Titanic Proportions

The Centenary of the maritime tragedy that was the sinking of the Titanic has raised as much interest, debate and the presentation of new disclosures as ever before.

The story could not have been fabricated or fictionalised beyond what has been written, dramatised and physically salvaged since that April night in 1912.

Apart from the well documented post-tragedy enquiry, the implications for those who survived and the dependants of those that perished the whole event has assumed legendary status, embellished every so often with speculative controversy and conspiracy. Whether in 2D or 3D the imagery of that horrendous night has been reinforced in the minds and consciousness of those who have fallen for the big screen image and representation of what was, after all, an extreme example of human folly and social division.

It is difficult now to appreciate the effect that the breaking news of the sinking will have had on the world at that time. We are so used to a 24/7 instant news coverage with personal camera-phone footage and 'as it happens' reporting that first knowledge of the tragic circumstances in 1912 delivered by a news stand hoarding, the shouted headlines by a news vendor and subsequent word of mouth will have been met with sheer disbelief.

The period at the time was one of significant progress in science, engineering, medecine and economics. Population was on the move from the Old Europe to the New Americas and the Titanic was seen by the aspirational classes as a clear sign that anything was now possible to those with commitment and enthusiasm. The fact that the ship was arranged in the old social order from luxurious First Class to lower deck steerage was not an issue for those on board but has subsequently been the subject of much analysis and exploitation for political and socio-economic points of view from every angle.

The sinking, specifically the short period from the breach of the hull to the eerie silence of an empty ocean surface has often been referred to as a glowing example of the steadfastness and 'don't panic' attitude of the British people. This is as far from reality as possible given that the souls on board, either as part of the crew or compliment of passengers were from many national and cultural backgrounds.

The stories of personal sacrifice in the evacuation of the ship have been long regarded  as inspirational but tempered by the few high profile individuals whose self-survival cowardice showed a deperate disregard and a lack of sense of duty to the more vulnerable on board.

Captain Smith has attained mythical status in his resolute dedication to remaining on board whilst giving permission to the crew to take their own chances when it was clear that there was little prospect of helping others. The representation of the band still playing hymns on the increasingly steepening deck  is also firmly rooted in our minds as a particularly poignant image.

The modern interpretation of what took place has been to attribute the behaviour of those resigned to stay on board to the consequences of shock and traumatic stress disorder. It has been speculated that the relaxed approach to the situation borne out of disbelief over what was taking place belied the actual dire circumstances of the moment. The junior crew members regarded the evacuation process of  the ship as a chance to walk about on  deck and smoke without running the possibility of severe sanction from senior officers.

There have been many post mortems and periodic reviews of the evidence from the tragedy and no more so than on the run-up to the centenary. The testimonies of individuals have been very touching. The Titanic was a few days into its maiden voyage and correspondence to family and friends reaching home recounted the on board luxury and activities. A crew member from the engine room wrote to his mother about the sheer scale of the ship and that it would not be long before the return journey was completed and he would be home. A Steward with wife and a large number of dependants expressed some regret at being away from them all but marvelled at the sights and sounds of the ship. The writers did not survive. It is an overlooked fact that approaching half of the fatalities were members of the crew.

First hand accounts from survivors are well documented but very matter of fact in their content. The Fourth Officer, Joseph Boxall, from Hull was called to stand before the US Senate Enquiry in a wide ranging investigation in the days immediately following the sinking. He was approaching the bridge when he heard news of the iceberg being struck but had not thought the impact was significant. When the lower holds began to fill and a threat of sinking became a realisation it was his responsibility to report the position by wireless to alert vessels in the vicinity. For the first time in maritime history the abbreviated distress signal SOS was sent in morse code. The Captain instructed him to man the last but one lifeboat to be lowered. The other rowing boats stood off at a safe distance. US Senator Smith, presiding, queried that there must have been hundreds of bodies in what was a calm sea condition.  Joseph Boxall reported that there were no survivors in the water to be picked up and he personally only saw one dead body after the disappearance of the ship.

It is right and proper to commemorate loss of life but in an appropriately solemn manner. The Titanic legend remains strong and indeed very commercially viable from the newly developed Shipyard Visitor Centre in Belfast to the vast array of memorabilia and merchandise in circulation. Perhaps the Centenary represents the ideal time to gracefully put away the souvenir tea towels and date embossed brass ships bells before we become too insensitive and the imagery becomes larger than the actual loss of life.