UK & World News
- 15 April 2012, 11:47
Titanic Memorial At Sinking Site 100 Years On
Passengers on a Titanic memorial cruise have been marking the 100th anniversary of the disaster with a ceremony at the site of the sinking.
Rev Huw Mosford held a short service on the MS Balmoral to remember the 1,512 people killed, after the vessel reached the fateful spot in the Atlantic overnight.
Deckboys then threw wreaths into the water from three sections of the cruise ship, which has been retracing the route of the ill-fated liner.
The 1,309 passengers of the ship - including descendants of the victims - heard the captain make an announcement before an emotional minute's silence was held.
It was 2.20am on April 15, 1912, when the liner sank on its maiden voyage. It was sailing from Southampton to New York when it collided with an iceberg 375 miles off Newfoundland. Of the 2,228 passengers on board, only 706 survived.
As well as a service in Southampton, the 100th anniversary was also marked in Northern Ireland and in the Irish Republic, where many of the victims were from.
The largest commemoration took place north of the Irish border.
Thousand of people attended or listened to a service of remembrance at Belfast City Hall, which featured another minute's silence.
Lord Mayor Niall O Donnghaile unveiled a new section of the city's long-established Titanic memorial garden. It includes the first monument in the world to list all 1,522 victims.
Una Reilly, head of the Belfast Titanic Society, said: "The focus of the world is on Belfast and we are doing her proud."
South of the border, in Lahardane, or Addergoole, County Mayo, villagers organised a church bell ringing overnight.
The tiny parish suffered the greatest proportionate loss - 11 residents died in the maritime disaster.
A century later, they are still mourning their dead.
Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny was due to attend a ceremony in Lahardane's newly-constructed Titanic memorial park.
Belfast recently opened a new £97m Titanic visitor attraction - the largest in the world.
The ship was built in and launched from the city's Harland and Wolff shipyard.
what do you think?
Malcolm Allen
It is also sad that 100 years on we need to have three Filipino "Deck Boys" lay the Wreaths in memory of the British Seafarers that gave up their lives on that day.
Julie Doughty
So???
Joan Burgess
Surely should have been the relatives of the survivors?
aa aa
it says, "deck boys". it doesn't even say three deck boys, but now you've got "three filipino deck boys". Where did you read that ?
Michael Cope
|Robert worst things to happen maybe worst than this ship I am sure
Robert Hare
michael yes i understand your comment. but ship building was the space race of the 19th century ships where getting larger and safer. board of trade regulations 1894 stated that a ship of 10,000 tons or over 10,000 tons being the biggest they thought a ship would ever get stated that a ship of that size would need 16 lifeboats enough of the 800 approx passengers and crew...18 years on Titanic weighed in at 46,000 tons,66,000 tons displacement tonage shipping accidents were minor so titanic went to sea with 16 boats and 2 collapsable boats on an out dated law.plus also having 16 watertight compartments each fitted with a suction pump that could clear 28 tons of sea water a minute if the compartment became breached.The worst case sceniro in the view of its design would of been a collision with another ship possibly breaching 2 compartments though she could stay afloat with upto 4 breached and sailed with the complaincy that the lifeboats would never be needed
Fred McCann
And you get quotes like that of the Chairmen. Well the lifeboat was empty and as nobody else wanted to get into it, I did. Or the Earl and his wife. No I did not bribe the crew members to row away with an empty boat. I realised that the poor men had left everything behind and insisted they each took a Five pound note off me, Lancastria sank with more (Wartime) but Churchill ordered it to be covered up. The death tole on the German ship sank by the Russians ran into well over 5K some say nearer 10 as there were no count made. Suggestions are that if the Titanic hadn't turned away, she would have survived. Her bow would have crumpled but not enough damage would have been done to her.
Jade Campbell
100 years on and yet the story of titanic is a tradgic subject to even remember... forever this will be known as the ship of dreams that took many lives... Rest in peace 1512 <3
Valerie Wood
yes the number of dead was horrendous. A dreadful way to die. RIP to all those that died and not forgetting that animals were also on board and most of them perished.
andy millard
R,M,S, TITANIC R.I.P.
Julie Doughty
S.S Titanic
aa aa
Yes Andy. R.I.P., RMS Titanic, actually, Julie.
Julie Crumpton
Oh does it matter,for pitys sake...!
aa aa
Well, you could ask yourself that, Julie. You started the corrections !
james1645
It is equally sad that 100 years on amongst the genuine and respectful tributes to this tragic (and some would say criminal) episode there are those in the media & entertainment world who still see fit to exploit the event for every last penny. It may be argued that as a result of the tragedy,the subsequent tightening up of maritime regulations and gradual erosion of the odious class structure a good many lives have been saved in more recent times
aa aa
The class structure didn,t go down with the ship, sadly.
Julie Crumpton
What, you mean the film? Good point!
Robert Hare
6:10am on 15/4/2012
April 15th 1912...The day the world woke up over mans complacency with his engineering achievements...that the virtual impossible can happen.