Theodore Ronald Brailey
Encyclopedia
Theodore Ronald Brailey was an English
pianist
on the on its maiden voyage. He died in the disaster.
, Essex
. His father, William "Ronald" Brailey, was a well known figure of Spiritualism
at the time. He studied piano
at school and one of his first jobs was playing piano in a local hotel.
In 1902 he joined the Royal Lancashire Fusiliers regiment
signing for 12 years service as a musician. He was stationed in Barbados
but resigned his commission prematurely in 1907. He returned to England and lived at 71 Lancaster Road, Ladbroke Grove, London
. In 1911, he enlisted aboard ship, playing first on the , prior to joining the Cunard
steamer in 1912, where he met the French cellist
Roger Marie Bricoux
. Both men then joined the White Star Line
and were recruited by Liverpool
music agency, C.W. and F.N. Black, to serve on the Brailey boarded the Titanic on Wednesday 10 April 1912 in Southampton
, UK. His ticket number was 250654, the ticket for all the members of Wallace Hartley
's orchestra. His cabin was in the 2nd class quarters.
After the Titanic hit an iceberg and began to sink, Brailey and his fellow band members started playing music to help keep the passengers calm as the crew loaded the lifeboat
s. Many of the survivors said that he and the band continued to play until the very end. One second class passenger said: "Many brave things were done that night, but none were more brave than those done by men playing minute after minute as the ship settled quietly lower and lower in the sea. The music they played served alike as their own immortal requiem and their right to be recalled on the scrolls of undying fame." Brailey was 24 years old when he died. His body was never recovered.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
pianist
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
on the on its maiden voyage. He died in the disaster.
Life and career
Theodore Ronald Brailey was born on 25 October 1887 in WalthamstowWalthamstow
Walthamstow is a district of northeast London, England, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is situated north-east of Charing Cross...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. His father, William "Ronald" Brailey, was a well known figure of Spiritualism
Spiritualism
Spiritualism is a belief system or religion, postulating the belief that spirits of the dead residing in the spirit world have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living...
at the time. He studied piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
at school and one of his first jobs was playing piano in a local hotel.
In 1902 he joined the Royal Lancashire Fusiliers regiment
Lancashire Fusiliers
The Lancashire Fusiliers was a British infantry regiment that was amalgamated with other Fusilier regiments in 1968 to form the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.- Formation and early history:...
signing for 12 years service as a musician. He was stationed in Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
but resigned his commission prematurely in 1907. He returned to England and lived at 71 Lancaster Road, Ladbroke Grove, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In 1911, he enlisted aboard ship, playing first on the , prior to joining the Cunard
Cunard
Cunard may refer to:* Grace Cunard , American silent film actress* Nancy Cunard , English writer, editor, and publisher* Samuel Cunard , British shipping magnate-Other:...
steamer in 1912, where he met the French cellist
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
Roger Marie Bricoux
Roger Marie Bricoux
Roger Marie Bricoux was a French cellist on the on its maiden voyage. He died in the disaster.-Life and career:...
. Both men then joined the White Star Line
White Star Line
The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British shipping company, today most famous for its ill-fated vessel, the RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of Titanics sister ship Britannic...
and were recruited by Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
music agency, C.W. and F.N. Black, to serve on the Brailey boarded the Titanic on Wednesday 10 April 1912 in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, UK. His ticket number was 250654, the ticket for all the members of Wallace Hartley
Wallace Hartley
Wallace Henry Hartley was an English violinist and bandleader on the on its maiden voyage. He became famous for leading the eight member band as the ship sank on 15 April 1912. He died in the sinking.-Life and career:...
's orchestra. His cabin was in the 2nd class quarters.
After the Titanic hit an iceberg and began to sink, Brailey and his fellow band members started playing music to help keep the passengers calm as the crew loaded the lifeboat
Lifeboat (shipboard)
A lifeboat is a small, rigid or inflatable watercraft carried for emergency evacuation in the event of a disaster aboard ship. In the military, a lifeboat may be referred to as a whaleboat, dinghy, or gig. The ship's tenders of cruise ships often double as lifeboats. Recreational sailors sometimes...
s. Many of the survivors said that he and the band continued to play until the very end. One second class passenger said: "Many brave things were done that night, but none were more brave than those done by men playing minute after minute as the ship settled quietly lower and lower in the sea. The music they played served alike as their own immortal requiem and their right to be recalled on the scrolls of undying fame." Brailey was 24 years old when he died. His body was never recovered.