Frederick Fleet

Was born on October 15th, 1887 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, the illegitimate child of Alice Fleet

He was abandoned by his mother and raised by a succession of foster families and distant relatives. 

At the age of 12, he was sent to a training ship to learn about life at sea. In 1903 he went to sea as a deck boy working up to ABle Seaman aboard the Oceanic in 1908.

At the time of the collision, Fleet was on duty in the crow’s nest with Reginald Lee, the pair had begun watch at 10 pm having relieved Archie Jewell and George Symons who advised them to keep a “sharp lookout for small ice”

Fleet spotted the iceberg, ringing three bells and telephoning the bridge to say “Iceberg right ahead”

The pair saw the ice scrape the starboard side of the ship and thought it had been a close call, remaining in the crow’s nest until relieved about 20m later.

Fleet then made his way to the Boat Deck where he aided in launching Lifeboat 6 with Lightoller (played by Noah Van Ess) 

After the disaster Fleet was called to speak at both inquiries.

He briefly continued working for the White Star Line but realized they looked down upon the surviving crew as reminders of the disaster

For the next 24 years, Fleet sailed with various other companies. He finished with the sea in 1936 and then worked ashore at Harland and Wolff and later was the shore Master-at-Arms for Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co. 

He was married in 1917 to Eva Ernestine Le Gros, the couple had a daughter on November 24th, 1918 named Dorothy Frederica Ernestine 

In the last years of his life, Fleet worked as a street vendor and he often maintained contact with the Titanic Historical Society

On December 28th, 1965 Fleet lost his wife. Her brother, with whom the couple lived, evicted Frederick. 

Two weeks later, Fleet committed suicide, his body was discovered on January 10th, 1965

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