Lightoller, Charles Herbert

"don't Worry, the sea is not enough wet to make me overwhelmed. Never drown." These words, which Charles Herbert Lightoller wrote in a letter to his sister, to accurately characterize the adventurous life of this man, whom friends nicknamed "Herb" or more often "Lights".


Beginning career

Charles Herbert Lightoller was born 30. march 1874 in Chorley, in the county of Lancashire, as the youngest of five children. His mother, Sarah Jane Widdows Lightoller, however, died shortly after Charles ' birth on scarlet fever, as well as his sister, Caroline Mary.
Father, Frederick James Lightoller, had a after another, a short marriage with Margaret Barton (+1881), an affair with the family maid Joyce Gladwin, from which was born the illegitimate daughter of Janet.

Father Lightoller then moved out to New Zealand and left his children Charles (10 years), Gertrude (15 years) and Ethel (12 years old) with their aunt and uncle in England. With his father gone, only Charles's oldest sister Jane and later followed Joyce Gladwin with her daughter Janet. Frederick James Lightoller and Joyce Gladwin were married in Auckland, 11. September 1885. Must say, however, that Frederick James trying to stay in touch with the rest of his children in England, as it was possible.

Charles Lightoller he first attended elementary school in Chorley. Already from the beginning manifested as bright, but nedisciplovaný and hardly manageable boy. Uncle and aunt to him and his siblings were strongly apparent, what are for them the burden and the Lightoller never forgot it. As well as never forgave the father that abandoned them.
Finally, at the age of 13 years, asked the family for permission to leave the sea. In that moment it was probably a ruse, induced the punishment, for some impropriety, but the family took him at his word.
Charles Herbert Lightoller then in 1887 he joined as a lifeguard in a company William Price Line in Liverpool and in February, 1888 become a member of the crew of a large čtyřstěžňového barca [also]Primrose Hill, flying around cape Horn to San Francisco.

His second ship, čtyřstěžňový bark Holt Hill, he gave a lot of adventurous moments. After a severe storm in the south Atlantic, the ship was forced to sail to Rio de Janeiro, at that time the center of an epidemic of smallpox, and revolution, to have the necessary repairs. After the next storm, 13. November 1889, ran Holt Hill run aground at a small and desolate island of Ile Saint-Paul in the southern Indian ocean. The first officer was killed, the rest of the crew then saved about 8 days later a small sailboat Cagoon and I drove to Adelaide in Australia. Lightoller here, as a crew member aboard the clipper , Duke of Abercorn, which he got back to England.

The third ship in the career of of Charles Herbert Lightoller again Primrose Hill. During the voyage the ship survived the hurricane and after arriving in Calcutta, when after four years, ended the period of his apprenticeship, he passed the Lightoller test and received a certificate of the second deck officer.
While serving as third mate on board a large cargo sailing ship Knight of St. Michael company Greenshields and Cowie, ignited the ship's cargo of coal. The crew under Lightollerovým the leadership, however, managed to fire handle and Charles Herbert for his efforts, promoted to the second deck officer, when relieved of his eternally drunken predecessor.
He graduated from one more cruise on a sailing ship and then, in the 1895, at the age of 21 years, has made a probably very painful decision to leave the service on the deck of the steamers. Prevailed, however, to reason over the call of the heart, as Lightoller was well aware that the decks of the steamers has a much greater chance of faster promotion. Joined therefore to the society Elder Dempster, which had a license to transport mail from England to west Africa (Royal Mail service).



of Charles Herbert Lightoller in the early days of my naval career



After three years of service, primarily in the function of a third deck officer on a steamer SS Niagara, once, during one of the voyages almost died of malaria, however, leaving the line to west Africa and thinking about the next life step. His attention was attracted by a notice in the newspaper that Edmonton is the easiest way to reach the gold-bearing fields in the Yukon (at that time just started the gold rush in Alaska).
Lightoller decided within 5 minutes and be in the center of 1898 he traveled to the northwest as a prospector. Luck however did not favor (as many others), he lost what little he had and gained nothing, than the next life experience. Briefly worked as a drover of cattle in Alberta, canada and then the short chapter in my life quickly closed, as the hobo ran across Canada and on board a ship for transportation of cattle returned back to England.
In the year of the 1899 at the second attempt passed the exams and got the license of the captain of the cruise (Master Mariner). After the initial interview it again employed by Greenshields and Cowie and boarded the vessel as a third deck officer on a ship for the transport of cattle Knight Companion.


In the White Star Line

After less than a year decided to start a new life in the January 1900 he applied for admission at the prestigious shipping the White Star Line in Liverpool, which was to become his fate for the next 20 years. U the White Star Line serve the best naval officers, one of the conditions of acceptance of ownership was the certificate of the captain of the voyage and the entrance into the corps of reserve officers in the British royal navy (Royal Navy Reserves).
Ligtoller had to during the initial interview to make an impression, because he was adopted, and to his great surprise, almost immediately placed as a fourth mate on the steamer SS Medic, departs to Australia. It was the first cruise company to this destination and the White Star Line she started her new line. On this ship served as third officer also William McMaster Murdoch, which is Lightoller met even during his most famous voyage. Although they were both men of very different natures, they became good friends.
SS Medic, in addition to the transportation of common passengers during stopovers in Cape town (Capetown) in South Africa, picked up also the soldiers, wounded in the ongoing Boer war and on the return trip, laid out fresh forces from Australia in Durban.

Already the first Lightollerova voyage aboard the Medic, however, nearly ended his burgeoning career at the the White Star Line.
The officer, along with two young cadets, in the early morning darkness přiveslovali to the local Fort Dennison, climbed to her tower, where the lightning rod strapped a homemade boer flag, then the gunpowder charge the large cannon and than disappeared back to the ship, lit a long fuse. Lightoller wanted to make fun of the locals, who were great supporters of the war against the Boers. As a result of the shot to empty the windows in the nearby houses and the morning woke up the whole town.
The Incident confounded the local police and in the parliament of New South Wales has even addressed the issue of security in the sydney harbor.
However, the culprits were in Sydney exposed, it did so only during the return path SS Medic. One of the cadets admitted to the ship's captain, who realized the Superintendent of the company, the captain of the of Joseph Hewitt. Lightoller was after the return of the steamer to England called "on the carpet", where the captain of the Hewitt according to Lightollerových own words "damn rolled off, so as nobody ever before in his life". To the credit of the captain of the Hewitt must say that after what he said to the young officer, he left it in your own words the entire incident to explain and then burst into a big laugh. Tore up the Lightollerovu testimony, and with the words "get out of here and go back to your ship" it took on grace.

Charles Herbert Lightoller he was then reassigned to a ship in the north Atlantic. It was actually a promotion, although the first vessel, which were waiting for him, the ship was on the transport of cattle. The captain of the Hewitt probably gave a chance for the young officer to calm down, there, where could the company harm in the least. Lightoller eventually demonstrated the ability to demonstrate their nautical and leadership skills in the right place, then, what twisted their tendencies to peculiar pranks. In the year of the 1902 then obtained the qualification of Extra-Master, which was at that time the highest possible qualification, what could a naval officer in the merchant navy get.
Focused mainly on themselves, although at least one did something, so he was in 1903 as a punishment placed on the one way to SS Suevic on the australian line. This path, however, was fatal for his further life, as on board ship he met with osmnáctiletou Sylvia Hawley-Wilson, which was returning home to Sydney.
Followed the classic shipboard romance, and both end up 15. December 1903 in Sydney took.

The following 9 years he served Charles Herbert Lightoller on board most of the ships company [and]the White Star Line. First, as the fourth mate of the SS Majestic, then as third mate on the RMS Oceanic - the best of the ship's company. [I]RMS Oceanic remained as the second officer and, after promotion to the first deck officer (on pasažérských ships, the third highest officer) passed on SS Majestic, where the second served as acting chief officer (and deputy captain). In the function of the first deck officer later returned to his favorite ship - RMS Oceanic.
Also in your personal life, luck smiled on him, in the year 1904 his first son was born - Frederick Roger and four years later a second son, Richard Trevor. The family lived in a spacious house in Netley Abbey in Hampshire.


Titanic

In march 1912 Lightoller received the message that she has to get to the function of first officer on the latest steamer the White Star Line - RMS Titanic.
Together with his friend and at the same time, the new chief officer of the Murdoch, and the second officer Blair went on a trip to Liverpool, that they boarded the ship.



RMS Titanic sets sail on its fateful voyage 10. April 1912


Lightoller he graduated with a new boat tests and RMS Titanic sail away 3. April 1912 to Southampton, to prepare for his first voyage across the Atlantic.
However, there was little change in the officer corps. According to one of her own captain of the RMS Titanic, Edward John Smith, which claimed on the first cruise of a new ship of his subordinate from the sister ship, the RMS Olympic - the chief officer's Henry Tingle Wilde. Himself Lightoller later stated that Wilde was appointed to chief officer on the RMS Titanic from the will of the leadership itself the White Star Line.
Whatever was the truth may be, the fact happened, that Murdoch had to settle with the function of the first deck officer and the first officer Lightoller became the second an officer of the deck. David Blair from the ship left.
After a few days in Southampton everyone settled in with their new features and 10. April 1912 sailed RMS Titanic with the second an officer of the deck Charles Herbert Lightollerem on its fateful voyage.

After a stopover in the French Cherbourg and the irish Queenstown headed the big ship across the ocean to their destination - New York.
During a trip to Cherbourg for Lightollerem lost sailor George Symons, one from the guard of the sailors and told him, that at the viewing station in the basket on the front of the mast is missing telescopes. Without it Lightoller knew his predecessor, Blair is stored in the drawer in your cabin and not tell anyone about it. Lightoller couldn't find them and he therefore asked the first officer Murdoch's. He told him about the missing telescopes knows, and everything. Symons however, from the Lightollerových mouth know only that the telescopes will not be.

Fateful 14. April 1912 took over the second mate Lightoller service in the 16:00 from the chief officer Wilde and after dinner, in cooperation with the third an officer of the deck Pittman determine the position of the ship. Lightoller then through the sixth deck officer Moody commanded the patrol in front the basket to closely monitor the area around the ship and focused primarily on the possible presence of ice.
Around 21 h on the bridge came to the captain of the Smith and briefly in Lightollerem a word, especially about the prevailing weather and the possible presence of ice.
In 22 h then Charles Herbert Lightollerovi got out of the service he gave to the first officer Murdoch. After leaving the bridge even in the next half hour went all over the ship, to make sure everything is in order. Then he went into his cabin, where he lay down to sleep.
Already almost sleeping, when it woke a faint concussion of the ship and so he ran barefoot and in his pajamas on the deck. However, when he saw nothing on the port or on the starboard side, he thought, that if something happened, it will be best to stay there, where it is assumed that it will be.
After about half an hour in his cabin, there was a fourth officer of the deck Joseph Boxhall, and when he saw a breakout Lightoller, announced to him that Titanic hit the iceberg and the bow is swamped until after the board F. Lightoller only nodded, without any sign of emotion take over his pajamas he put on the uniform and went to the bridge. Here he met with other officers and the captain of the Smith, who gave the order to prepare lifeboats for launching. Lightoller took command on the port Titanic and ordered the sailors to prepare all 11 lifeboats.



Charles Herbert Lightoller on the bridge of RMS Titanic


As soon as the captain of the Smith gave permission to leave the ship, began to Lightoller to dispose of the boats passengers. He followed the principle of which was later much imitated and immortalized in many novels and movies - women and children first. Lightoller was strict and uncompromising (compared to the first officer Murdoch on the starboard side, which at times allowed get as well as men), and so the boats really get only women and children. Relatively well known is the story around the boat launch "6".
When was the boat half way to the surface, the helmsman Hitchens, commanding the vessel called that in the boat there is only one sailor, which is insufficient for its management. Lightoller at the time, did not have on hand any sailor, which he could spare, and on his second query is heard from one of the passengers, the major Arthur Peuchen: "I'm Not a sailor, but I'm a yachtsman, if You will do". Ligtoller looking upon him and replied:"If you're enough of a sailor to get around this the rope into the boat, so go". Peuchenovi managed to climb down after one of the lan triggering the boat and became the only male passenger on the port side, which the second mate took the liberty to get into the boat.

Lightoller authorized the board to each boat a maximum of two seafarers to be followed. Consistently comply with the principle of "only a woman and children", we can say that it altered the "only women and children", although over time it was on the port side still more difficult to find enough women and children to fill the boats.
In the meantime, the chief officer of the Wilde and first officer Murdoch asked the Lightoller, to show them, where are they stored guns and ammo. Lightoller knew they were in the cabin of the first officer and the others there did. Wilde him one revolver put to words that it might will need.
As the bow of the boat was sinking deeper, rushed to the second mate still more to be able to launch the remaining boats. What happened was obvious, that Titanic will go to the bottom very quickly.

In the preparation of the lifeboat "no 2" to start the Lightoller noticed that the boat is already full of men. Some of cetujících later had the feeling that it was mostly about the fireman. Lightoller is upset, pointed it at the man's revolver (empty, because it still didn't charge) and shouted at them: "Get out you damn cowards. I'd have you all thrown overboard". We all immediately left the boat and finally could get the women and children. Under the command of captain Smith, the command boat took fourth mate Joseph Boxhall.

Lightoller, and the rest of the crew went to the roof of the officers ' quarters and tried to prepare to run also folding boats. Previously was running a folding boat "C", in which, inter alia, was also the ceo of the company the White Star Line, Joseph Bruce Ismay.
I managed to launch the collapsible boat "D". The chief officer of the Wilde ordered Lightollerovi, to mounted also. According to Lightollerových own words "fortunately, so much presence of mind, that with the words "Hell no" he jumped back on board, not because of some act of self-sacrifice, but it was a clear impulse". Impulse, which thanked to the end of his days, that he got a chance to go down with the others.
Boat "B" sesmekl from the roof to the deck and flipped upside down.

Then, probably due to the bursting of one of the bulkheads inside the boat, the hull of the ship fell sharply and the group, trying to run both of the remaining collapsible boats washed wool. On the roof of the cabins in that moment stood only in the Lightoller and sailor Hemming. Water quickly flooded and the roof and so Lightoller jumped into the icy water.
This situation later the second officer described in his testimony before the american inquiry commission. On the query of senator Smith, when he left the ship replied dryly: "I did not leave her". Puzzled, the senator asked: "did she You? "Yes, sir", was Lightollerova answer.

In the initial shock of the cold at first he swam to the strážnímu basket on příďovém the mast, which still čnělo out of the water, then recovered and began to move away from the vessel. Too far but didn't get. Up the boat deck led big rectangular hole of the shaft of the fan. The hole was covered only by a grid of thin wire, which prevented the dropping of foreign objects into the fan. The stream of water, vlevající into the interior of the ship through the hole, grasped the Lightoller and pressed it on the grid. Ligtoller floundered pressed up against a thin wire and tried with all forces to get away, but the current was too strong. The officer knew very well that if the grid shall permit the tears to flow into the shaft of the head of a few tens of meters down into the bowels of the ship. He slowly was running out of breath, when luck smiled on him and a big bubble of hot air, which is pushed from the inside of the ship through the shaft, lashed out Lightoller back to the surface.

Titanic quickly dived, the water swirled around the hips and a strong stream again Lightoller withdrew under surface. Again, it picked up a grille, covering one of the openings into the interior of the ship. This time the second officer didn't even know how he found himself back on the surface, right next to the overturned collapsible boat "B". Captured to his side, when, close beside him fell in front of the chimney and blew the boat even with the Lightollerem nearly 30 meters away from the sinking ship. On the bottom of the overturned boat to the other officer vydrápalo even a few men.
Together, they watched the demise of the most luxurious ship in the world.

Polozatopený, inverted boat became the last rescue for approximately 30 freezing men. To flipped and retained on the surface, Lightoller arranged the men in line, alone, sitting on the bow and the operator Harold Bride the crowd was closing. Under his command the men nakláněli to the right or left, to keep balance on his shaky vessel. Trying to keep the morale of the prokřehlých people and gave them hope for an early rescue.

At dawn appeared first rescue ship, the steamer RMS Carpathia and lifeboat "12". Ligtoller he had still his officer's whistle, so a whistle attracted the attention of the people in the boat. Whistles also heard another of the boats, "no 4", which also issued a direction to the polopotopenému skládacímu boat. Lightoller commanded his men to push and don't flip their rickety vessel, or endangering the rescuer. All 28 frozen men so gradually received into the two wooden lifeboats. Most of them took the boat "12" and so it overloaded that side of the boat was only a few centimeters above the surface. Wasn't another option. Ligtoller took over command and used all his skills to keep the boat on the surface of the still more vzdouvajícího sea. Little ship under his command slowly and carefully approached the large steamer. Once they have reached the side of the Carpathia, all passengers and crew members were beyond the help of ladders and suspension seats picked up aboard the great ship. Boat "12" was the last to k Carpathia arrived and the last, who left his board, and thus even the last rescued survivor of the Titanic, Charles Herbert Lightoller.



Shared photos of the rescued officers of the Titanic. C.H.Lightoller standing in the middle


On board the Carpathia, as a single senior officer, saved from the Titanic, assumed responsibility for the management of the rescued crew members.

After the arrival of Carpathia to New York were all the rescued officers and crew of the transport on board of the steamer SS Lapland company Red Star. Here in the company of representatives of the company the White Star Line ate dinner and talked about last night. The company is planning to soon move to England, but these plans were ruined by the american senator William Alden Smith, who led the american commission of inquiry.

As the supreme rescued the officer Titanic he was also one of the main questioned before this commission. First in New York and then in Washington Lightoller with the ever increasing reluctance gave evidence before the commission, whose chairman of the Smith forcing it to respond even to the dumbest questions. Him and the other officers of the Titanic felt that the senator is an amateur and ignorant, that offends their intelligence. Lightoller also caused a minor uproar when he refused to stay in the same hotel, as have stayed in the team from Titanic. Today it is already difficult to say if it was because of his complex nature or it was the result of his frustration over the loss of close friends, over still more with the multiplying issues of the crew and relatives of the victims.

Needless to say, Lightoller when all the issues corresponded to fault in the least fell on the shipping the White Star Line and officers of Titanic. In some moments it was this effort more than obvious, however no one could Lightollerovi prove or suggest any kind of lie. He had over the members of the commission probably the only, but the more important advantage. He was an absolute professional and an expert in matters of navigation, which is about the members of the commission of inquiry certainly was not the right word.



Lightoller (right) with the third officer Pittman before the hearing at the commission


Finally, after almost three weeks of interrogations, Lightoller, Ismay, and the rest of the officers and crew boarded the steamer RMS Adriatic, which took them to Europe.
Here stood the face of another commission of inquiry established by the british House of lords, and in whose forehead stood John Charles Bigham, lord Mersey.
While the american commission of inquiry could have on the Lightollerovu a further career no effect, any proof of misconduct by the british commission could have for the Lightollerův another life serious consequences. Lightoller, therefore, very carefully weighed answers to intrusive questions, and above all, his "duel" with the lawyer Thomas Scanlan, representing the National union of sailors and firemen, were fighting on the blade of a knife. However, Ligtoller was able to answer all of the questions with honor and above all his testimony can [also]the White Star Line thank you for this, finally on her side not been found to be no sanctions to blame for the loss of Titanic.


First world war

After the end of all the processes around the loss of RMS Titanic continued Charles Herbert Lightoller in their service to the u the White Star Line. He shipped as first mate on a SS Majestic, where he met his friend, the second officer David Blair, who was at the last minute forced him to leave the Titanic before his last voyage.
Then he returned as first mate on your favorite RMS Oceanic, where he served until the beginning of the Even. world war ii in the August 1914. RMS Oceanic after returning to England rekvírován the Royal Navy, armed and commissioned as an auxiliary cruiser. The first officer of the deck Lightoller, as a reserve officer of the Royal Navy, he was drafted in the rank of Lieutenant (navy lieutenant) and entered service on the Oceanic.

Steamer (now the auxiliary cruiser) HMS Oceanic was designed to patrol off the northern coast of the British isles, a treacherous area for which a ship of its size totally didn't fit. Nightmare of all navigators was enhanced by the fact that the new military commander of the ship, a naval captain (Captain) William Slayter ordered to move all the ship's clock about 40 minutes from Greenwich mean time. The second officer did what he could, but HMS Oceanic as well drove in the fog, in the morning 8. September 1914, on the cliffs of the Shaalds of Foula. All attempts to ship release is met with success, and so was HMS Oceanic abandoned. Before that, however, Charles Lightoller took of their favorite ship on-board clock from the navigation bridge.

Lieutenant Lightoller was transferred and a brief time spent aboard smaller patrol vessels in coastal waters. This part of his service ended to the disease measles and stay in a military hospital.
After the cure of Lightoller moved as an observer to the Grand Fleet on the former passenger liner and now a seaplane carrier, the HMS Campania. Lightoller he had, however, soon enough the service on unreliable hydroplánech, and when she was HMS Campania sent for maintenance to the yard, took several of his acquaintances, to get somewhere else.

Got his first own ship - before Christmas 1915 became commander of the torpedo boat HMTB 117. Torpedo boat was assigned to Noreské defensive fleet and patrol the mouth of the Thames. Ligtoller he was with his boat satisfied. Although not new, was quite fast and, above all - was his. As a commander he had a very good relationship with his crew, which also became a typical feature of his military career - he never punished any man who served beneath him.

His family then moved to a rented house in Dover, to have it as close as possible.

In July 1916, during a night air raid by German airships on London and its surrounding area Noreská fleet took part in repelling the raid and Lightoller he and his crew believed that they managed to shoot down Zeppelin [also]L-31 under the command Heinrich Mathyho. Although it eventually turned out that the success recorded by someone else, firing from the torpedo boat was so precise that L-31 forced to jettison the bombs (on the boat) and turn towards home. Lightoller for this achievement he received the Distinguished Service Cross and he was assigned to a new ship - the destroyer HMS Falcon, which had patrolovat in Dover.

Lightoller wasn't too thrilled with the new command, because HMS Falcon was fifteen years old ship, but he took up his new task as a challenge.



HMS Falcon


With his new boats experienced a lot of events. Once accidentally pulled into the minefield, followed by another destroyer, who at all do not admit, that the leading ship could sail the wrong way. Both destroyers survived the explosion unharmed, but the commander of the second ship he was shocked when he Ligtoller said, where a moment ago they were.
1. April 1917, in misty and rainy weather, accompanied by HMS Falcon a convoy in the North sea, when he collided with trawlerem John Fitzgerald. Destroyer was the impact nearly cut in half, and shortly after Lightoller evacuate the entire crew, except himself and two officers, the bow broke off completely and sank. The stern section, with the three remaining men on board, however, still remained on the surface, and Lightoller even thought about the possibility of her rescue. However, this failed and all three of them barely saved their lives.

A few hours spent in the water than the trawler fished out. Ligtollerovi once again saved the life of his officer's whistle that drew the attention of a passing ship. For the loss of His Majesty's ship stood then, of course, before a military court. He stood in front of him for the first time and didn't know what to expect, so there was a somewhat comical situation. When he was advised to take "a friend" - meaning a lawyer, Lightoller took the advice literally and invited to trial one of their friends. In the end, because it was clearly an accident, which did not carry any guilt, he was acquitted, promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander and he was entrusted with another ship - the destroyer HMS Garry.

With the destroyer-class River Lightoller mainly escorted convoys.
Introduced its own system deployment, protection of convoys, which he commanded and lost only one ship of several hundred that sailed in convoys under his command. He also had his own system of fishing. True, somewhat expensive in comparison with classical methods, but several depth charges dropped on the right place ensure a beautiful catch. Once he even announced officially the attack on the submarine, when in fact hunting the fish for your crew.



HMS Garry

Although the German submarines had the end of the war hard times, and it was very difficult to get into the English channel, lieutenant Fürbringer with sub UB-110 proved to the protected area to penetrate. 19. July, 1918 saw a heavily guarded convoy and despite the odds decided to attack.
The escort, however, was alert and as soon as Lightoller HMS Garry saw the periscope, headed at full speed to the submarine. He threw on her a few depth charges which damaged the plating [also]UB-110 and caused the jam in-depth rudders. Submarine is out of control emerged to the surface, HMS Garry it circumnavigated and Lightoller ordered UB-110 going to ram.
Lieutenant Fürbringer opened the hatch and began to evacuate the crew. Because UB-110 is still diving, Lightoller, after considering the resistance of his vessel, then the ship turned, again into the submarine rammed and sent her to the bottom. After the second impact, however, was the bow of the destroyer almost torn and Lightoller therefore, cared mainly about his ship and left the German crew in the water. Fürbringer later argued that all 38 of the Germans got out of the UB-110 live - saved them, however, only 15.

On the way back, pulled the Charles Herbert Lightoller another demonstration of his maritime art. Led HMS Garry at his home base in the Humber, the place to head for the nearest port. HMS Garry sailed at the speed of 8 knots, stern first. Twisted bow hung in the tail wake, the nose bulkheads threatened at every moment to collapse, but the destroyer finally got safe into port. For the sinking of the UB-110 received Lightoller clasp (bar) to your DSC.


Between the wars

The war ended before she could be Lightollerovi conferred on the other ship. The officer left the navy and returned to the company the White Star Line as chief officer on the steamer RMS Cedric. As he himself later wrote, the crew was absolutely undisciplined, but not with the mastery of great problems. In the end, everything worked without problems and Lightoller believed that he will be able to get on the flagship of the company - the RMS Olympic, a sister ship Titanic and later will be finally promoted to captain. Followed however.

Lightoller he felt that everything is the fault of his involvement in the disaster, Titanic. It was probably one of the reasons, although certainly not the only one. When he understood that Titanic will forever remain a black stain on his record, 6. February 1920 sent the company his resignation. Chief superintendent Charles Bartlett in his letter on behalf of the company thanked for the service and expressed a willingness to again in the future to employ, if they requested it. 14. February 1920 so ended the Lightollerova service for the White Star Line.

The end of his career with the company brought, however, a period of financial uncertainty for the Lightollerovu family. The latter now consisted of his wife, Sylvia, sons of Roger, Trevor and Brian and the daughters Mavis and Doreen.
Failed his attempt on the fur trade, his career a reporter in the Christian Science Monitor ended in a fiasco. Finally, on the advice of wife, changed their house to a guest house. The family helped out of difficulty and financial security returned.

Lightoller I can once again return to the sea. First on the racing boats, but in the 1929 purchased almost osmnáctimetrovou yacht Sundowner, rebuilt an old steam pinasu the navy. The yacht was his pride, in her cabin installed the old clock, which once took from the bridge of a sinking Oceanic.
Together with the family has taken many cruises around the coast of Europe, several times came to the Mediterranean.

In the year of the 1932 Lightoller invested in a chicken farm in the new place of residence in Hertfordshire. He began selling eggs to local retailers and soon was supplying large food companies Sainsbury's and Fortnum and Mason's. He became the leading figure of the whole business and suggested several innovations to increase production.
In the year of the 1935 also published his book the Titanic and Other Ship the beginning of 30. years wrote.

At the end of 30. years his children start their own families and have left the parental home. Early on Sundowneru set sail for I only Lightoller and Sylvia. The international situation worsened, and over Europe hanging over the specter of war. One evening in the July 1939 knock on the Lightollerovy the door 2 men and asked him to go with them. It turned out that the Naval intelligence service needs someone who could do a secret survey of the German coast and Lightoller was selected as the best candidate. Lightoller agreed and so he and his wife have become virtually spies.
Job done without being caught, although once had a close call and escaped only thanks to the fact that Lightoller pretended to be drunk.


Dunkirk and the second world war

The war for Great Britain began to 3. September 1939, and the next day the family of Charles Herbert Lightoller paid the highest tax. The youngest son of Charles and Sylvia, twenty-two-yearold Herbert, Brian, bomber pilot of the RAF, was killed by a 4. September 1939 during a raid on Wilhelmshaven, when his plane crashed into the balloon qualifiers. For Lightoller and his wife it was a big blow, however, Brian, as a bomber pilot, he could give the father some important information, which later saved many lives during the evacuation at Dunkirk.

When in the may 1940 started operation Dynamo - the evacuation of the British expeditionary force from the beaches at Dunkirk, was called and requisitioned all vessels in the south of England, able to cross the English channel. Rekvírovaná the vessel was manned by members of the navy and volunteers, but several of them came into France with their own owner. Charles Herbert Lightoller refused to for a dangerous mission to entrust your Sundowner into people's hands and sailed across the English Channel alone. The crew of the yacht consisted of in addition to him his eldest son Roger and eighteen marine scout Gerald Ashcroft.
The yacht surged 1. June 1940, in clear weather, which was ideal for pilots of the Luftwaffe attacking the evacuation fleet.

Sundowner with Lightollerem at the helm, however, to Dunkerque was able to get in right, with only a few cracked joints in the shell plating from near the exploding bombs. After the arrival to the eastern breakwater at Dunkirk, picked up Lightoller on your osmnáctimetrovou a yacht of 125 men, of whom 75 squish for better stability into the cabin like sardines. He commanded them to lie down on the floor and stay that way. The remaining 50 soldiers stationed on board.
Lightoller built several of the men on the patrol, he put himself on the prow of his son to the helm and Gerald Ashcroft pushed debris and bodies from the screw yacht. Sundowner sailed back to England.
On a fully loaded yacht several times attacked by German aircraft, but the fallen Brian Lightoller said once to the father, as is meet, when a fighter jet preparing to launch a fire. The yacht, although she was overloaded, still very quick to react on the deflection of the rudder. Lightoller always waited until the last moment, when the aircraft focused, and then commanded to change direction. In this way managed to move everything to the Luftwaffe tried to get to the bottom and sailed back to England. In Ramsgate filled with awe all the onlookers crowd of men, flowing to the shore of a fairly small yacht. One of the onlookers could only astonished query: "oh, my God, officer! Where you are is all squished?"

After the evacuation at Dunkirk came Commander in reserve Charles Herbert Lightoller in the Home Guard and all the rest of the war he was in the service of the Small Vessels Pool, which ensured the transport of military material in the internal waters of Great Britain. This service also resigned his yacht. The end of the war has affected Lightoller another family tragedy, when in 1945 died his eldest son Roger, serving with the Royal Navy. Middle son Richard Trevor, fighting under the command of marshal Montgomery and both daughters have survived the war.


At the end

In their 72 years Charles Herbert Lightoller embarked on a new job, this time close to his heart. Began to engage in the construction of the boats, first with a business partner, later with his son Trevor. The company was called Richmond Slipways and specialized to police boats. Lightoller his wife lived above the shop. Lightoller re-acquired and refurbished a Sundowner, but I never went sailing.

Charles Herbert Lightoller died 8. December 1952 in London of heart failure, at the age of 78 years. His body was cremated and the ashes scattered in Mortlakeského the crematorium.



Sources:
HUBACEK, Milos: the Titanic. 3.edition. Prague-Litomyšl: Paseka 2002. 488s. ISBN 80-7185-486-7
LORD, Walter: Dunkerský miracle. 1.edition. Prague: Mladá Fronta 1987. 605/22/82.6, from the English original The Miracle of Dunkirk, The Viking Press. 1982 transferred Paul and Dušan Provazníkovi
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