By registering with our site you will have full instant access to:
268,000 posts on every subject imaginable contributed by 1000's of members worldwide.
25000 photos and videos mainly relating to the British Merchant Navy.
Members experienced in research to help you find out about friends and relatives who served.
The camaraderie of 1000's of ex Merchant Seamen who use the site for recreation & nostalgia.
Here we are all equal whether ex Deck Boy or Commodore of the Fleet.
A wealth of experience and expertise from all departments spanning 70+ years.
It is simple to register and membership is absolutely free.
N.B. If you are going to be requesting help from one of the forums with finding historical details of a relative
please include as much information as possible to help members assist you. We certainly need full names,
date and place of birth / death where possible plus any other details you have such as discharge book numbers etc.
Please post all questions onto the appropriate forum
-
10th December 2018, 03:07 PM
#11
Re: Construction of Titanic.
Might well have done, who knows. My father was an apprentice fitter and it seems was all over the site. There was always huge competition among the apprentices to get selected for the one coveted place on the H&W guarantee crew that accompanied all new liners on their maiden voyage at that time. One apprentice was given it as a reward for their service and was highly prized. My father told me often how that topic was all consuming in the yard in the months leading up to the trials. "Fortunately" as it happens, he was not selected , the prize going to his best friend. He was lost with the entire H&W guarantee gang- and so, I'm here!! He completed his apprenticeship with them followed by a short apprenticeship at Brown's Foundry in Belfast before heading off to sea with Houlder Bros. as 4th Eng.
Last edited by corrientes; 10th December 2018 at 03:09 PM.
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
11th December 2018, 08:32 PM
#12
Re: Construction of Titanic.
Although he was a highly experienced and skilled seaman, Chief Officer Murdoch is sometimes mentioned as being the cause of Titanic's fate.
One wonders as to why he and Charles Lightroller were demoted one rank lower while the Titanic was loading at Southampton. Henry Wilde was drafted in from the Olympic and made Chief Officer.
Could having his nose put out of joint with only four days to adapt back to the duties
of First Officer again affected Murdoch's decision making on that fateful night?.
Fouro.
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
11th December 2018, 10:15 PM
#13
Re: Construction of Titanic.
Doubt it, was it not more likely to have been Ismay's insistence to run at full speed (at least according to the movie)?
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
11th December 2018, 11:38 PM
#14
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
12th December 2018, 01:14 AM
#15
Re: Construction of Titanic.
#10 Ahhhh ! customs house Quay, and the Tail of the Bank, brings back memorys from that side of the water, and Ma Carols in Belfast where had my 21 st. On the other side . A good mixture there Lewis, the best and worse of two worlds. Now if you were born on the Stranraer to Larne ferry halfway across would complete the picture , what nationality would you prefer ? I was born near Iron Bridge and my mother used to hint that it was really in Wales. She was Scottish and my father English. So I cut the cards and call myself a Geordie. Who the Scots reckon is a Scotsman with his brains blown out. Two of my uncles were also riveters, when such existed. Lewis being the son of a Freemason and 18 years of age appearing in the meaning of, so you were probably named after whichever grandfather was such, who was probably your Scottish one. So you can always say you are 18 if anyone asks. Cheers JS
Last edited by j.sabourn; 12th December 2018 at 01:29 AM.
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
12th December 2018, 02:25 AM
#16
Re: Construction of Titanic.
#14... No matter what people come up with later in their own deliberations it is too late. The subsequent enquiry would have been and still is the official answer to the tragedy. These conclusions are made by people supposedly with the intellect to do so. However that sometimes is questionable , but not for others to reason why. All through history today we have people questioning the facts of the history books. Today if the Titanic occurred in present day circumstances the master Smith would be held totally accountable and if survived would probably have done time. There is always a fall guy in any accident. Human failure is usually the culprit blamed for insurance claims and the like . As regards blaming lack of binoculars seems very short sighted, the pun not intended, for those who have been in similar conditions , when ice is around long before you see it , there is a fall in temperature and one can literally smell it, so if anything it wasn’t lack of binoculars it was lack of experience if anything. It’s all very well to discuss afterwards, but in all events the total truth will be with those not with us today. JS
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
12th December 2018, 03:14 AM
#17
Re: Construction of Titanic.
#13...That may well be nearer the truth than people realize Lewis. One time where Hollywood may have received good advice on how things work at sea. I was master of the Nordic Explorer a Norwegian seismic vessel working off the NW of Australia. We received a cyclone warning and all ships started to make a run for it. I told the camp boss and Englishman with an English team out from England , that I was leaving the area also. Let me say that those that came to work out here temporary from the North Sea had a false sense of their own importance. You can’t do that he said I’ve got four arrays out just stay here and carry on. I told him to get knotted he could start pulling them in now or do it on the way up to Broome where I reckoned I could get behind the front of the storm. I proceeded on my way towards safer climes. As it turned out the storm veered off its forecast track later and missed the area. He put in a strong claim that I wouldn’t listen to him, which I wouldn’t in any case. And had me removed, or at least I was sent to another ship after that swing there. I had the satisfaction of learning later that he had coerced the next master there to go too close to the reefs and lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost gear. The unfortuanate part about it was that the master got the sack and this spunk trumpet is more than likely around today telling people how important he is. Once again you can’t kick against the pricks of this world. I always adhered to the fact if you were the master the safety and welfare of ship and crew was your responsibility not other people’s . It may have lost me friends if you can call them that , it was hard going but I got full employment at sea for my whole working life , even though some of the jobs were those that others wouldn’t take. JS
Last edited by j.sabourn; 12th December 2018 at 03:33 AM.
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
12th December 2018, 06:44 AM
#18
Re: Construction of Titanic.
I have seen , so many times on cross channel RO/.PAX , they were a serious problem over force 9 , always damage and complaints , in the lee of the IoW the weather was disregarded by Superintendents deck and engine , always keen to sail , commercial decisions , but never offered to sign on and sail out , I suspect Capt, Smith had a lot of blue ribbon on his back put there by Ismay
Rob Page R855150 - British & Commonwealth Shipping ( 1965 - 1973 ) Gulf Oil -( 1973 - 1975 ) Sealink ( 1975 - 1986 )
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
12th December 2018, 09:54 AM
#19
Re: Construction of Titanic.
Originally Posted by
j.sabourn
#10 Ahhhh ! customs house Quay, and the Tail of the Bank, brings back memorys from that side of the water, and Ma Carols in Belfast where had my 21 st. On the other side . A good mixture there Lewis, the best and worse of two worlds. Now if you were born on the Stranraer to Larne ferry halfway across would complete the picture , what nationality would you prefer ? I was born near Iron Bridge and my mother used to hint that it was really in Wales. She was Scottish and my father English. So I cut the cards and call myself a Geordie. Who the Scots reckon is a Scotsman with his brains blown out. Two of my uncles were also riveters, when such existed. Lewis being the son of a Freemason and 18 years of age appearing in the meaning of, so you were probably named after whichever grandfather was such, who was probably your Scottish one. So you can always say you are 18 if anyone asks. Cheers JS
On my fathers side they were all masons, my brother is or was a mason. My Christian name Lewis is actually my mothers maiden name, although when I was approached and invited to become a mason. I declined. It is not that I have anything against the Masonic it was just that it was not something I wanted to be part off. I know this though that when my Dad died and left my mum a young widow the masonic looked out for my mum for many many years. Scottish or Irish!!! oh I am fond of the Scots but I am 100% Irish.
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
12th December 2018, 10:04 AM
#20
Re: Construction of Titanic.
#18 The biggest danger at sea Rob and was probably the same ashore, was the fear of losing your job held over your head. At our ages and waning life expectancy there is no fear of speaking the truth now, others might benefit by simply telling it really as it was. Loyalty was giving away in lots of cases undeservedly, let’s make no bones about it. We protected at Times dim witted bosses who had no intention of returning the favour. That may be whistle blowing and if anyone of those who have been whistled on they should question the facts for a few more. JS
Last edited by j.sabourn; 12th December 2018 at 10:11 AM.
-
Post Thanks / Like
Tags for this Thread
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules