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Message |
    
Brian Robert Rose
Member
Username: brianruns10
Post Number: 9
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, November 11, 2004 - 3:45 pm: | 
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I'm sure someone has picked up on this before, but I thought I might throw it around a bit anyways. As we know, there was a last minute shuffle on Titanic, with Murdoch and Lightoller being demoted, and 2nd officer Blair being bumped from the voyage. What I wonder is, with the change being so last minute (and, I believe temporary for the maiden voyage only), would Murdoch and Lightoller have been able to/bothered to change their stripes? There is a photo in Eaton/Haas "Triumph and Tragedy" that shows two officers at a gangway door. The officer standing upright, from what I've read on the board, has been ID'd as Lightoller; in the photo, he clearly has two stripes on his jacket sleeves. If the analysis of the photo is correct, then the officers indeed did not change their uniforms when Wilde joined the crew. Finally, to my main point. If Murdoch and Lightoller had the "wrong" stripes, would it be possible that when survivors spoke of an officer by rank (1st, 2nd) they were mistaken, because of the stripe number? For example, suppose a survivor saw Lightoller, but didn't know his name, instead seeing two stripes on his jacket, and therefore assumed and later referred to him afterwards as "the first officer." I think this has the potential to add a new level to witness testimony. |
Inger Sheil
Moderator
Username: isheil
Post Number: 3342
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Thursday, November 11, 2004 - 9:52 pm: |
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This is a popular line of speculation, Brian. Although it hasn't been settled one way or the other, and there are advocates for both did change/didn't change, it is a possibility that they weren't altered. Extrapolating from that, it has also been speculated that this contributed to the confusion over rank (which clearly existed - there are references to 'Chief Officer Murdoch', for example) - that is, if Murdoch also retained his original three stripes.
Evidence to decide the point one way or the other has yet to come to light, however. |
David Haisman
Member
Username: haisey
Post Number: 310
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 17, 2004 - 7:31 pm: |
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For information only,
In my experience, I've found it to be normal on the odd occasion for officers to continue wearing the same uniforms in what would be commonly known as carrying out a short term ''acting role'' on short voyages. This would apply moreso on a cargo vessel than a passenger ship however.
Officers uniforms, even in Titanic's day, were costly items and one wouldn't expect to have a wardrobe containing several uniforms and strips of spare gold braid to sew on to fulfil any short term obligation by a shipping company.
Trips across the North Atlantic were known as ''short scoots'' or ''skits'' by some seamen and were considered as a bit of a rest to the excessively long voyages so common in Titanic's day and may I say it, mine too !
''Good trips for the married man''' some would say. ''Back in time to catch the milkman!''
others would say.
The importance is for the chain of command to know who does what on that particular voyage, logged as such in the ship's log and crew members also being briefed at the commencement of the voyage.
On the big passenger ships, entertainment regarding cocktail party's etc. usually includes the ''top brass'' with the ''Captains Tiger'' in attendance and usually there's plenty of gold braid about to satisfy the passengers.
The Staff Captain or Ship's Master would ensure that's the case.
I personally wouldn't get too carried away with who was wearing what or who had the stripes with these officers on that voyage as long as they, and the rest of the crew, knew what their official duty was.
David H
David Haisman
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Inger Sheil
Moderator
Username: isheil
Post Number: 3349
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 17, 2004 - 11:02 pm: |
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Always good to have your input and experience, David 
quote:Trips across the North Atlantic were known as ''short scoots'' or ''skits'' by some seamen and were considered as a bit of a rest to the excessively long voyages so common in Titanic's day and may I say it, mine too !
''Good trips for the married man''' some would say. ''Back in time to catch the milkman!''
others would say.
Harold WG Lowe picked up on this point when he was discussing his father's career. Of course, he saw it from the other perspective - that of the family at home, and how eagerly their father's return was awaited. It made a good deal of difference - if he was going to NY or Canada it was a matter of weeks, but if he was on the Oz run it was a matter of months.
James Moody was also delighted after long voyages in sail and steam to be on the North Atlantic run. Even if it was a 'Rotten winter' in 1911-1912. |
