The Titanic tragedy has been romanticised so thoroughly; spawning films, museums and merchandise we forget the real human cost.
The photo below is of Thomson Beattie who's body was found in 'Collapsible A' along with the bodies of two firemen.
[amp.belfasttelegraph.co.uk]titanic/titanic-picture-of-last-lifeboat-and-its-bodies-found-month-after-disaster-up-for-auction-34642676.html
Even before the big movie"Titantic" by James Cameron I was fascinated about the event. I learned so[search.yahoo.com] absolutely horrific that happened during WWII. Hitler had a movie made with all German cast and plot about the ship. When they were done making the movie they forced concentration camp immates to march to the ship where the replica was blown to bits with Jewish prisoners.
I have an old family Titanic story which I was told several years ago. My grandmother and two brothers and two girlfriends, attempted to emigrate to America in 1912, by way of ocean crossing. They were denied passage due to incomplete medical records (?). They returned to Ireland (County Cork), acquired necessary papers and weeks later arranged passage on next available ship... after arriving in New York, they learned the ship they missed was the Titanic. I’m pretty sure they would have traveled in the lowest passage class, “stowage” (?), probably not amongst the survivors. Her brothers arrived sometime later, they’re reasoning for wanting to leave Ireland was to “escape the troubles”. Wish I knew the whole story.
My dad had a similar story. He was in submarines in WW2 serving out of (then) Ceylon. He contacted dysentery and missed his boat going out. Although he very nearly died of it, that boat never came back. One of only two that were lost in that area of conflict
Q. What was the first thing that happened to the Titanics crew when it went down?
A, Their pay stopped.
It was not till early in ww2 that british merchant seaman were paid after a wreck. Till then there were guys in lifeboats who were eating better than their families.
A lot has to said about the incomertance and crass inhumanity of capt Smith. Its a shame I don
t believe in hell for there is at least one man who deserves it
The legend of the uss titanic / Jamie Brockett
what a handsome man. I feel so sorry for those family members left behind to grieve for their lost loved ones
Is the reason you posted this is because Mr. Beattie was gay? No one has forgotten the human cost - it just doesn't resonate as much today because it took place 106 years ago. And the story deserves to be romanticized provided it's historically accurate - the famous blockbuster was not.
I do think the story has become romanticised when it should not.
When reading about this lifeboat I realised how romanticised the legacy has become, because this was a grizzly discovery.
From what I've read there were bite marks in cork tiles (starvation?) and when they tried to pull his body up, his arm came off. Like a previous commentator said; the surviving crew had their pay stopped after the sinking. The working class sufferered disproportionately. That's why I posted this, for a reality check, not because he was gay.
The romanticism/commercialism reached ridiculous levels when marriage ceremonies, for the super wealthy, were performed in submarines over the wreck site. There are video games and even inflatable Titanic slides to be found in amusement parks.
I agree James Cameron's film is not accurate, but rather a composite of pieces of history held together with a fictional narrative. Some prefer 'A Night To Remember'.
@Ellatynemouth Hi there, the bodies found in the lifeboat had been set adrift with it as they'd died during the night prior to rescue.