05. Charles Lightoller - 2nd Officer - PART ONE

[@JarheadandTike]

Just found this series. So far, my hats off to you my good Sir, you have made this "Titanic Enthusiast" quite pleased.

[@WitnessTitanic]

Welcome! Glad you found us!

[@Admiral_99]

Great work, glad to be here at the start before this blows up 😎

[@jpenca09]

Well said!

[@RMSthomasFRANCE]

Lightoller's life is fascinating, it deserves a film. Knowing that he helped with the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940 brings me closer to this character. It is interesting to note his role in James Cameron's film: unlike Murdoch, he never smiles (a bit normal since we see him more often during the shipwreck). He's a fairly austere man, I like the way he is filmed during his exchange with Smith about the particularly calm sea, and the lack of waves at the base of the icebergs. He is behind but it seems that he is encouraging the captain to slow down... When the ship sank, Andrews begged him to put more people in the boats. The exchange is quite lively, Lightoller is obstinate in his doubt about the solidity of the canoes on the high seas. Finally, he aims his gun at the group of men who are trying to take their place in a canoe. This scene reminds me of a war film, he really has the attitude of an uncompromising soldier! Deep down, I understand why he survived: he was obviously not a man ready to let fate take his life so easily.

[@KoolDog570]

James- excellent as always. Starting off w Songe D'Automne (Autumn, when you get right down to it) it gives us a bittersweet, longing sound to start the episode....it seems like the song is a reminder of why we're here - to find out what happened that night which caused 1496 human beings to cease their existence in the North Atlantic, and not by their choice......you're doing them proud, James, and I'm sure they're thankful for your efforts as we are 😎

[@WitnessTitanic]

Thanks so much! Very kind of you to say.

[@sallykohorst8803]

Thanks for this story. What history. RIP TO THE LOST SOULS. I feel That officier did not care about 1500 people losing their lives or he would of cared about his answers to an American group. I find that sad. Like why is he alive when all those people died. As in any court the dead are forgotten to me and they do all they can to help the people who should have protected those people. That is wrong. But they knew ice was there and should have stopped for the night. They did not put the people first especially third class. They classified them as cattle.

[@Sumermak]

👏 👏

[@raynoraynov5651]

Lights was incredible dude and a very good sailor, but during the inquiry he said a lie. Trying to be loyal to his employers White Star Line, he lied that he saw how the ship sank, and he claimed that the ship DID NOT break in half, he claimed that the ship sank in one piece. And since he was the most senior officer and the most experienced one that survived, people believed him. We all know that it's not true, the ship did break during the sinking. He was just (an experienced) sailor, and during the inquiries he tried his best to defend his employers. For a "reward", after the end of the WWI (when he served as a real hero), he along with the rest of the Titanic's survivors was put aside, because the White Star Line wanted to forget about the Titanic and anybody connected with the ship. He was getting always low rank assignments, he had no opportunity to progress in his career, and he was forced to resign.

[@WitnessTitanic]

He likely did not lie about the ship breaking in half. No real reason to lie. He, like many onboard, simply did not see it break it half. But yes, as you will hear in my next episode, he clearly is bending the truth to protect his employer.

[@Jacob1986]

You think if Lights was on duty the Titanic woud have survived?

[@WitnessTitanic]

That is SUCH a good question. Perhaps in a Butterfly Effect sort of way where maybe this small change of who is on watch ends up effecting enough to change the outcome, but I don't think Lightoller would have been any more or less capable. It seems Murdoch saw the iceberg just as the lookouts did. I doubt Lightoller would have had any quicker of a reaction.

[@egm8602]

​@@WitnessTitanicSome say that turning the wheel but NOT stopping, then reversing the engines could have avoided the iceberg altogether. So the assumption is that a different person could have given better commands even though seeing the iceberg at the same instant as Murdock.

[@Rilhon]

Love how sick Lights appeared to be of the US senators' crap lol

[@egm8602]

He wasn't the most objective witness, though. He admitted to defending/supporting White Star Line whenever possible.

[@leathervogel5242]

As a Titanic historian and speaker Lightoller as you made mention protected White Star as much as he could…in fact, some of his responded were in my opinion combative under the guise that the questions presented were not presented correctly in nautical terms. I think Lightholler left out a great deal of incriminating evidence/facts that would prove damaging to verify and prove negligence and extremely poor decision making by the Capt. Smith.

[@leathervogel5242]

After listening to your “podcast” And listening to your personal commentary I think it would’ve been more appropriate to leave the strict verbatim facts from testimony in different differentiated voices ie senator Smith and other senators with a consistent response verbatim to the report from Lightoller Mixing up your personal commentary, dilutes the integrity of the data

[@WitnessTitanic]

Appreciate the feedback. However, I believe it is the personal commentary that makes the podcast interesting. Like a tour guide helping you through a museum. If people don't want the commentary, they are welcome to just read the testimony on Titanic Inquiry Project.