Titanic Medals - Incredibly Rare & Poignant Relics

In order to honour and reward the captain and crew of the rescue ship Carpathia, that saved 705 Titanic survivors in 1912, a special medal was awarded by the Titanic Survivors' Committee - today, these incredibly rare relics are very valuable - a poignant link to the terrible events of 15 April 1912.
Dr. Mark Felton FRHistS, FRSA, is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fe...
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Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Credits: US National Archives; Library of Congress; BBC; Liverpool Medals; Antiques Trade Gazette; Paul Fraser Collectibles; Merseyside Maritime Museum; National Museum Liverpool

[@matmcd]

The story itself of how the Carpathia raced through an iceberg field to rescue Titanic could be made into a movie. They were really brave.

[@xys7536]

I'm on it

[@Ramzi1944]

@@xys7536 You are making the movie?

[@StanStacks]

@@Ramzi1944 yes, he is on it

[@johnt.kennedy3856]

@@Ramzi1944 you didn’t understand him?

[@Ramzi1944]

@@johnt.kennedy3856 Yes, I think he's on it

[@catherinegrant1570]

My great grandfather was shipwright on the Carpathia, and we have the medal in the family. The story was always part of family history.

[@thejudgmentalcat]

I had no clue there were medals presented to Carpathia crew or that the rich survivors started a fund for the 3rd class survivors. Always learning something new from Professor Felton 👏

[@brick6347]

The Titanic is famous, and rightfully so. But two days ago (29 May) was the anniversary of the sinking of _RMS Empress of Ireland_ in 1914, often called the forgotten Titanic. The outbreak of WW1 perhaps drowned out the disaster. Of the 1477 people onboard, only 465 survived. If anyone is unfamiliar with the story, I do recommend reading about it. Harrowing.

[@rockymountainlifeprospecti4423]

Thank you for keeping history and memories alive by sharing. I now know because of your comment.

[@ClancyWoodard-yw6tg]

I will definitely have to look this story up

[@MrRjh63]

She was worse since unlike the titanic she rolled over after being rammed accidently and as a result the death toll was much worse.

[@Catholicgauze]

Thanks for sharing this. I had a relative on that ship. He was a Salvation Army chaplain, and was killed in the wreck.

[@filipdendis7988]

My Birthday🎉

[@jimc.goodfellas226]

Mark Felton is the definition of skill and class

[@gabriellen.2886]

What a good man the Captain was; he and his crew rose to the moment and saved many lives. Also, much praise to the decency of the wealthy survivors who established a fund to help the indigent who were left with nothing after Titanic sank. What a story!!!

[@apburner1]

Rose to the moment? They turned the ship and then picked people up, they did nothing heroic, they did not risk their lives. It's also interesting that the gold, silver, and bronze were awarded in reverse order when taking into account who actually did something other than point in the direction to go.

[@gabriellen.2886]

@@apburner1 Thanks for your comment. Have a nice day, sir.

[@arostwocents]

It shows that back then even the wealthy felt some responsibility towards society. It's awful how the west has changed since it became fascist.

[@alexius23]

Much to my surprise I met a Titanic survivor. She & her Mother survived where as her Father & brother did not. She about 5 when Titanic sank. She was still an old but active woman when Ballard found the wreck. She was interviewed frequently. One time she was asked if there was anything she wanted from the wreck. Her reply was, “I want my bicycle”.

[@johnarnell4241]

My favourite titanic hero is Arthur John Priest,the unsinkable stoker,survivor of one crash at sea previously, he joined the titanic survived that then four further wartime sinkings.

[@tywinlannister8015]

I raise you Officer Lightoller. Who has had a very interesting pedigree XD

[@eze8970]

@@tywinlannister8015 Yes he did. But not 6 sinkings. If Arthur Priest got on board a ship I was on, think I'd gotten off of it!

[@stevepritchett6563]

@@eze8970 I think I would have as well 🤣🤣🤣

[@mikecook317]

TBH, I don't think I would allow Mr. Priest on my ship.

[@reinhardtnilsson7360]

Mark I love that you cover not just WW2

[@fuferito]

It isn't every episode that Prof Felton puts on the sombre music. I'll be paying attention to this one.

[@crisslastname9417]

"A Night to Remember" is my go-to Titanic movie too. The book is very good as well. And I must give a shout-out to Kenneth More-my favorite British actor. 👍

[@Zebred2001]

My father who was born in 1915 was taken by his father (my grandfather) to St. Albans sometime in the late 1920's or the early 1930's to purchase a mastiff from Charles Lightoller the second officer and senior surviving officer of Titanic. To my knowledge the sinking was not discussed. In the summer of 2017 I was in Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia and saw the plot where 121 of the Titanic dead were buried including J. Dawson. Very sobering.

[@HexxHenderson]

I live on Pennsylvania Street in Denver Colorado. I live in a historic mansion that is one block down from the Molly Brown House. The Molly Brown House is now a museum and if you’re ever in Denver, it’s a must see I walked by it every day with my dog.

[@elvenkind6072]

Endless amounts of new info. And it doesn't get boring!

[@sizzleswizzle9164]

Crazy that this was the most recent video when the OceanGate incident happened

[@jst7714]

I’ve read that the Carpathia was pushed so hard racing to the Titanic that her engines were damaged, permanently lowering her top speed.

[@davidlogansr8007]

I believe that I had read that as well. I further recall an account that Carpathia was at one point steaming at almost 19 knots, far above her nominal service speed of 14-15 knots. She was not a small ship either, at 558 feet long! Not Titanic size (882 feet) but certainly larger than most ships at sea in those years! Captain Rostron had all heat and hot water turned off throughout the ship so as to pour every ounce of steam into her engines!

[@williamharris9525]

Thank you Professor Felton! Good job on the research! Recognition of the Carpathia’s crew was extremely important as if the Carpathia did not respond, the few that survived the Titanic disaster would be far fewer.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Coal fired steamship Titanic

[@TheOldSalt]

Dr. Felton technically

[@williamharris9525]

@@TheOldSalt You are absolutely correct!

[@lucassaueressig1411]

I never knew this. Thanks. Poor people, frozen to death

[@Edwards-Videos]

0:45 I totally agree with you about the movie, 'A Night to Remember.'

[@Shore1985]

Charity wasnt really a thing back then so it brings a smile to my face that some of the wealthier survivors, despite avoiding death aswell, actually thought about the poor and decided to come up with a slight form of relief just hours of the tragedy.

[@HaaraldEigerson1066]

Wrong. It was the social safety net that wasn’t really a thing back then. Charity was pretty much the only way that the destitute were taken care of back then. The modern government safety net will take care of things but much more slowly and only after government has taken it’s cut.

[@korbell1089]

Well if you knew anything about Molly Brown, that woman was a force in itself and I could see her spearheading something like that.😇

[@EcclesiastesLiker-py5ts]

Charity was quite extensive at the time.

[@meijiturtle3814]

I must agree with you that A Night to Remember is the better film. As a matter of interest in my later career as a tax accountant, I had a Titanic survivor as a client in the mid 1960s. My recollection is that she was a 10 year old at the time of the disaster.

[@dalereed3950]

meijiturtle3814, I agree that A Night to Remember is the better film. I have both of those. I am under the impression that there was another film with Barbara Stanwick as a star. When I googled the film, I just come up with those two.

[@robertsmart4628]

My favourite as well .a night to remember.

[@garycurry4600]

A Night to Remember by Walter Lord was a fantastic book, and the movie was true to the book.

[@ZebraWheelie]

I love anything about the titanic! And the best thing is, I live five minutes away from titanic Belfast and the slip roads where both the titanic and Olympic were built!

[@bobperrine6193]

A very heroic tale of outstanding seamen.

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

God bless the crew of Carpathia.

[@jimmywrangles]

A night to remember is one of my top ten movies.

[@nunyabeeswax3936]

Jolly good show Mark Felton!

[@mch12311969]

Thank you for bringing this little known part of Titanic's story to light.

[@SuperDiablo101]

This gave me chills of the good kind to know that people regardless of the class or anything of the sorts helped one another in tragedy but would you ever cover a story of the titanic and Dunkirk survivor none other than Charles lighttoller?

[@christiansummers562]

Sir Arthur Rostron was a true Hero!

[@MightyMezzo]

Another vote for “A Night to Remember.” Leo was pretty, but Kenneth More manages to save himself and a few dozen other people. I’d also like to mention the 1953 film “Titanic”, which serves up the same amount of sappy romance as the Cameron movie, at half the length. Plus, it’s got Barbara Stanwyck.

[@bak-mariterry5180]

A good movie also. Barbara Stanwyck..... my favorite all time actress.

[@kirbyculp3449]

Hubba Hubba

[@setoredan]

Thank you, Dr. Felton. This was very informative and something I had never heard about before your video.

[@ClancyWoodard-yw6tg]

Once again you find a story i've never heard

[@HandyMan657]

The music threw me for a loop Doc. Super interesting topic, thanks.

[@bruceknight9506]

What a great story!

[@briancisco1176]

Yes, Dr. Felton, "A Night to Remember" is unsurpassed.

[@iain-duncan]

I've been enjoying the variance from the standard ww2 fare. It's always nice exploring new topics!

[@kilo21swp]

Well done.

[@daystatesniper01]

Dr Felton ,incredible does NOT cover this short video , never heard of these medals before this amazing work .Thank You

[@bishopgreenhill4359]

Wow that was a really good video,nothing more famous than the titanic…

[@jack_L858]

When I didn't hear the classic Mark Felton intro music my heart dropped! I thought Mark died!

[@spooderdoggy]

Thanks you Dr. Felton.🇺🇸

[@shawnr771]

Thank you for the lesson.

[@krisfrederick5001]

The closest I will ever be to the Titanic is the RMS Queen Mary, docked in Long Beach California. She is a hotel now but still stunning. During the War she became a troop ship ferrying troops to England in the same North Atlantic that sank the Titanic. Which as a World War 2 lover(?) was just breathtaking to be on board just looking around and wondering what had happened. The energy was palpable. In addition the Russian Scorpion submarine, now in complete disrepair is dock directly next to her. It was my first and only experience on a submarine and it gives me endlessly more respect for every Submariner and Sailor ever. Kriegsmarine or British and U.S. Navy. You hit the Mark every time Dr. Felton

[@brick6347]

Well, not quite. You can visit the SS Nomadic in Belfast. She was built by the White Star line as tender to transfer passengers and mail to and from RMS Olympic and RMS Titanic. Designed by Thomas Andrews, who also designed Titanic. Basically Titanic's little sister, decorated in the same style. She appears briefly in the James Cameron movie bringing Molly Brown aboard

[@stevetournay6103]

In about a year's time, come to Ontario, Canada, and visit the 1905 Canadian Pacific Great Lakes liner Keewatin. She is to go on permanent show at Kingston. At the moment she is undergoing a refit in my hometown of Hamilton. Except for her delivery voyage across the Atlantic (she was built in Scotland), her entire 118-year life has been spent on the freshwater Great Lakes, and she is in astonishing condition for so old a ship...

[@PSMCR69]

Videos on List of sunken HMS ships during WW1 and WW2 would be better ⚓ 🚢

[@topiasr628]

Interesting timing given Titanic is back in the news for another reason. The Titanic's siren song still sounds

[@mitchmatthews6713]

Bravo, Mark!

[@timothyhays1817]

Noble act.

[@bobhill3941]

Thank you Mark, I found a night to remember here and I'm going to watch it.

[@bobhill3941]

I just watched it thanks to Mark, it was very well done, thanks to the consultation with the survivors and ship captains. You really got a sense of the fear and comradery along with adherence to a defined class structure even in times of peril.

[@rickhobson3211]

Brilliant video! Thank you for your hard work, Dr. Felton!

[@vblake530530]

You. You. You. You. You. Dr. Felton, YOU!

[@dr.adam_bright2601]

I never thought I would see you make a video on my largest passion, on the 112th Anniversary of her launching no less. Thank you very very much, it means a lot to me.

[@leonardcroft1467]

Thank You Dr. Felton Always Look Forward to You’re History Lessons …

[@jec1ny]

I agree with your assessment that A Night to Remember remains the gold standard for Titanic movies.

[@battlejitney2197]

Another touching history lesson, Dr. Felton. Agreed: A Night To Remember is the better telling of the Titanic tragedy.

[@TimPerfetto]

Oh your scabs are so old you can ruin them if you eat them you better not

[@fabianwylie8707]

Thanks so much for this particular posting Mark , I have always been so fascinated about Titanic and studied all that was in newspapers and the entire information way back in the 80s in a Swansea wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 reference library. Irony I was born on the 14th April.

[@TellySavalas-or5hf]

The Wilhelm Gustloff was a much bigger shipping disaster.

[@cristianvandenbosse8989]

Yes, but it doesn't make this disaster any less tragic.

[@steventhomas378]

Fantastic video. Love everything you post on your channel. I recommend you to so many people! Thank you!

[@eliotreader8220]

very beautiful looking medals

[@phil4208]

As always giving us fantastic facts , I never knew about these well deserved medals , it's been awhile since I watched a night to remember so I'll have to revisit it ,I'm a redsox fan so the grand opening of fenway park and the titanic disaster happened on the same day , new york

[@markhindmarsh2811]

The themes covered in these You Tube channels amazes me . What Professor Mark Felton digs up never ceases to amaze .

[@StevenKeery]

I took some of my relatives from New York around the Titanic Exhibition in Belfast, just last week. They found it a very moving experience and I can recommend it if you are ever in Belfast on a visit. The exhibition has the Californian listed as being nineteen miles from the Titanic when she sank. The sinking was a tragic series of events and led to many changes in sailing regulations such as a place in a lifeboat for every passenger, life boat drills and practice for the crew and passengers, a radio-operator to be always on duty and amended designs for ships regarding bulkheads. I found your video interesting, thanks for uploading. My Grandfather and Great-Grandfather were among those who built the Titanic and a distant cousin was among the crew who lost their lives on board. The sense of pride at her launch was swiftly overtaken by grief when news of her sinking reached Belfast.

[@stephengordon9956]

Once again you have excelled in your informative presentation. Sir You are easy to listen to your pronunciation, voice, tone & modulation are pleasant to my ears I enjoy listening to you. It's always a pleasure to follow your videos, I always feel educated and appreciate the knowledge gained. Thank you Prof. Mark Felton.

[@terrystephens1102]

Thank you for such a very interesting story not previously known.👌👌👌👏👏👏

[@dubliner1100]

Brilliant, thank you so much for all your great videos 👌

[@rogercyr1551]

Great story, very touching...thank you.

[@murrayeldred3563]

Fantastic. Impressive.

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

I have personally experience the change to maritime law regarding signals of distress. When I was a kid I was on the USNS Maurice Rose. I was traveling from Bremerhaven to New York City as a military dependent. During the night after we had passed the straits of Dover alarm bells started sounding on the ship. We went up on deck and to our alarm we saw sailors running in life jackets and climbing into the lifeboats as they were being lowered. On the horizon we could see planes circling and flares being dropped. That signaled that a ship was in distress. The lifeboats were heading out to render assistance. All of a sudden the ship's captain put a radio message on the PA. An English officer apologize for the alarm and said they were having a bit of an unannounced drill. My dad gave my mom all kinds of grief jokingly because she was English. As a kid the whole thing was very entertaining and interesting. If it had been back in the day when Titanic called for help this ship and crew would have been there in a heartbeat. That was just the beginning of the adventure to cross the Atlantic to NY. One of the highlights was an Atlantic Gale. We were traveling in November. The seas were incredible and in all honesty I loved it. Dad and I did not miss a meal. Whereas my mom and sister threw up everything they ate for the last 2 months.

[@timeywimey6664]

A night to remember is a good movie

[@MTMMoonlight]

I Love the new intro music!

[@dr.plutonus1496]

Beacon Park in my home city of Lichfield has an imposing statue of Captain Smith, although he wasn't born here. It was initially commissioned by his home town of Hanley, Stoke on Trent. As opinions on his culpability for the sinking subsequently grew, by the time the statue was ready in 1914 Hanley didn't want it, so it was erected here. As the centenary of the disaster approached, there was a brief campaign by Hanley to have the statue relocated, but civic leaders in Lichfield refused, on the grounds that it had stood here for almost a century. There are usually flowers or wreaths laid at its base.

[@lizlawrence4553]

Night to remember is the most accurate. The other one done in 1997 is over hyped rubbish. The crew did an amazing job.

[@nordicson2835]

Thank you this was interesting and informative.

[@TRHARTAmericanArtist]

The Titanic story is one that although considered a failure of human endeavors must also be remembered as a triumph of the human spirit as well. Few people realize that one man's obsession (Marconi's fear of being shipwrecked) led him to invent the wireless which undoubtedly saved many aboard the Titanic and subsequent maritime disasters. It is a little known fact that Marconi's wife and children were scheduled to have sailed on the Titanic but missed the maiden voyage due to the children falling ill. As always a well researched and impressive production. Thanks Dr. Felton.

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Thanks again my friend... 🇺🇸

[@sealove79able]

A very interesting video Mr.Felton as always.

[@paulpowell4871]

"Some Men are Born Great and others have Greatness Thrust Upon them!"

[@stevemurphy4831]

Brilliant as always..

[@Klaatu-ij9uz]

VERY interesting bit of history I previously knew nothing about....GREAT episode! 🚢

[@lemon_j]

I was looking away and that horn made me jump! lol.

[@freelancenerd4804]

Excellent video!!! Very interesting!

[@johnsaucedo1131]

Amazing bit of history and very well presented...thank you, Mark!

[@zacharyfindlay-maddox171]

Wow! That's incredible, I've never heard about this before. Thank you!

[@ordenmanvrn7685]

Nice! Would be great if you make more videos on phaleristics!

[@jamesbodnarchuk3322]

Very interesting Dr Felton

[@elveheim]

Great

[@Nickgroenewolt]

An interesting story as always. Ive been watching your videos on both channels for years now. Big fan. Greetings from The Netherlands!

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

A wonderful historical coverage of those models

[@garytempleman3446]

Highly recommend Charles lightholler auto biography titanic and other ships a absolutely fantastic read, and if you can acquire a copy goodbye and goodluck, William murdoch biography only 500 copies are out there but I believe the library at Dalbeattie his hometown have a copy, and this was how I managed to read it.

[@jerry2357]

I agree: A Night to Remember is definitely a much better film than the more recent movie.

[@ferminromero2602]

Excellent story.

[@thEannoyingE]

It’s crazy to think that the loving cup was sold only a short distance from me.

[@scottwooster4102]

That is a great story I did not know. Thanks!

[@annwilliams6438]

Sounds like Cpt Lord Stanley was yet another ‘made the boss because he is a Lord’ situation rather than a practically experienced sailor who was worthy of being the Captain of a ship.

[@bernardbrierley9163]

Boy, I wonder just how 'sheepish' the Captain of the SS Californian felt, after all this. Captain Stanley Lord. The age old adage comes to mine: "Regret, is a B...." Another excellent story Dr. Felton. Thank You!

[@rinoz47]

Slight correction but the captain didn't call for an SOS. It was still CQD, and one of the officers pretty much said, "hey guys, SOS is pretty new. Considering the circumstances, this is the only time you'll get to use it."

[@rinoz47]

@Ferro Equus what a way for a practice to die out.

[@robertmosher7418]

The unsung heroes of the Titanic disaster were the guys in. The wireless operators on the Titanic were supposed to shut down the radio unit which worked on tubes at that time and would have required hours to get it to work again. The operator would sit and listen and decode messages just to get faster at writing out messages. If they had shut down the radio unit, who knows if those in life boats would have survived.

[@kvol1668]

They weren't unsung, they were heralded for it. What is lesser known was that the night before the marconi system broke, and they were not authorized to repair it. They stayed up overnight fixing it in order to not become backed up on their work. That was the night before she sank.

[@johnallen7807]

Fascinating story but I wonder if I am alone in feeling distaste for the way medals, especially for gallantry, are bought and sold by rich people? the Lord Ashcroft VC collection springs to mind.

[@gsilcoful]

Thanks.