Belfast Titanic Society Webmaster

Apr 17, 08 - 12:37 AM

New Forum

Welcome to your new Society Web Forum.
Please feel free to use this facility to share your interest in Titanic with your fellow members.

Una Reilly

Apr 18th, 2008 - 11:21 AM

Re: New Forum

Hi all and as Chairman can I welcome you to our new Web forum.Congratulations to our Web Master Eddie for getting it up and running. Please let us hear from you and I look forward to lively debate on Titanic related issues. Debates have been raging in recent days over so-called new reports of the fire in the bunker ( this was reported in the Mersery's 1912 Inquiry!) and also the faulty rivets again. Lets hear your views on these. My thoughts have been with those whose deaths we commemorated at the Titanic Memorial on 15th April.Let's never forget the human story.

Una

Arnold Edge

Apr 20th, 2008 - 2:47 PM

Re: New Forum

Hi Una, I was listening to C H Lightoller's 1936 radio broadcast entitled "I was there" and noted that he referred to an ice warning on his watch which never reached the bridge. He seemed to infer that the fault lay with Jack Phillips who put it under a paper weight. Phillips later reached the upturned collapsible on which Lightoller survived but Phillips did not survive.

What was the name of the ship which Lightoller referred to? It was difficult to hear on the broadcast. He said that he would definitely have reduced speed if the message had reached the bridge on his watch as the warning was for ice directly in line with the Titanic's course.

My interest in the Titanic saga stems from my grand mother who was a close personal friend of Pastor John Harper and his 6 year old daughter Nina who travelled second class on the Titanic. Mrs Harper had died some years earlier and Nina played on board with another little girl Eva Hart who shared her teddy bear with Nina. John Harper drowned but Nina survived. When Nina grew up she travelled to China and served as a missionary. She died in 1985. If anybody has any more information on the Harper family I would be glad to hear about it.

Una Reilly

Apr 21st, 2008 - 7:53 AM

Re: New Forum

Hi Arnold

I will have to listen to it again but that won't be a chore as Lightoller has such a distinct voice ... so very different from the film character as portrayed by Kenneth More in 'A Night to Remember'
Re John Harper, he preached a great deal here in East Belfast. Stephen Cameron has written about him in his book 'Titanic -Belfast's own'.. have you read that?
Una

Arnold Edge

Apr 22nd, 2008 - 12:07 AM

Re: New Forum

Hi Una,

Yes I have read Stephen Cammeron's book. It's excellent. I was particularly impressed and moved by the sad story of the young apprentice who won the Harland and Wolff award for best apprentice and travelled on the maiden voyage as a prize along with 11 other winning craftsmen. All 12 perished.

Another recent excellent book is 'Titanic' (A night remembered) by Stephanie Barczewski.

I have found (with the help of Google)the name of the ship that sent the ice warning on Lightoller's watch. She was the 'Mesaba'. It appears that Philips was so preoccupied with catching up with the commercial message to Cape Race that this message and the final one from the 'Californian' never made it to the bridge. Apparantly the radio had broken down the day before and hence the backlog of messages. The Mesaba message even requested an acknowledgement from Captain Smith which never happened because Phillips never passed it on.

Phillips is often regarded as one of the heroes of the night ,yet his action in failing to pass on these two messages as they were about to enter the 'warned' ice field at almost full speed is extraordinary.

It does show the degree of complacency on the part of the White Star management, Captain and crew in trusting the invincibility of the ship.

I also find it amazing that the American Enquiry found that the ship was travelling too fast for the warned conditions but the British Board of Trade Enquiry seemed to overlook the culpability of Captain Smith in that regard and seemed to concentrate on blaming Captain Lord of the Californian in failing to respond and save the passengers left to their fate on the doomed ship.

One last piece of information which recently caught my attention.I discovered just two months ago that there was a Mr Edge on the Titanic. His name was Frederick Edge. He was a member of the crew and was employed as a deck steward. He did not survive.

Mervyn Pritchard

Apr 25th, 2008 - 2:44 AM

Re: New Forum

Congratulations on the new forum, i trust it will prove a popular resource and great success.

Mervyn Pritchard
Committee Member
Nomadic Preservation Society.

Denise Vanaria

May 6th, 2008 - 2:41 AM

New Forum

Eddie,

I hope you get my messages. I responded in the "Thank You" subject area.

Also, is there anywhere for me to post a photo?

I have one that was taken at my home April 20th with Peggy & Frank Goldsmith beforing taking them to the musical.

All my best to you,

Denise

Eddie, webmaster

May 6th, 2008 - 10:41 PM

Re: New Forum

Hi Denise. I am looking into picture uploads now, will let you know if it's possible, givin my current settings.

Author	Comment
Belfast Titanic Society Webmaster Apr 17, 08 - 12:37 AM	New Forum Welcome to your new Society Web Forum. Please feel free to use this facility to share your interest in Titanic with your fellow members.
Una Reilly Apr 18th, 2008 - 11:21 AM	Re: New Forum Hi all and as Chairman can I welcome you to our new Web forum.Congratulations to our Web Master Eddie for getting it up and running. Please let us hear from you and I look forward to lively debate on Titanic related issues. Debates have been raging in recent days over so-called new reports of the fire in the bunker ( this was reported in the Mersery's 1912 Inquiry!) and also the faulty rivets again. Lets hear your views on these. My thoughts have been with those whose deaths we commemorated at the Titanic Memorial on 15th April.Let's never forget the human story. Una Chairman@belfast-titanic.com
Arnold Edge Apr 20th, 2008 - 2:47 PM	Re: New Forum Hi Una, I was listening to C H Lightoller's 1936 radio broadcast entitled "I was there" and noted that he referred to an ice warning on his watch which never reached the bridge. He seemed to infer that the fault lay with Jack Phillips who put it under a paper weight. Phillips later reached the upturned collapsible on which Lightoller survived but Phillips did not survive. What was the name of the ship which Lightoller referred to? It was difficult to hear on the broadcast. He said that he would definitely have reduced speed if the message had reached the bridge on his watch as the warning was for ice directly in line with the Titanic's course. My interest in the Titanic saga stems from my grand mother who was a close personal friend of Pastor John Harper and his 6 year old daughter Nina who travelled second class on the Titanic. Mrs Harper had died some years earlier and Nina played on board with another little girl Eva Hart who shared her teddy bear with Nina. John Harper drowned but Nina survived. When Nina grew up she travelled to China and served as a missionary. She died in 1985. If anybody has any more information on the Harper family I would be glad to hear about it.
Una Reilly Apr 21st, 2008 - 7:53 AM	Re: New Forum Hi Arnold I will have to listen to it again but that won't be a chore as Lightoller has such a distinct voice ... so very different from the film character as portrayed by Kenneth More in 'A Night to Remember' Re John Harper, he preached a great deal here in East Belfast. Stephen Cameron has written about him in his book 'Titanic -Belfast's own'.. have you read that? Una Chairman@belfast-titanic.com
Arnold Edge Apr 22nd, 2008 - 12:07 AM	Re: New Forum Hi Una, Yes I have read Stephen Cammeron's book. It's excellent. I was particularly impressed and moved by the sad story of the young apprentice who won the Harland and Wolff award for best apprentice and travelled on the maiden voyage as a prize along with 11 other winning craftsmen. All 12 perished. Another recent excellent book is 'Titanic' (A night remembered) by Stephanie Barczewski. I have found (with the help of Google)the name of the ship that sent the ice warning on Lightoller's watch. She was the 'Mesaba'. It appears that Philips was so preoccupied with catching up with the commercial message to Cape Race that this message and the final one from the 'Californian' never made it to the bridge. Apparantly the radio had broken down the day before and hence the backlog of messages. The Mesaba message even requested an acknowledgement from Captain Smith which never happened because Phillips never passed it on. Phillips is often regarded as one of the heroes of the night ,yet his action in failing to pass on these two messages as they were about to enter the 'warned' ice field at almost full speed is extraordinary. It does show the degree of complacency on the part of the White Star management, Captain and crew in trusting the invincibility of the ship. I also find it amazing that the American Enquiry found that the ship was travelling too fast for the warned conditions but the British Board of Trade Enquiry seemed to overlook the culpability of Captain Smith in that regard and seemed to concentrate on blaming Captain Lord of the Californian in failing to respond and save the passengers left to their fate on the doomed ship. One last piece of information which recently caught my attention.I discovered just two months ago that there was a Mr Edge on the Titanic. His name was Frederick Edge. He was a member of the crew and was employed as a deck steward. He did not survive.
Mervyn Pritchard Apr 25th, 2008 - 2:44 AM	Re: New Forum Congratulations on the new forum, i trust it will prove a popular resource and great success. Mervyn Pritchard Committee Member Nomadic Preservation Society.
Denise Vanaria May 6th, 2008 - 2:41 AM	New Forum Eddie, I hope you get my messages. I responded in the "Thank You" subject area. Also, is there anywhere for me to post a photo? I have one that was taken at my home April 20th with Peggy & Frank Goldsmith beforing taking them to the musical. All my best to you, Denise
Eddie, webmaster May 6th, 2008 - 10:41 PM	Re: New Forum Hi Denise. I am looking into picture uploads now, will let you know if it's possible, givin my current settings.