Titanic

[Keith at Tregenna]

Uncertain how accurate this is.

Keith.

"Titanic" had been granted an Admiralty warrant to fly the Blue Ensign from her stern flagpole. It indicated that
she was British (although she in fact was owned by IMM, a US based trust),
Captain Edward J. Smith was a Royal Navy Reserve officer and
a specified number of crew members were RNR, too.
The Blue Ensign made "Titanic" something special among other British merchant vessels, which normally were required to fly the Red Ensign, also nicknamed the "Red Duster".

All Things TITANIC - Blue Ensign

May also be worth a read: The Titanic Photos of Fr Browne | A Unique Glimpse Onboard

Keith.

[Red Lead Ted]

KIETH, He was R.N.R. Because he commanded troop ships in the Boar war, Not as a result of being in the R.N. Its a long read mate but it clears up why he was allowed to fly the Blue Ensign. Here is an extract from his biography.
Edward John Smith (EJ Smith), 62, was born at Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent on 27 January 1850, the son of potter Edward Smith and Catherine Smith. His parents later owned a shop1.

Edward John Smith attended the Etruria British School until the age of 13 when he went to Liverpool to begin a seafaring career. He apprenticed with Gibson & Co., Liverpool. He joined White Star in 1880 gaining his first command in 1887. Among the ships he would command were the first Republic, the Coptic, Majestic, Baltic, Adriatic and Olympic.

Smith served with distinction in the Boer war by commanding troopships to the Cape.

As he rose in seniority Smith gained a reputation amongst passengers and crew for quiet flamboyance. Some passengers would only sail the Atlantic in a ship commanded by him. After he became commodore of the White Star fleet in 1904, it became routine for Smith to command the line's newest ships on their maiden voyages. It was therefore no surprise that Smith took Titanic in her maiden voyage in April 1912. This responsibility was rewarded with a salary of £1,250 per year and a no-collision bonus of $200. Because of his position as a Commander in the Royal Naval Reserve Smith had the distinction of being able to fly the Blue Duster of the R.N.R., most ships flew the Red Duster of the merchant marine.

Smith was married to Eleanor and they had a young daughter Helen Melville. The family lived in an imposing red brick, twin-gabled house "Woodhead" on Winn Road, Portswood, Southampton.

On April 10 1912 Edward John Smith, wearing a bowler hat and a long overcoat, took a taxi from his home to Southampton docks. He came aboard the Titanic at 7 am to prepare for the board of Trade muster at 8.00. He immediately went to his cabin to get the sailing report from Chief Officer Henry Wilde.

After departure at 12:00 the wash from the propeller caused the laid-up New York to break from her moorings and swing towards the Titanic. Quick action from Smith helped to avert a premature end to the maiden voyage. The unfortunate incident was seen by some as an ill omen and it was reminiscent of the Hawke incident in 1911 when that vessel collided with the Olympic which was under the command of Captain Smith.


During the voyage Smith normally took meals at a small table in the dining saloon or in his cabin, attended by his personal valet, or "Tiger", Arthur Paintin. On the night of April 14, however, he attended a dinner party held in his honour by George Widener and his family. The party was attended by the cream of 1912 society as it was represented on the Titanic. However Smith was possibly concerned that the ship was entering the ice zone about which he had received ample warnings during the weekend. He excused himself early and went to the bridge.

Lightoller was keeping watch and discussed the temperature with Smith far a while. Smith told Lightoller to alert him immediately if he was at all concerned. He then retired to bed.

About 11.40 p.m.Captain Smith was awakened by the collision and rushed to the bridge. He received the report of the accident from Murdoch and then made a quick inspection of the ship with Thomas Andrews. He immediately ordered the boats prepared but wavered when it came to giving the order to load and lower them Lightoller had to approach him for the order which he eventually gave.

Surprisingly little is known about Smith's actions in the last two hours of the ships life. His legendary skills of leadership seem to have left him, he was curiously indecisive and unusually cautious.

He was last seen in the bridge area having given the final order to abandon ship. He appears to have made no attempt to save himself. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Don't think Titanic was a special ship to fly the Blue Ensign, (although it may have been in her day, but doubt it) many of us on here have sailed under the Blue Ensign, only requirement was Master and four others to be RNR/RNVR. The RFA fly the Blue Ensign which may or may not have a symbol in the Fly, the ones I sailed under were not defaced by symbols

[Red Lead Ted]

Uncertain how accurate this is.

Keith.

"Titanic" had been granted an Admiralty warrant to fly the Blue Ensign from her stern flagpole. It indicated that
she was British (although she in fact was owned by IMM, a US based trust),
Captain Edward J. Smith was a Royal Navy Reserve officer and
a specified number of crew members were RNR, too.
The Blue Ensign made "Titanic" something special among other British merchant vessels, which normally were required to fly the Red Ensign, also nicknamed the "Red Duster".

All Things TITANIC - Blue Ensign

May also be worth a read: The Titanic Photos of Fr Browne | A Unique Glimpse Onboard

Keith.

The photos are insignificant as they are all as in all pictures of her sailing in black and white. Terry

[Red Lead Ted]

Don't think Titanic was a special ship to fly the Blue Ensign, (although it may have been in her day, but doubt it) many of us on here have sailed under the Blue Ensign, only requirement was Master and four others to be RNR/RNVR. The RFA fly the Blue Ensign which may or may not have a symbol in the Fly, the ones I sailed under were not defaced by symbols

Ivan, That is an extract from his biography don,t forget we are talking 1912, As is printed he commanded troop ships in the Boar war, Which established him RNR, And Vic is correct although irrelevant as to whether he could fly the Blue Ensign or not, A number of the ratings aboard Titanic where ex R.N. Regards Terry. I am not picking holes in any of these posts i searched for answers myself for years. Regards Terry.

[cappy]

Ivan, That is an extract from his biography don,t forget we are talking 1912, As is printed he commanded troop ships in the Boar war, Which established him RNR, And Vic is correct although irrelevant as to whether he could fly the Blue Ensign or not, A number of the ratings aboard Titanic where ex R.N. Regards Terry. I am not picking holes in any of these posts i searched for answers myself for years. Regards Terry.

###yes terry but was has pigs to do with it.....

[Red Lead Ted]

Don't think Titanic was a special ship to fly the Blue Ensign, (although it may have been in her day, but doubt it) many of us on here have sailed under the Blue Ensign, only requirement was Master and four others to be RNR/RNVR. The RFA fly the Blue Ensign which may or may not have a symbol in the Fly, the ones I sailed under were not defaced by symbols

Smith served with distinction in the Boer war by commanding troopships to the Cape.

As he rose in seniority Smith gained a reputation amongst passengers and crew for quiet flamboyance. Some passengers would only sail the Atlantic in a ship commanded by him. After he became commodore of the White Star fleet in 1904, it became routine for Smith to command the line's newest ships on their maiden voyages. It was therefore no surprise that Smith took Titanic in her maiden voyage in April 1912. This responsibility was rewarded with a salary of £1,250 per year and a no-collision bonus of $200. Because of his position as a Commander in the Royal Naval Reserve Smith had the distinction of being able to fly the Blue Duster of the R.N.R., most ships flew the Red Duster of the merchant marine.

[j.sabourn]

Well according to #32 he held the rank of commander. In the RNVR . His command of troopships would have. No bearing on flying the straight blue ensign unless it was a defaced one. I think a myth has been placed around the man a lot of it by public opinion looking for a hero. If he had never held a commission in the RN and didn’t have the required personel on board then it could only have been a defaced one like the one we flew. The same as the defaced red ensigns of the Bahamas Gibraltar and other British protectorates which makes people think they are sailing on a purely British Ship. I have also sailed under these flags, the Nassau flag you had a choice of two , the defaced red ensign or their own national flag. Not that today it makes much difference as flag etiquette is almost non existent. JWS

[Red Lead Ted]

[QUOTE=cappy;303167]###yes terry but was has pigs to do with it.....[/QUOTE

Cappy that,s why they put rubbers on the end of pencils and tippex was invented, I now await a spelling error from your good self.......... And you will

[cappy]

[QUOTE=red lead ted;303170]

###yes terry but was has pigs to do with it.....[/QUOTE

Cappy that,s why they put rubbers on the end of pencils and tippex was invented, I now await a spelling error from your good self.......... And you will

##ha ha you wont find me making a spelin mistak terry