Samuel - thanks for coming to the rescue. I am sometimes a bit lazy to check the deck plans.
In the case of George Bowyer's encounter of the Olympic and Hawke episode. Only 65 pages of his life was published and on page 37 he makes a brief mention but not a great deal in the way of vivld details of who was at fault with who. Unfortunately I experienced a power surge some year back and haven't even bothered to replace my last scanner with a brand spanking new one. To set the record straight I shall write word for word on how George describe the incident back in 1911.
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"LIVELY AHOY."
REMINISCENCES OF 58 YEARS
IN THE
TRINITY HOUSE PILOTAGE SERVICE
BY
GEORGE W. BOWYER
Page 37.
During the whole of my career I have met with two mishaps, namely, the "St. Paul" - "Gladiator" collision on April 25th, 1908, and the "Olympic" - "Hawke" collision on September 20th, 1911. Only those who have passed through an ordeal of this kind can appreciate the worry at the time. In the first case I had to attend, with Capt. Passow and officers, the inquest on the poor souls who lost their lives from the "Gladiator." The inquest was held at Godden Hill Fort, Isle of Wight, and, soon afterwards, the civil trail was heard at the Law Courts, London. Again, after the civil trail, the court-martial was held on board H.M.S. "Victory" moored in Portsmouth Harbour. I cannot express my feeling in writing, when I stepped from the top of the "Victory" gangway on her deck. Then, through the three days that it lasted, expecting at any moment to be called to the board room, it was even worst than waiting in the Law Courts in London.
It is all very well for people who are not concerned in this case kindly to tell you not to worry; this is impossible, however much you feel that you are in the right. I had a clear conscience in both cases that I was right, and still hold a clear conscience, which nothing on earth can alter.
Through the "Olympic" - "Hawke" case, the late Capt. E. J. Smith, the officers, and I told the truth and nothing but the truth. It was taken to the House of Lords, but the verdict was not altered, the "Olympic" losing the case. However, the company thought we were right, and I have piloted the "Olympic," the "Homeric," and the "Majestic," hundreds of times, up to my retirement on December 31st, 1929.
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That Samuel is word for word on how George describes the episode. As one can see, he's rather limited and he certainly
never confirmed anything to do with Titanic.
Hope that gives you a brief insight to his world as one of he many of the Pilot's of Trinity House.
A.W.