How Did ‘SOS’ Become The Universal Distress Signal?

Today, everyone knows the term 'SOS' and what it means. With the invention of telegraphs in the late 19th century, international navies quickly issued their own standard calls for distress. In this episode, we look back at the history of distress calls and explain how a maritime disaster cemented 'SOS' as the universal call for help.
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[@ajm2872]

Me: Trying to listen to Simon My Brain: 🎶SENDING OUT AN ESS-OH-ESS!!🎶

[@TheAlphaBette]

Message in a bottle, Yea! 😃

[@hilarymckinnon5424]

One thing you seem to have left out is the use of the XXX symbol. If the ship is sinking the distress message would begin with SOS but if there is an injury to a crewmember or a number of them that need assistance without danger of losing the ship the signal XXX for an urgent broadcast would be used, along with the TTT to advise about safty issues. - I was with the U.S. Coast Guard for six years beginning in the early '70s as a radioman and had a love/hate relationship with code but it still broke my heart when they stopped using it.

[@mikemalloy1681]

Yes, as a radio officer I have heard two XXX. One off the coast of Africa, but they were too far away for us to respond. Then another time in the Gulf of Mexico an XXX was for a man overboard (in the middle of the night). You knew he was dead. They did not have personal locators back then. However, all of this is gone, but I still copy W1AW, CW information bulletin several times a week. I love CW.

[@hilarymckinnon5424]

@@mikemalloy1681 I miss it but it's been many years since I've used it much. Now i just listen to the sound effects they like to use and it seldom is real code but sometimes someone sneaks a message in. One cartoon said "Get frame for Porkeys picture" - one XXX i copied came across so fast I didn't realize it was in German until I was finished copying it. One of my first messages was from GBTT - QE2 - and such an embarassment for me. But I improved and was as good as anyone else at the time. Oh to be young again...good years.

[@samwill7259]

We often forget how just simple ideas of working together will save so many lives. All we had to do was agree on three little letters and now people, anywhere in the world, know how to call for help. One can only imagine how many lives have been saves by 6 dots and 3 dashes

[@w8lvradio]

Yep! And then they screwed it all up with GMDSS: Too many links, too many points for failure. The "Old" system? Call SOS, and the closest ship came to your rescue. It was SIMPLE, and it WORKED.

[@NobleKorhedron]

GMDSS, @@w8lvradio...?

[@NobleKorhedron]

GMDSS...?

[@walterblock5082]

@@NobleKorhedron Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)

[@KoenigseggEditz856]

… --- …

[@andrewdreasler428]

When I was in Scouting, and earning my Wilderness Survival merit badge, I learned that the universal distress signal was "a grouping of 3," three bonfires in a straight line, three piles of rocks in a straight line, basically any clearly man-made artifice repeated three times. This made the SOS signal seem completely intuitive, since it is "a grouping of three threes."

[@jeffashley5512]

I still have issue with Marconi getting credited with "inventing" radio. Tesla patented the technology in 1897 while Marconi kept applying for the patent but was rejected due to Tesla's patent. Surprisingly they reversed and gave it to Marconi in 1904. Tesla sued and in 1943 the court gave it back to Tesla. Unfortunately he had died a few months earlier. I remember a quote from Alexander Popov, who had also presented a radio receiver in 1895 said: "The emission and reception of signals by Marconi by means of electric oscillations is nothing new. In America, the famous engineer Nikola Tesla carried the same experiments in 1893." I looked it up to quote it correctly.

[@yeahitskimmel]

Good man just posted something to this effect myself, didn't have all the info to back up it up tho thank you

[@snippyJ]

Poor Tesla got screwed at every turn....😕

[@MrTexasDan]

Simon didn't say "invented". He said "practical wireless telegraphy was developed by ... Marconi", which is correct.

[@kirkmorrison6131]

Morse always gets through in bad conditions, a good ear can pick it out when almost covered by noise.

[@michalpavlat3943]

And by the way you can read the code under Simon's voice with ease too. Try this with another voice. ;)

[@kirkmorrison6131]

@@michalpavlat3943 agreed it was very easy to copy and it kind of proves my part 2 voices would have been very hard to understand

[@toddkurzbard]

A very accurate video - with one error: TITANIC hit the iceberg on April 14, not 15. She SANK on the 15th.

[@teamkillz12345]

When i was in the Navy, (05-11) we used chat rooms to communicate between ships over secured connections more often than radio. Thats where i leared to use 'R' as "Rodger", 'K' as "over", and 'DE' as "This is"

[@fuzzyhair321]

Might explain why we K as response now in English

[@mikemalloy1681]

Well, even after GMDSS, using SITOR (teleprinter) the shore station operators (especially at WLO) would use CW abbreviations: OM, BTU, R, (many more) etc. Most deck officers had no idea what they were saying. When I was teaching GMDSS I used to explain that to deck officers in my class. None of them had a clue as to what I was saying at first. 73 OM. WD5GYG

[@kaltaron1284]

A German interpretation is "Seemann ohne Schiff" "seaman without ship".

[@cornellkirk8946]

??? But SOS doesn’t stand for anything? It’s merely a distress signal. So how can it have an interpretation?

[@kaltaron1284]

@@cornellkirk8946 It doesn't stand for anything originally but that doesn't keep people from trying to find some meaning.

[@cornellkirk8946]

@@kaltaron1284 ahhh a good old backronym

[@ljphoenix4341]

This was something never even crossed my mind before, but now I'm pleased that I decided to watch this video. Always learn something new and interesting on Highlight History.

[@raiderjohnthemadbomber8666]

As a boy Scout in the 1960s, SOS was the first thing we learned when taking a ckass on Morse Code. A granddaughter of Samuel Morse was my 6th grade teacher.

[@amb163]

GREAT BIG SEA!!!!!!!! Love them so much!!!!!!

[@dwarftoad]

Ara-PA-ho? Irikwa? Oh, you mean a-RA-paho and Irikoy! But then I forgot that mispronouncing specifically American names is kind Simon's thing :)

[@Otokichi786]

It's a "French thing."

[@Bacopa68]

I wasn't thinking of Pesos for an example in Spanish. I thought of "osos". "We are being attacked by bears"!

[@michaelb1761]

That would warrant an SOS though, so no confusion.

[@raiderjohnthemadbomber8666]

Also, ham radio operators routinely use CQ to cast about for other operators on air.

[@donsandsii4642]

Morse code can get though static better and can be transmitted farther. Abandoning short wave a mistake. SW units better in natural disasters needing less power and no infrastructure to work

[@raunchyNO]

Morse users hear themselfs often when propagation is good. That means the signal actualy went around the world.

[@Joe-sn6ir]

are you asking people these days to look forward and be proactive???? :D :D : D :D :D : D

[@donsandsii4642]

Quietest hurricane season in a decade. Not an issue....yet.

[@raunchyNO]

@@donsandsii4642 i am a HAM for a reason. 😏

[@mikemalloy1681]

Having been a radio officer, and also taught GMDSS, in my opinion, doing away with the radio officer position and putting a GMDSS station on the bridge was a way of just taking one more person off of a ship, to save money.

[@w8lvradio]

I hold a lifetime COMMERCIAL Telegrapher's Certificate. Sadly, if you "Monster" that for jobs, you won't find any... I'm becoming older than dirt. Fun Fact: SSS was the signal for being attacked by a U-Boat. 73 DE W8LV BILL

[@michaelb1761]

I believe Jocko Willink said that becoming proficient in Morse Code (can't remember the words per minute) was one of the requirements to become a Navy Seal back in 1989. I'm betting there are more than a few sailors out there that still know Morse Code even though they haven't used it in 30 years.

[@Roddy556]

Fun fact: The SSS code was covered in this very video so you aren't exactly sharing something people don't know

[@Fabala827]

This may be the most random comment I’ve ever left, but I am obsessed with the fact that the open referenced Great Big Sea lol whoever wrote this, I’m so happy!!

[@mikedahuman]

Just when I think I've found all your channels, I find another.

[@Mikkelltheimmortal]

I can't believe you made this video now. It's so coincident that yesterday I was talking with friends about how sos actually means nothing at all

[@Big_Tex]

How would you feel if someone said that about YOU?

[@jsnsk101]

morse code is used to identify aviation navigation transmitters, its funny how easy it is to pick out the letters

[@pamelamays4186]

Steady On Simon.😉

[@kieronparr3403]

First recommended. Simon explains SOS. Recycling episodes?

[@unculturedweeb4240]

All this talk of SOS makes me want to listen to a certain song.

[@ExperimentIV]

so when you’re near me, darling, can’t you hear me? CQD just doesn’t hit the same

[@captbart3185]

The MV Princendam ( Swedish flag?) sent the last “official “ SOS off the coast of Alaska. There are audio recordings available. One of the best by N1EA. They tried SSB and Satellite and teletype and nothing worked due to aurora noise. I listen periodically just to improve my radio skill. I’m a ham radio operator and love CW and it works when nothing else does. I think it was a mistake to no longer require it. The US military did away with it but had to start it back up after less tech advanced opponents used it as secure communications. The voice alert call was Pan Pan Pan meaning I’m in trouble but not badly enough to call mayday. I’ve used both while flying but I’ve never needed SOS

[@Maxaldojo]

Very cool, Simon!!!

[@jeffrey9040]

Lol @ Simon tapping out SOS around 45sec

[@80wolfmanrob]

I wonder if Danny taps it out on the walls while he's chained up I the basement.

[@mikemalloy1681]

Amendment to your statement on CQD. Actually, CQ is a general abbreviation for "anyone" to respond. It is still used today in amateur radio signals, when wishing to communicate with another station (any station) you would say either using Morse Code or by voice: CQ CQ CQ de WD5GYG WD5GYG hw? Then you would wait for a reply. So, by adding the "D" at the end of CQ especially in the maritime industry, it actually meant, anyone, DISTRESS. From: WD5GYG

[@MR2Davjohn]

-·-·/--·-/-·· vs. ···/---/··· CQ is a Amature Radio signal meaning "Seek You". SOS is a universal distress signal originally used during WWI to mean "Save Our Ship".

[@cornellkirk8946]

No it doesn’t mean save our ship or save our souls…. It means nothing! SOS is simply a distress signal it has become a backronym over time

[@ChodaBoyUSA]

I learned SOS as a child from the TV ads for S.O.S. brand scrubbing pads.

[@ChodaBoyUSA]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKOkYoepq6alb8k

[@wijjit]

Cool vid presentation Simon. Suave. Really enjoy your other nutty stuff too though.

[@ExperimentIV]

it happened in 1975 and it was thanks to ABBA, i say, knowing that in reality i am wrong but in my heart i am correct

[@RapperBC]

Heheh, well it's yet another great video, and yet again I get a kick outta the mispronunciation of some 'Murcan words; this time it's: uh-RAP-uh-ho (Arapaho/ Arapahoe) EAR-uh-kwoy (Iriquois)

[@grandpalarry7776]

"a RAP a ho" is the correct pronunciation of the ship's name as opposed to your "ARA pa ho".

[@Dap8998]

My Great Grandfather brought my Great Grandmother to the US from Italy on the Princess Irene. What a coincidence. ❤️❤️

[@jimjam7830]

YES! Another channel I didn't know about. Which quantum multiverse is this Simon from?

[@hazevthewolf178]

i wish that my smartphone had a Morse code key. Texting would be a breeze.

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

Thanks.

[@RampagingMonkey666]

I've only got one signalling finger, its not for an S.O.S. though. :)

[@sandybarnes887]

👍

[@TheEvilCommenter]

Good video 👍

[@SHGames97]

SIMON!!!! GOD DAMNIT SLOW DOWN MAN!!! Literally, wtf, BRO, it's getting ludicrous levels of freaky with all these channels! 🤮

[@danielc239]

Being a GDMSS qualified person this was really interesting

[@mikemalloy1681]

I used to teach GMDSS for a number of years and covered this in my classes. Where did you take your GMDSS class???

[@fuckYTIDontWantToUseMyRealName]

I was born in 1991, so I was too young for too much of this, but I did have the advantage of having a ham nut as a father. I was pretty young, but I remember my dad taking one of his CB units to get repairs, and the repair guy was using morose code to put in the order for new parts.

[@JeffBilkins]

As a follow-up maybe elaborate on "mayday" as one of the few legit spells anyone could invoke by repeating it three times to trigger forces beyond control. And because it is voice you could for dramatic content feature some recordings of historical maydays. Or elaborate on general rules and how to call emergencies for laypersons.

[@mikemalloy1681]

Well, MAYDAY was implemented during WW2 (maybe earlier), for voice only communications on 2182 MHz (voice frequency). It was really a French word meaning "maider", which means help me. When the Americans were trained in the proper radio procedure, they turned it into MAYDAY, which is much easier to remember. MAYDAY is spoken 3 times, then the name of the ship 3 times, then if you have it, the position. Then shut up. Let someone respond. Do not keep talking.

[@Hengebobs]

Its weird, I've been binge watching his decoding the unknown vids, listening to this one now, factboy sounds really different, it sounds like he's doing a toned down version of his Sean Connery impression. Its odd.

[@snowdog03]

Save Our Schools.

[@darylhudson777]

I have not heard the answer yet but I've always been told it meant save our souls that was from My World War II Army dad if I can remember correctly.

[@Cromwell224]

Simon, how many channels do you have?

[@andiward7068]

As of 7-20-22 at least 13.

[@ignitionfrn2223]

Hang on : didn't you reupload that episode

[@tkskagen]

More "Food for my Brain". I was never explained the Origins of "...---..."!

[@anthonyC214]

Just about to say will we go back to the old system when all the satellites are knocked out of service within the first hour of the next big war

[@yeahitskimmel]

Marconi getting credit for radio is like the guy who supposedly invented Monopoly when he really just relabeled The Landlord Game some lady had already invented and freely distributed

[@andiward7068]

She was an active Quaker and used the game to warn against unchecked capitalism. Simon has at least one vid he covers her/monopoly but idr which channel.

[@shibolinemress8913]

It was inwented by a little old lady from Leningrad. 😉 🖖😁

[@cockneyse]

CQ... From Seek you

[@eayscue82]

it's Cape Hatt-uhr-us

[@jharris0341]

Tesla...not Marconi.

[@craterglass]

Simon, to correctly pronounce the name of the ship, imagine a Southern pimp describing how he might discipline one of his ladies, i.e. "Arapahoe in the mouth if she back-talks me."

[@brianhiles8164]

_SOS,_ as in: *Sounds Of Silence* ... Or maybe, *Sick Of Struggling* *Show Of Support* *Save One Soldier* *Stamp Out Stupidity* I know, I know! *Searching Out Stories* Yeah, that´s the one.

[@Big_Tex]

Air a PAH ho 🤣

[@twistedpixel2558]

They need to do pronunciation research.

[@JGon-tv3ff]

Agreed!

[@ROMAQHICKS]

Assuming you are referring to the pronunciation of the native American names, nah. Why would a British man in central Europe know exactly how to pronounce the name of native American tribes? In context, it is easily deduced what is being said. I am not familiar with those names as spoken by their people but would guess that, a) likely not the actual name of the people because... colonialism or b) not actually how it is said by those people. Just like many Americans would not say Olathe or the Miami people (which might not be their original name) correctly and instead use the pronunciation of the city in Florida. Each language requires the users to listen to specific sounds and those change from language to language, so a non-native user will not pick-up those nuances and likely say it incorrectly to a native listener, hence accents...

[@twistedpixel2558]

@@ROMAQHICKS That's not an accent difference though. It's a pronunciation difference. If you're running a channel with as high a standard on quality as they have a little phone call to ensure pronunciation doesn't seem like a big task.

[@denniswilson3902]

Arapaho is pronounced ə · RAP · ah · hō

[@pamelamays4186]

Save Our Saucepans.

[@masyanya82]

I would be better to slower the speech.... all in all, thanks )

[@Docsporseen1]

Leave it to the French to be dramatic.

[@Isotopping]

Whooo!

[@ZOMBIEHEADSHOTKILLER]

what hits the fan? you seam to be having audio problems........ surely some one as high class and intelligent as you, wouldnt pander to mindless censorship, just to get some pocket change.

[@v.e.7236]

This guy talks way too fast and, coupled w/ the British accent, make it difficult to follow and understand. I enjoy a good history lesson, but I want to understand what I'm listening to.

[@donsandsii4642]

History of US and UK orphanages

[@JoeNathan42420]

Steve's On Steroids

[@billpilling5725]

S...O...S... Help me.... Anyone gets that reference gets 20 cool points.

[@Pepsi_Addicted]

first