Charles Herbert Lightoller served as second officer aboard Titanic and became the most senior surviving member of the ship’s deck-officer team.
Lightoller had served in sailing ships, steamships, and the White Star Line before Titanic and held advanced British master’s qualifications.
He joined Titanic in Belfast and participated in the ship’s sea trials before the maiden voyage.
On April 14 Lightoller completed the evening bridge watch and turned responsibility over to First Officer William Murdoch before the collision.
After the iceberg strike Lightoller worked primarily on the port side launching lifeboats. His interpretation of “women and children first” was comparatively restrictive toward adult men, affecting who entered several boats.
Lightoller survived after being drawn toward an intake or opening as the ship sank and then reaching the overturned Collapsible B.
He spent hours balanced on the upturned boat with other survivors until rescue boats took them off near dawn.
Lightoller gave extensive sworn testimony to both the U.S. Senate and British Wreck Commissioner’s inquiries. His testimony is invaluable but still represents one officer’s perspective and at times defended White Star practices.
He later served in the Royal Navy during World War I and, as a civilian in 1940, took his yacht Sundowner to Dunkirk and helped evacuate troops.
For TransitSatellite, Lightoller’s page should distinguish what he personally witnessed from events elsewhere on Titanic that he learned only later.