The Liverpool born Wilde suffered a devastating loss in December 1910 when his twin sons died shortly after birth. Further heartbreak was to be delivered on Christmas Eve as his wife also passed away after the complications and exhaustion of birth.

Wilde set sail from Liverpool on April 7th 1911 as captain of the SS Zeeland but then served as Chief Officer on the RMS Olympic after her maiden voyage. Wilde was Chief Officer on her fifth voyage which included the collision with HMS Hawke on September 20th 1911. 

The coal strike in March 1912 meant that Wilde did not get his captaincy on board the Cymric but was sent to the Titanic. As late as April 7th he was not sure he was to set sail on the maiden voyage. Wilde's actions that night have been pieced together with extensive eye witness testimony and the Chief Officer paid the ultimate price, but speculation remains as to whether he committed suicide at the end.