Frank Winnold Prentice

Major Frank Winnold Prentice (17 February 1889 – 19 May 1982) was a British merchant seaman and the assistant storekeeper on the ocean liner RMS Titanic during her maiden voyage. He survived the sinking and at the time of his death was the penultimate surviving crew-member of the disaster.

RMS Titanic

Prentice signed on to Titanics crew on 4 April 1912 as an assistant storekeeper, having transferred from another White Star liner, Celtic. He boarded Titanic in Southampton on 10 April 1912 and the ship set sail for New York that same day. Once on board, he met Mrs Clark again, who wrapped her cloak around him, possibly saving his life. Very cold from the time he spent in the water, Prentice tried to drink a bottle of whisky, but it was thrown out by Quartermaster Walter Perkis, who was in charge of the boat. Prentice was one of seven swimmers picked up by lifeboat 4, although two later died from exposure during the night.

Lifeboat 4's occupants were picked up by the rescue ship RMS Carpathia at 8 am, and Prentice was taken straight to the ship's infirmary. Carpathia arrived in New York on 18 April 1912, where Prentice disembarked alongside the other surviving crew. He returned to England on the with the crew not held back for the American inquiry.