1. Herbert John "Bert" Pitman MBE was a British Merchant Navy seaman, who was the Third Officer of RMS Titanic when it sank in the North Atlantic Ocean with heavy loss of life after striking an iceberg during the night of 14 April 1912 on its maiden voyage.
Herbert Pitman was born in the Somerset village of Sutton Montis in England.
Herbert Pitman was the son of farmer Henry Pitman and Sarah Pitman.
In 1881, a census shows Herbert Pitman was living on a 112-acre farm on Sutton Road with his brother, sister, and widowed mother.
Herbert Pitman first went to sea in 1895 at the age of 18 after joining the Merchant Navy.
Herbert Pitman served a four-year apprenticeship with James Nourse Ltd.
Herbert Pitman moved to the White Star Line in 1906.
At the time of the Titanics collision with the iceberg, Herbert Pitman was off-duty, half-asleep in his bunk in the Officers' Quarters.
Herbert Pitman was then ordered to report to the starboard side of the ship to assist in uncovering lifeboats.
Herbert Pitman stepped into the lifeboat and it was lowered to the water.
Murdoch had ordered Herbert Pitman to take the lightly loaded lifeboat to the gangway doors to take on more passengers there, but the doors failed to open as the lifeboat waited for this about 100 yards off from the ship.
Up to this point Herbert Pitman had expected the ship to remain afloat.
Herbert Pitman watched Titanic sink from about 400 yards distance, and was one of the few to state afterwards in the official enquiries that he thought she sank in one piece.
Herbert Pitman continued to serve with the White Star Line following the Titanic disaster.
Herbert Pitman spent his retirement living in the village of Pitcombe, in the county of Somerset, with his niece.
Herbert Pitman died of a subarachnoid hemorrhage on 7 December 1961 at the age of 84 years.
Herbert Pitman's body was buried in the graveyard of Pitcombe Parish Church, Somerset.