Harold Cottam
Harold Thomas Cottam | |
|---|---|
Cottam in 1912 | |
| Born | 27 January 1891 Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England |
| Died | 30 May 1984 (aged 93) Lowdham, Nottinghamshire, England |
| Occupation | Wireless telegraphist |
| Employer | Marconi Company |
| Spouse |
Elsie Jean Shepperson
(m. 1922) |
| Children | 4 |
Harold Thomas Cottam (27 January 1891 – 30 May 1984) was a British wireless operator on RMS Carpathia, who received a distress call from the sinking RMS Titanic on 15 April 1912. Cottam's decision to awaken Captain Arthur Rostron and relay Titanic's message in spite of the scepticism of the officer on watch allowed Carpathia to arrive at the scene hours before any other ship and is "credited with saving hundreds of lives."