the 30th of November 1904.
His spent the next five months from December 1904 until April 1905 aboard the HMS Cumberland, an impressive looking ship with three imposing smoke stacks. The HMS Cumberland was one of 10 Monmouth-class armoured cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. She was assigned to the 2nd Cruiser Squadron of the Channel Fleet upon completion in 1903. It was a very new ship and her complement consisted of 678 officers and enlisted men. His time aboard was well noted, the RNR documents stating: ""Satisfactory. An excellent officer, trustworthy." After leaving the HMS Cumberland he spent three days aboard the HMS Victory in April and is then next listed as returning to civilian duty as first officer aboard the SS Arabic on the Liverpool to Boston route.
This RNR document lists his training 1904-1905. (Click image to enlarge)
On the 14th of January 1911 - less than a month since his wife had died, he returned to further RNR training at the Royal Naval Barracks in Devonport, England.
Despite the intense grief, his training proceeded well. Aboard the HMS Vivid he underwent 1st Gunnery training and on the 10th of February 1911 he received his first class gunnery certificate. His training is listed from the 14th of January 1911 to the 10th February 1911 with the note: "With sobriety & satisfactorily."
By the 15th of February, he was back aboard the SS Megantic on the Liverpool to Portland route, in his now familiar role of Chief Officer.
Chief Officer Wilde's RNR training between 1904 and 1911 is listed. It also states: "Deceased." (Click image to enlarge)
