George Henry Dodd
Captain George Henry Dodd (1864-1923)
1923 Obituary [1]
CAPTAIN G. H. DODD, R.D., R.N.R., was born at Crewe in 1864, and was educated on the Training Ship "Conway," afterwards serving his apprenticeship in sail, after which he turned his attention to steam.
He obtained his Extra Master's Certificate in April 1893, and in July, 1894, joined the Cunard Company's service. Between then and 1901 he served as Fourth Officer of the "Scythia," Third Officer of the "Servia," Third Officer, Extra Second Officer and Second Officer of the "Lucania," First Officer of the "Etruria" and Chief Officer of the "Ivernia."
In February, 1901 he came ashore as Assistant General Superintendent and in 1902, following the death of Captain Watson, he was appointed Marine Superintendent.
The following episodes in his life will illustrate his devotion to duty and disregard of his own personal safety:— One stormy day when a boy on the "Conway" school, a sailing boat with several occupants came drifting up stream close to the vessel and contending with a fresh running tide. It was obvious that the craft was in difficulties, and the men in imminent risk of losing their lives. Young Dodd sprang into a dinghy alongside and rowed out to the boat. Getting alongside he boarded the vessel and took charge, succeeding in mooring her subsequently in a safe position, where the men were taken off, very appreciative of the services of their young rescuer. The other occasion, more recent but equally as hazardous, was the rescue of the crew of the "Millfield," in bad weather in the Atlantic at Christmas time, 1897. Captain Dodd was then First Officer of the "Etruria," and took charge of the lifeboat which performed this highly meritorious feat. On another occasion he performed a delicate operation at sea on the skull of a sailor who had met with a bad accident on the vessel of which Captain Dodd was mate, when no surgeon was aboard. The successful character of the operation resulted in the saving of the man's life.
Captain Dodd was elected an Associate of the Liverpool Engineering Society in 1912.