And the Band Played On

NEW BOOKS!!!

I’ve just spent £50 on new books after realising my student finance payment arrived sooner than expected. I’ve bought 7 books, 5 of which are Titanic related. 

I bought:

• The Band That Played On: The Extraordinary Story of the 8 Musicians Who Went Down with the Titanic by Steve Turner.
• Titanic Valour: The Life of Fifth Officer Harold Lowe by Inger Sheil.
• A Hymn for Eternity: The Story of Wallace Hartley, Titanic Bandmaster by Yvonne Carroll. 
• RMS Titanic - The First Violin by Yvonne Hume.
• Playing to the End - The Life of Wallace Hartley by Darren Ward. 

Has anyone read any of these books?

Summer Travelling!!

I’m hoping to head to Liverpool and Belfast this summer to visit the Titanic related exhibits and museums. I’m really looking forward to it. Is there anywhere else that people would recommend visiting in the UK?

Titanic historian approaches violin makes about the Hartley Violin.

This is a long read but I think it’s well worth it. Daniel Allen Bulter (author and historian) has approached 3 different violin makers one of which has over 60 years of experience with violins. Taken from here.

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There an event going on in Colne on the 5th of April. I went to a lecture given by Nigel Hampson over my christmas break and I find him to be a very good lecturer. So if you are in that part of the world I really would recommend going:

SPECIAL EVENT!!
“TITANIC NEWS” 
An Illustrated Lecture, is taking place at Colne Hippodrome Theatre Bar on FRIDAY 5TH APRIL 7:00pm
The illustrated lecture will also include a pie & peas supper and a quiz and the bar will be also open (Bar not included in the ticket price!)
Tickets only £6.00 and available from Titanic In Lancashire Museum between the hours of 10am and 3.30pm

More concerns expressed over Wallace Hartley’s violin.

This time these concerns are in The Independent rather than my head. Read the article here.

Nigel Hampson (curator of the Titanic in Lancashire museum, where most of my photos are from) expresses some of the same concerns I do, mainly about the inventory taken when Wallace Hartley’s body was recovered. Nigel is quoted as saying:

“The historical record does not show that Wallace was recovered with his violin strapped to his body - it actually proves the opposite. The inventory of items recovered on Wallace’s body makes no mention whatsoever of a violin or music case or anything similar being found with him. We are supposed to believe that when the ship sinks and everyone, the band included, are fighting for their lives, Wallace is more concerned with the fate of his instrument than his life?”

And I totally agree with what he’s saying. I don’t own anything that I would save over my life. A violin can be replaced but your life can’t.

I’m not entirely comfortable with what Alan Aldridge has said however it am aware it may have been taken out of context:

“Mr Hampson isn’t privy to the knowledge of what we’ve got,” he told The Independent. “Museums, exhibitions are very interested and want it. These are the people we need to convince. I don’t mind open debate but this is just malicious and it’s defamatory.”

Knowing Nigel Hampson as regular visitor to the Titanic in Lancashire Museum and having some lengthy discussions with him about many different aspects of Titanic I can’t imagine his comment as malicious or trying to be harmful, he has a lot of knowledge about Wallace Hartley and his life and he’s working and has worked very hard to spread the truth about Titanic and dispel any false truths. 

I am also extremely concerned about this:

Among collectors the discovery of the violin is already causing excitement. It is due to go on display in Belfast City Hall next month and will likely be auctioned later this year. 

This is VERY soon to be selling an object that would make a hell of a lot more money touring museums than being kept in a private collection and as someone who’s done a fair amount of research on Wallace Hartley (and the Titanic) I’d like the opportunity to have a good look myself. 

It looks as though this debate could go on for a while and it may never be resolved. 

*Edit here* Another historian has more concerns here. Nigel Hampson has also commented below. 

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New Books.

I ordered 2 new books of amazon and they’ve finally arrived.

‘How to Survive the Titanic or The Sinking of J. Bruce Ismay’ by Frances Wilson.

and ‘Titanic’s Last Secrets” by Brad Matsen’.

I haven’t started either of them yet, and I have less time than ever but I do plan to get through them before summer really gets here. My Mum also got me a Titanic book for free today (she works in a friends book shop and sometimes gets a book for free). My Mum gave the name as ‘The Story of the Titanic’ by Beau Riffenburgh which I can only find in the UK discount shop ‘The Works’. I won’t get a chance to have a look at it until I’m home in 2 weeks. 

Has anyone read any of these books? What do you think?

Wallace Hartley’s violin: My thoughts.

I’ve been talking with my Mum about Wallace Hartley and his violin over the past 2 days and I’ve finally sorted out my thought enough for a blog post. There might be some unpopular opinions under the read more.

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Legitimate reason to include an ocean liner in an essay.

I’m currently doing research and writing an essay on the First World War and the divisions between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales caused by it. As I was doing research the idea of sinking civilian ships came to mind, and this naturally led to RMS Lusitania which sank in 1915 and was carrying only civilians and had never carried troops either as a transport ship or hospital ship. I’m pretty pleased with this link and hopefully it’ll fit into the final draft of the essay.

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