Titanic Musicians' Memorial, Southampton
Encyclopedia
The Titanic Musicians' Memorial is a memorial in Southampton
, United Kingdom
to the musicians who died in the disaster on 15 April 1912. The original Titanic Musicians' Memorial was unveiled by the Mayor of Southampton, H Bowyer on 19 April 1913, and was located in the old Southampton library. This library along with the memorial were destroyed during World War II
. A replica was erected in 1990.
The plaque features a musical inscription, the opening bars of the 19th century hymn
, 'Nearer, My God, to Thee
' by Sarah Flower Adams, carvings showing a grieving woman and an iceberg, and an inscription with the names of the musicians on the Titanic, including bandleader Wallace Hartley
, all of whom died.
The original memorial was destroyed by the Luftwaffe
's bombing in 1940
together with the library.A replica memorial, made in 1990 by W. Cornish of Woolston
, was installed on the same site. It was unveiled by Titanic survivors Edith Haisman, Millvina Dean
, Bertram Dean
and Eva Hart
on 7 March 1990. It is located on the side of the offices of Paris Smith, solicitors on the corner of Cumberland Place and London Road, in Southampton.
After the Titanic hit an iceberg and began to sink, Hartley and his fellow band members assembled in the first class lounge and started playing music to help keep the passengers calm. They later moved to the forward half of the boat deck, where they continued to play as the crew loaded the lifeboat
s. Many of the survivors said that the band continued to play until the very end. The inscription 'Nearer, My God, to Thee
' has an association with the RMS Titanic as it was reported by one passenger that the ship's band played the hymn as the Titanic sank. However, the actual 'final' song played by the band is unclear; "Nearer, My God, to Thee" has gained popular acceptance. Former bandmates claimed that Hartley said he would either play "Nearer, My God, to Thee" or "O God, Our Help in Ages Past
" if he was ever on a sinking ship.
This memorial is dedicated to these musicians: Wallace Hartley
(bandmaster
, violin
), Roger Marie Bricoux
(cello
), Theodore Ronald Brailey
(piano
), John Wesley Woodward (cello
), John Frederick Preston Clarke (string bass, viola
), John Law Hume
(violin
), Percy Cornelius Taylor (piano
) and Georges Alexandré Krins
(violin
) who all lost their lives on the Titanic.
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...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to the musicians who died in the disaster on 15 April 1912. The original Titanic Musicians' Memorial was unveiled by the Mayor of Southampton, H Bowyer on 19 April 1913, and was located in the old Southampton library. This library along with the memorial were destroyed during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. A replica was erected in 1990.
The plaque features a musical inscription, the opening bars of the 19th century hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
, 'Nearer, My God, to Thee
Nearer, My God, to Thee
"Nearer, My God, to Thee" is a 19th century Christian hymn by Sarah Flower Adams, based loosely on Genesis 28:11–19, the story of Jacob's dream. Genesis 28:11–12 can be translated as follows: "So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the...
' by Sarah Flower Adams, carvings showing a grieving woman and an iceberg, and an inscription with the names of the musicians on the Titanic, including bandleader 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:...
, all of whom died.
History
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
's bombing in 1940
Southampton Blitz
The Southampton Blitz was the heavy bombing of Southampton by the Nazi German Luftwaffe during World War II. It was targeted mainly in the first phase of the Blitz....
together with the library.A replica memorial, made in 1990 by W. Cornish of Woolston
Woolston, Southampton
Woolston is a suburb of Southampton, Hampshire, located on the eastern bank of the River Itchen. It is bounded by the River Itchen, Hampshire, Sholing, Peartree Green, Itchen and Weston.The area is rich in maritime and aviation history...
, was installed on the same site. It was unveiled by Titanic survivors Edith Haisman, Millvina Dean
Millvina Dean
Elizabeth Gladys Millvina Dean was the last remaining survivor of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, which occurred on 15 April 1912. At 2 months and 13 days of age, she was also the youngest passenger on board the ship....
, Bertram Dean
Bertram Dean
Bertram Vere Dean was a passenger aboard during her maiden voyage.Bertram Dean was the son of Bertram Frank Dean, and his wife, Georgette Eva Light. He had a younger sister, Millvina Dean...
and Eva Hart
Eva Hart
Eva Miriam Hart MBE was a survivor of the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912.-Early life:Eva Miriam Hart was born on 31 January , 1905 in Ilford, Essex, England to Benjamin Hart and Esther Bloomfield...
on 7 March 1990. It is located on the side of the offices of Paris Smith, solicitors on the corner of Cumberland Place and London Road, in Southampton.
After the Titanic hit an iceberg and began to sink, Hartley and his fellow band members assembled in the first class lounge and started playing music to help keep the passengers calm. They later moved to the forward half of the boat deck, where they continued to play 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 the band continued to play until the very end. The inscription 'Nearer, My God, to Thee
Nearer, My God, to Thee
"Nearer, My God, to Thee" is a 19th century Christian hymn by Sarah Flower Adams, based loosely on Genesis 28:11–19, the story of Jacob's dream. Genesis 28:11–12 can be translated as follows: "So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the...
' has an association with the RMS Titanic as it was reported by one passenger that the ship's band played the hymn as the Titanic sank. However, the actual 'final' song played by the band is unclear; "Nearer, My God, to Thee" has gained popular acceptance. Former bandmates claimed that Hartley said he would either play "Nearer, My God, to Thee" or "O God, Our Help in Ages Past
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
O God, Our Help in Ages Past is a hymn by Isaac Watts and paraphrases Psalm 90. It originally consisted of nine stanzas. In present usage, however, the hymn is usually limited to stanzas one, two, three, five and nine...
" if he was ever on a sinking ship.
This memorial is dedicated to these musicians: 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:...
(bandmaster
Bandmaster
A bandmaster is the leader and conductor of a band, usually a military band, brass band or a marching band.-British Armed Forces:In the British Armed Forces, a Bandmaster is always a Warrant Officer Class 1 . A commissioned officer who leads a band is known as the Director of Music...
, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
), 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:...
(cello
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...
), Theodore Ronald Brailey
Theodore Ronald Brailey
Theodore Ronald Brailey was an English pianist on the on its maiden voyage. He died in the disaster.-Life and career:...
(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...
), John Wesley Woodward (cello
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...
), John Frederick Preston Clarke (string bass, viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
), John Law Hume
John Law Hume
John Law Hume was a Scottish violinist on the on its maiden voyage. He died in the disaster.-Life and career:...
(violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
), Percy Cornelius Taylor (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...
) and Georges Alexandré Krins
Georges Alexandre Krins
Georges Alexandre Krins was a Belgian violinist on the on its maiden voyage. He died in the disaster.-Life and career:...
(violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
) who all lost their lives on the Titanic.
External links
- Virtual Tour of Titanic Musicians' Memorial
- Maritime.com Titanic Musicians' Memorial, Southampton
- Wallace Hartley on Titanic-Titanic.com
- BBC Archive: Titanic
- Titanic Historical Society
- RMS Titanic, Inc Corporate information and the official Titanic archive
- Surviving the Titanic - slideshow by Life magazine