I am new to this sight and apologize if this subject has already been covered. I was curious on the casualty lists, it states that some were buried at sea. Were some of the bodies not returned to the mainland upon recovery, or did the families have them buried later at sea? If the recovery ship personnel returned the bodies to the water, why did they do that?
Buried at sea
- Thread starter Tina
- Start date
-
- Tags
- burial at sea
Daniel Rosenshine.
Guest
Hi!
Yes this topic has been touched on, never mind. What I'll say is based on the message that has previously posted here.
The only bodies that were buried at sea were the ones that were very badly decomposed and beyond recognition and identification. When the families on land heard about this, there was an amazing outcry from the families.
Unidentifiable or not all bodies from then on were brought ashore. All bodies that were identified or features were recognisable were brought ashore.
As I said before, only the unreconisble and badly decomposed bodies were originally burried at sea.
Yes this topic has been touched on, never mind. What I'll say is based on the message that has previously posted here.
The only bodies that were buried at sea were the ones that were very badly decomposed and beyond recognition and identification. When the families on land heard about this, there was an amazing outcry from the families.
Unidentifiable or not all bodies from then on were brought ashore. All bodies that were identified or features were recognisable were brought ashore.
As I said before, only the unreconisble and badly decomposed bodies were originally burried at sea.
Chris Dohany
Member
The last known Titanic body was found on June 8 by a passing German steamer. The body, identified as steward W.F. Cheverton from his effects, was picked up but later buried at sea. Though the water was cold, it was not enough to stave off decomposition, the sun beating down upon the bodies also took it's toll.
Chris
Chris
Jan C. Nielsen
Member
A subject connected to disposal of the bodies, is identifying those recovered. In particular, I have seen pictures of recovered bodies in several "Titanic" books. The same was done with the Lusitania's victims - - I expect that these Titanic disaster victims' pictures still exist somewhere, and that they could be helpful today in identifying the passengers and crew who were recovered. Certainly, some unidentified bodies were returned to Halifax because the cemeteries have unidentified Titanic victims in graves. Have any of the Titanic researchers out there managed to review the photographs, and made any effort to identify the unidentified, from these?
Tracey McIntire
Guest
Titanic International made several identifications a few years back. They have had the names of the previously unknown victims engraved on the gravestones. One of the identifications was of the famous "unknown child." In an ironic twist, his mother had been buried only a few feet from him.
This might be stupid...but didn't they know that people who are frozen dead can be brought back since it's all their internal organs that are frozen in place? Or that if you warm the people up enough on Carpethia that thye would have a chance of surviving? Or was that not in their knowledge? I know you see and hear things of people coming back to life after being frozen, but were those in the ocean left too long to survive?
Heather Riggins
Guest
I read that some of the bodies were "buried at sea" and kept thinking why? But after reading this thread it makes sense to me that they would since the bodies were so badly decomposed. So how exactly are the bodies "buried"? Do they attach bricks to the body or something so it would sink?
I am reading the story of the Titanic as told by its survivors now, though I have not gotten but a quarter of the way into it. I bought it on ebay for $5. I am fascinated by the story of the Titanic. I really like the books with lots of details and pictures too. Anyone have suggestions on some books to check out?
Heather
[email protected]
http://www.basenjibabies.com
I am reading the story of the Titanic as told by its survivors now, though I have not gotten but a quarter of the way into it. I bought it on ebay for $5. I am fascinated by the story of the Titanic. I really like the books with lots of details and pictures too. Anyone have suggestions on some books to check out?
Heather
[email protected]
http://www.basenjibabies.com
Bob Godfrey
Member
Hallo, Heather. The bodies were 'buried' sewn into canvas bags, along with something heavy to ensure they didn't float. I'm not sure what they used to weight the bodies buried from the Mackay-Bennett, but the Minia took a supply of iron grate bars for this purpose. One of the reasons for the burials at sea was that the numbers of bodies found had been under-estimated and the embalmers on board the M-B were soon running low on supplies of the necessary chemicals. Health regulations at Halifax dictated that unembalmed bodies could not be brought ashore.
Heather Riggins
Guest
Bob,
Thanks. That is interesting. I figured they did it only because of the decomposition of the bodies. I find it so sad that the bodies had to be "buried" this way. Doesn't seem proper I guess, but they only did what they could.
Heather
[email protected]
http://www.basenjibabies.com
Thanks. That is interesting. I figured they did it only because of the decomposition of the bodies. I find it so sad that the bodies had to be "buried" this way. Doesn't seem proper I guess, but they only did what they could.
Heather
[email protected]
http://www.basenjibabies.com
Bob Godfrey
Member
Certainly at the time there was a public outcry that so many of the bodies were recovered only to be returned to the waters, but some might have taken comfort from the words of Canon Hinds, who officiated at the burials: "The prayers from the burial service were said, the hymn 'Jesus, Lover of My Soul' sung and the blessing given. Any one attending a burial at sea will most surely lose the common impression of the awfulness of a grave in the mighty deep. The wild Atlantic may rage and toss, the shipwrecked mariners cry for mercy, but far below in the calm untroubled depth they rest in peace."
Dave Gittins
Member
Some, including Canon Hinds and Captain Larnder, thought burial at sea appropriate, especially for the crew. Captain Larnder said, "The man who lives by the sea ought to be satisfied to be buried at sea. I think it is the best place. For my own part I should be contented to be committed to the deep." Canon Hinds supported his comment.
To this day, former members of the USN retain the right to burial at sea. They feel it is fitting that they join their old shipmates.
To this day, former members of the USN retain the right to burial at sea. They feel it is fitting that they join their old shipmates.
Bob Godfrey
Member
Michael H. Standart
Member
>>To this day, former members of the USN retain the right to burial at sea.<<
Add to that "From the decks of a U.S Navy Warship with full military honours."
>>They feel it is fitting that they join their old shipmates.<<
Which is why I've considered it for myself. That and leaving me to rest in the deep will free up valuable real estate elsewhere. I'm not much for cemeteries, but that's just me.
Add to that "From the decks of a U.S Navy Warship with full military honours."
>>They feel it is fitting that they join their old shipmates.<<
Which is why I've considered it for myself. That and leaving me to rest in the deep will free up valuable real estate elsewhere. I'm not much for cemeteries, but that's just me.
Similar threads
