Second Officer David Blair
- Timeline


1866

Madeleine Temple Mackness born in Woking, Surrey, England

1874

11 November

David Blair born in Newport on the Isle of Wight.

1890

March

Begins apprenticeship with H Fernie & Sons Liverpool at age 15.

3/3 - 30/4/1891

Apprentice on the Cypromene, Liverpool registered square rig sailing ship (1 year, 1 month 9 days)

1891

04/9 - 5/7/1892

Apprentice on the Philomene, Liverpool registered square rig sailing ship (10 months, 4 days)

1892

23/9 - 24/10

Apprentice on the Aristomene, Liverpool registered square rig sailing ship (1 year, 1 month, 2 days)

1893

17/12 - 26/2/1895

Apprentice on the Aritstomene Liverpool registered square rig sailing ship (1 year, 2 months, 9 days)

1895

26/2 - 19/3

AB on the Aristomene Liverpool registered square rig sailing ship (22 days)

25/3 - 19/8

AB on the Howth, Dublin registered square rig sailing ship (4 months, 25 days)

19 August

"On shore at school"

19 November

Applies for Second Mate and fails in "navigation"

1896

14 February

Blair writes a letter to the Examiner of Masters and Mates in Dundee requesting to resit his exam.

17 February

Passes second attempt at Second Mate in Dundee, issued 22/2/1896

18/5 - 23/9

SS Baltazan 4 months 6 days foreign, second mate, "in charge of watch"

16/11 - 15/3/1897

SS Pindari, 4 months, foreign trade, third mate

1897

16/3 - 20/7

SS Ameer 4 months 5 days, foreign trade, third mate "in charge of a watch"

21/7 - 22/11

SS Ameer, 4 months 2 days

29/11

In Dundee, passes First Mate certificate

24/11 - 22/3/98

SS Ameer, third mate, 3 months 27 day

1898

21/4 - 17/8

SS Ameer, third mate, 3 months 28 days

24/8 - 13/12

SS Ameer, third mate, 3 month 20 days

14/12 - 24/4

SS Ameer, third mate, 4 months 11 days

28/4 - 4/9

SS Ameer, third mate, 4 months 7 days

1899

5/9 - 6/5/00

SS Ameer, third mate, 8 months 2 days

1900

24/5 - 29/12

SS Ameer, third mate, 7 months 6 days

1901

31/1 - 30/4

SS Ameer, third mate, 3 months

1/5 - 4/11

SS Ameer, third mate, 6 months 7 days

10/12

Applies for and passes Masters Certificate exam in Leith, Edinburgh

1902

22/1

Joins White Star Line

1902

22/1 - 7/02

Doric, 4th officer

July - March 1904

Doric, third officer

1904

March

Doric Second officer

7/5 - 24/10

Doric

1904

12th July

Blair appointed sub lieutenant in RNR and begins regular 7 day drills

1905

22 June

The San Francisco Call reports Blair as second officer aboard the Doric, requested to be ordered home to England to marry

2 September

David Blair and Madeline Temple Mackness were marrie in Broughty Ferry, Scotland.

21/9 - 22/1/06

Gothic - Navy records state that he "was appointed 2nd mate of the Gothic of White Star Line sailing London to New Zealand"

1906

19/7 - 2/11

Armenian, second officer - New Zealand

2/11 - 5/9/07

Cufic, First officer - Australia

1907

5/9 - 1/10/07

Celtic, 2nd officer - New York

10/10 - 18/10

Drill

18/10 - 21/11

Cevic 2nd officer

21/11 - 28/12

Drill

28/12 - 14/1/08

Cevic, First officer

1908

14/1 - 22/1

Oceanic, Third officer

3/2/08 - 13/2/08

Cufic - standby (third officer)

13/2 - 4/4

Georgic - 2nd officer

4/4 - 30/9

Canopic 2nd officer

10/10 - 14/11

Drill

14/11 - 22/1/09

HMS Excellent "Gunnery & Torpoedo" training marked "VG"

1909

1/2 - 26/3

HMS Vernon -marked "VG"

21/4 - 24/1/10

HMS Dominion training marked "VG"

1910

Blair's daughter, Elizabeth Nancy Blair, born

25/1 - 20/4

HMS Dominion

21 April

Promoted to Lieutenant in RNR

24/4 - 22/3/11

Teutonic 2nd Officer

1911

22/3 - 28/6

Majestic 2nd Officer

28/6 - 15/7

Drill

15/7 - 11/11

Majestic 2nd Officer

29/11 - 5/2/12

Teutonic 2nd Officer

1912

5/2 - 26/3

Majestic 2nd Officer

26/3 - 10/4

Titanic 2nd Officer

4 April

Writes postcard to sister in law while Titanic's 2nd Officer

10/4 - 7/1/13

Majestic 2nd Officer

Wednesday 29 May

David Blair, second officer, Majestic, photographed looking very happy with chief officer Harry Dyke

26/11 - 17/12

Holiday leave from WSL

1913

7/1 - 11/1

Teutonic 2nd Officer

11/1 - 12/2

Sick leave

12/2 - 12/3

Teutonic, First Officer

12/3 - 28/7

Majestic First Officer

6th May

Blair dives into North Atlantic to save the life of 27 year old coal trimmer, William Keon.

10th June

The Royal Humane Society awards David Blair a "bronze medal of the Society" presented by Admiral Sir George Digby Morant.

12th July

Blair also awarded a King's Medal, according to The Times of the 12th of July 1913

28/7 - 1/1/1914

Oceanic 2nd Officer

1914

1/1 - 19/1

Holiday leave

19/1 - 2/2

Drill

2/2 - 11/7

Oceanic 2nd Officer

11/7/14 - 24/6/19

White Star Line service record lists "Navy"

8th September

HMS Oceanic grounded on reef at Foula while Blair was second officer and navigating, resulting in the complete loss of the ship and a courtmartial

1915

26/5 - 19/5/16

In "charge of Naval Sub Base at Penzance and then a year aboard the HMS Dreel Castle, an Auxiliary Patrol Base at Falmouth, Cornwall.

1917

1/5 - 15/3/19

Dreel Castle (as S.N.O Penzance)

20th December

Receives a confidential letter from the Home Secretary to inform him that "in view of the service you have rendered on work connected with the War, it is proposed to submit your name to the King for appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire"

1918

13th February

"King held an Investiture of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire at 10.30 o'clock this morning. The following were severally introduced into the presence of His Majesty ...The King invested them with the Insignia of the respective Divisions of the Order into which they have been admitted: OFFICERS Lieutenant-Commander David BLAIR, R.N.R."

21/4

Promoted to Lieutenant Commander

29th of August

Awarded the French Cross of Chevalier of the Legion of Honour

1919

19th of March

Officially awarded Royal Naval Reserve Decoration

15/4

Navy records state "London Gazette 15.4.19 transferred as Officer to the Military Division of the Order of the British Empire

24/6 - 13/8/20

Haverford, Chief Officer

1920

13/8 - 18/9

Holiday leave

18/9 - 14/2/21

Haverford, Chief Officer

1921

14 February

Resigns from the White Star Line, retiring as Commander

1923

16/6

Employed as commanding officer on a steam yacht St George belonging to the Research Expeditions

1924

2/4 - 19/9/1925

In command of St George steam yacht scientific expedition cruise to the South Seas

1925

31/10

Still in command of St Geroge which is temporarily laid up, Dartmouth

16/12

Is not retaining command of St George

1926

20/4

Listed as "not attached to any vessel but expects to proceed to sea shortly"

1928

19/3

Residing in Panama and has "lately been cruising on the coast"

1936

29/6

Navy report: "Until end of 1935 was in command of large yacht voyaging to South Seas. Has returned to England"

1947

14/5

Navy report: "employed on lecturing at L.C.C.Institute"

1948

3/11

Navy report: "Not fit for service, owing to decling age and medically unfit"

1950

10th May

Wife of 45 years, Madeleine, dies at the age of 84 years

Marries Vera Mabel Crump (c.1907 - 1960) in Harrow District, Middlesex. Born circa 1907 she was 33 years younger than him and only three years older than his daughter.

20/5

Navy report: "no occupation at present"

1951

22/6

Navy report: "lectures on Travels & Shipping generally"

1955

10 January

David Blair dies in Edgware General Hospital, Hendon, Greater London, Middlesex. He was 80 years old.

30 March

Blair's estate was probated

1960

Second wife Vera dies

2007

22nd September

Blair's key to the crows nest sold for £90,000.

1995

Blair's daughter, Elizabeth Nancy Blair, born in 1910 to his first marriage with Madeleine, dies aged 85, in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

2011

19 March

Blair's medals including an OBE for war service and a sea gallantry medal, sold at Derbyshire's Hansons Auctioneers