Mr James Paul Moody

Mr James Paul Moody, 24, was born in Scarborough, England on 21st August 1887, the son of John Henry Moody and Evelyn Louise Lammin. The Moody family was well known in Scarborough. James' grandfather had been town clerk, and James' father, J.H. Moody, was on the town council.

Moody graduated from the King Edward VII Nautical School in London and passed his Masters Examination there in April 1911. He was 24-years-old when he was transferred from the Oceanic to the Titanic . His 1912 address was: St. James House, Grimsby, Lincolnshire. His family was also known in Grimsby as one of his ancestors, Charles Bartholemew Moody, was the town's first coroner. At the time of his death, he was living with an uncle who was a solicitor - and whose firm is still in business today.

James Moody was Sixth Officer on the Titanic a position which earned him around $37.00 per month. He stood the 8-12 (a.m. and p.m.) watches, as well as the first Dog Watch, that of 4-5 p.m. Moody was on watch on the bridge when the Titanic struck the iceberg. He answered the phone from lookout Frederick Fleet and reported to First Officer William Murdoch , "Iceberg right ahead ." During the evacuation, he helped fill lifeboats 12, 14, and 16. He was last seen about 2:18 a.m. by Second Officer Charles Lightoller trying to launch the collapsible boats.

Moody's last actions were poignantly recalled by Geoffrey Marcus in The Maiden Voyage .

'[Chief Officer] Wilde's efforts to avert panic, maintain order and discipline, and get the last of the boats loaded and lowered to the water were valiantly supported by the youngest of the officers, James Moody. Long before this, the latter should by rights have gone away in one of the boats along with the other junior officers. But the seamen left on board were all too few as it was for the work that had to be done. Moody therefore stayed with the ship to the end and was the means of saving many a life that would otherwise have been lost.'

There is a memorial plaque bearing James' name in the Church of St. Martin on the Hill, Scarborough. It bears the verse:

'Be Thou Faithful Unto Death and I Will Give to Thee a Crown of Life." There is also an altar set at St. Augustine's Church in Grimsby that is memory of James.'

There is an additional monument to James Moody in Woodland cemetery, Scarborough, the existence of which was known only to a few members of the Moody family. The headstone refers to his role in the Titanic disaster, and commemorates Moody?s sacrifice with the words

?Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.?

References and Sources
Particulars of Engagement (Belfast), Ulster Folk and Transport Museum (TRANS 2A/45 381)
Agreement and Account of Crew (PRO London, BT100/259)
General Register Office Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth
Brian Ticehurst (1996) Titanic's Memorials World wide: Where they are Located . ISBN 1 871733 05 7
Marcus, J (1977) The Maiden Voyage pp153-154
The Yorkshire Post , 24 August 1999

Related Articles and Documents

		GRAVESTONE
		MEMORIAL TO JAMES MOODY
		MEMORIAL CROSS TO JAMES MOODY
		THE MOODY CUP
		MEMORIAL
		JAMES MOODY AS A CHILD
	Grimsby Evening News  (1912)	UNTITLED
	Scarborough Mercury  (1912)	MR. J. P. MOODY
	St James Parish Magazine  (1912)	VICAR'S LETTER
	(1912)	PROBATE REPORT
	The Cadet  (1914)	MOODY MEMORIAL CUP
	Atlantic Daily Bulletin  (1993)	MEMORIAL TO JAMES MOODY
	Titanic Research  (2005)	ALL THE HORRORS SEEM TO HAPPEN AT NIGHT