THE LINKS
Of those 900, 685 perished when the unsinkable ship sank beneath the sea.
(From a letter to his sister, posted at Queenstown, Ireland, April 11, 1912)
Henry Tingle Wilde was born September 21, 1872 in Walton, England. Wilde was married to Mary Catherine Jones, with whom he fathered six children. Two of them, twin boys, Archie and Richard, died in infancy. Mary Catherine passed away December 24, 1910 from complications due to childbirth.
Wilde first worked as an apprentice on the ships of James Chambers. After obtaining his Second Mate Certificate, Wilde then transferred to the Maranhan Steamship Company where he earned his Master's Certificate. It was then that Wilde signed on with White Star Line. After four years, Wilde became the Chief Officer of White Star Line's largest vessel to date, the Olympic, sister ship of Titanic. Captain Edward J. Smith chose Wilde to be Chief Officer when the Olympic sailed on her maiden voyage in May of 1911. Wilde was also Smith's choice as First Officer when given command of Titanic. Wilde was told that this arrangement would only last for the maiden voyage of Titanic.
Not much is known about Wilde outside of his actions the night of April 14, 1912. After accompanying Thomas Andrews on his inspection of Titanic's sustained damage immediately following the collison with the iceberg, Wilde was given charge of preparing and loading the even-numbered life boats on the port side of the Titanic. Wilde was a bit hesitant to "swing out" the lifeboats, and twice Second Officer Lightoller had to gain permission from Captain Smith to launch the boats. It is believed by some that either Officer Wilde or Officer Murdoch shot a man trying to enter a lifeboat. However, no proof exists that this actually happened.
Wilde perished when Titanic sank below the surface of the sea, and an empty grave rests beside that of his wife.
In 1910, when his wife, Mary Catherine, was buried, his Royal Navy ranking was listed as lieutenant. In 1912, his tomb was marked with Captain.
First Officer William McMaster Murdoch
First Officer William Murdoch was in charge of the bridge on
the night Titanic struck the iceberg. Upon receiving the iceberg warning from lookout Frederick Fleet, Murdoch ordered Quartermaster Hitchens to turn the wheel "hard-a-starboard" and reverse the engines. He was hoping to "port around" the berg. Some believe the order to reverse the engines may have contributed to the sinking of the ship.
William McMaster Murdoch was born on February 28, 1873 at Barr Hill, Dalbeattie, Scotland, the fourth son of Captain Samuel Murdoch and Jane Muirhead Murdoch.
After finishing school, William apprenticed for five years with William, Joyce & Coy, in Liverpool. A very competent and well-liked seaman, Murdoch received his Second Mate Certificate, after only four years and four voyages. He then earned his Extra Master's Certificate. In 1903, William met a 29-year-old New Zealand schoolteacher, Ada Florence Banks whom he married in 1907.
In May of 1911, Murdoch was appointed First Officer of White Star Line's Olympic. He was to serve under Captain Edward J. Smith and Chief Officer Henry Wilde. After several voyages aboard Olympic, he learned he was to serve on White Star Line's newest and most luxurious ship to date, Titanic, along with Captain Smith and Chief Officer Wilde.
As is Officer Wilde, Murdoch has been accused by some passengers of shooting a man trying to board one of the lifeboats as Titanic was sinking. Some stated that they saw Murdoch shoot into the air, but never at anyone. Murdoch is also rumored to have committed suicide, but his body was never recovered. Therefore, no evidence exists to prove this allegation. According to passenger Archibald Gracie: "An immense wave struck the bridge and splayed back over each side of the boat deck....Officer Murdoch was knocked overboard." Gracie, who worked with Murdoch on trying to release collapsible lifeboat "A" from the roof of the officer's quarters, seems to be the most trusted authority on Murdoch's death.
After Murdoch's death, the Town Council of Dalbeattie, Scotland, voted to erect a memorial to William. The Council also established a scholarship fund in his honor.
His wife, Ada, never remarried. She is said to have stated that the only regret she had was that she and William never had any children. She died April 21, 1941, at the age of 65.
Second Officer Charles Herbert Lightoller
Second Officer Lightoller was the highest ranking officer to survive the tragedy of Titanic. He was also the key witness at the Senate hearings after the sinking. He stuck by the White Star Line in both the United States and the British inquiries.
Lightoller was born in Chorley, Lancashire, on March 30, 1874. At the age of 13, he began an apprenticeship, and in 1895, at the age of 21, he obtained his Master's ticket. Prior to joining the White Star Line in 1900, Lightoller had served aboard many ships. He was once stranded on a deserted island and had also survived a cyclone and a fire at sea. He had prospected for gold in the Yukon and had worked as a cowboy in the Canadian west. Lightoller first worked on the Oceanic before transferring to the larger Titanic in 1912.
Second Officer Lightoller was on duty from 6:00p.m. until 10:00p.m. the evening of April 14, 1912. He was relieved from duty by First Officer William Murdoch. At 11:40p.m., alone in his cabin, Lightoller felt the vibrations of the ship as she collided with the iceberg. He immediately appeared on deck in his pajamas, but returned to his cabin to dress after learning the seriousness of Titanic's situation. Once back on deck, he took command of the even numbered lifeboats on the port side of the ship. After several boats had been launched, someone pointed out a group of men that had taken over Lifeboat 2. Lightoller instantly jumped into the boat and, waving his empty gun, ordered the men out. He was then able to load 36 women and children into that boat.
When all of the lifeboats had been lauched with the exception of four collapsible boats, Lightoller along with some of the crew formed a ring around one of the boats, allowing only women and children into it. After loading the boat, Chief Officer Wilde ordered Lightoller "to go with her". Lightoller replied, "Not damn likely!" and stepped back on deck.
After lauching the boat, Lightoller began to cut the ropes of Collapsible A, sending her down to the flooded deck. Then, the Titanic plunged forward. Lightoller turned to face the sea and dove in. He was sucked under by the pull of the ship, but as the water hit the hot boilers, the blast blew him to the surface where he immediately spotted the capsized Collapsible A. He was among 30 men who climbed aboard the capsized boat to await rescue. Second Officer Lightoller was the last Titanic survivor to board Carpathia.
After the hearings that followed the sinking, Lightoller returned to the sea. In World War I, he served with the Royal Navy. For his heroic actions in duty, he was awarded the Destinguished Service Cross. In 1918, he came out of the Royal Navy a full commander. He returned to White Star Line as a Chief Officer.
He also served in World War II, using his own yacht, Sundowner, to rescue 131 British soldiers in the evacuation of Dunkirk. He stayed with White Star Line until his retirement.
Second Officer Lightoller passed away on December 8, 1952.
He was in his quarters on April 14, 1912, when Titanic struck the iceburg. Third Officer Herbert John Pitman was given charge of lifeboat No. 5 by First Officer Murdoch. He loaded as many women and children as he could find into the boat, and then allowed a number of men onboard. J. Bruce Ismay was among them. Lifeboat 5 was launched with approximately 40 people aboard her, Officer Pitman in charge.
After the sinking, Pitman was called upon to testify at the inquiries, both U.S. and British. Although he remained at sea for 35 years, failing vision forced him to retire from the bridge and join the purser's staff.
He retired 35 years after the sinking of Titanic and, as a widower, returned to England. Third Officer John Pittman died in December of 1961.
Third Officer Herbert John Pitman
Herbert John Pitman was a seventeen year veteran at sea, when he arrived on Titanic. Pitman came to the Titanic from the White Star Line's Oceanic. Pitman reported to Liverpool upon White Star orders, and traveled to meet Titanic at Belfast along with officers Boxhall, Lowe, and Moody.
At 11:40p.m. on April 14, 1912, Boxhall, who had been in his cabin, was walking along the bridge. He heard the three bells rang from the crow's nest signalling the sighting of the iceberg. He heard First Officer William Murdoch give the order for "hard-a-starboard" and to reverse the engines. He joined Murdoch in time to see him organizing the closing of the watertight doors.
By 12:45a.m., Forth Officer Boxhall and Quartermaster George Rowe had begun to fire Titanic's distress rockets. They also attempted to signal a vessel spotted off the port bow, believed to have been the Californian, by morse lamp. Their attempts to signal the ship seen in the distance failed, and as Quartermaster Lowe continued to fire the flares, Boxhall began the loading of Lifeboat 2. The lifeboat was lowered at 1:45a.m., Boxhall aboard her. He stayed with the boat until the arrival of Carpathia.
Boxhall was called upon to testify at both the U.S. hearings and those conducted by the British. He was the first to testify to seeing another ship in the distance as Titanic was sinking, a ship that did not respond to Titanic's distress signals.
Officer Boxhall later gained a command wiht the Royal Navy, but he was never made a captain with the merchant marine. He continued to work for White Star until the company's merger with Cunard. Of all Titanic's junior officers, Boxhall remained the longest at sea. He retired in 1940, and in 1958 acted as Technical Advisor to the film "A Night To Remember".
Joseph Boxhall died on the 25th of April, 1967, at the age of 83. On the 12th of June, 1967, his ashes were scattered over the location of the sinking of Titanic.
Forth Officer Joseph Groves Boxhall
Boxhall was born in Hull, Yorkshire on March 23, 1884. Prior to joining Titanic, Boxhall worked at sea for thirteen years. He served his apprenticeship with William Thomas, Liverpool and was later an officer with the Wilson Line of Hull. Boxhall earned his Master Certificate at Hull in 1907. He then joined White Star Line where he gained his Extra Master Certificate and served with White Star for five years before joining the crew of Titanic.
On the evening of April 14, 1912, Fifth Officer Harold Lowe found himself responsible for loading and launching Lifeboat 14 from the sinking Titanic. He boarded her, along with the women and children. After the last of Titanic had vanished below the surface of the sea, Officer Lowe returned to the sight to search for survivors, pulling from the sea. Lifeboat 14 was the only lifeboat to return for survivors.
Following the disaster, Lowe was called to give his testimony at both inquiries. It was this testimony, along with that of surviving passengers and crew members that proved Harold Lowe to be a most concientious and dedicated officer.
Lowe served in the Royal Navy Reserve where he obtained the rank of commander. However, like the other surviving officers of Titanic, he was never promoted to captain in the merchant marine. Lowe eventually left the sea and returned to his homeland of North Wales where he became active in local politics. Fifth Officer Harold Godfrey Lowe died in 1944 at the age of 61.
Fifth Officer Harold Godfrey Lowe
Fifth Officer Harold Godfrey Lowe was born in Wales in 1883. Lowe, who's dream was to become a sailor, was offered an apprenticeship by a Liverpool shipping company at the age of 14. He declined, however, for he was not of a mind to work under anyone, much l;ess without pay. Harold Lowe eventually left home to spend seven years at sea on various schooners. From there, he switched to square rigging ships, and then to steamers. After earning his certificates and serving a brief stint with the West African Coast Service, Lowe joined White Star Line.
Sixth Oficer James Paul Moody
Sixth Officer James Paul Moody, 24, was born in Scarborough, England on August 21, 1887. His granfather was the mayor of the town, and his father served on the town council. Moody was a graduate of the King Edward VII Nautical School in London. He went on to pass his Master's Examination in April of 1911. He began his career aboard White Star Line's Oceanic before being transferred to Tiitanic.
Second Officer Moody was on watch April 14, 1912, the evening Titanic struck the iceberg. It was he who answered the phone from Lookout Fedrick Fleet and reported to First Officer Murdoch, "Iceberg, right ahead!"
During the evacuation of Titanic, Moody helped to fill Lifeboats 12, 14, and 16. He was last seen alive by Second Officer Lightoller trying to lauch the collapsible boats.
