Charles Herbert Lightoller

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Commander R.N.R. (retired) Charles Herbert Lightoller, D.S.C.*, R.D. (30 March, 1874 – 8 December, 1952) served in the Royal Naval Reserve, however he is most famous for his brief service as Second Officer of the R.M.S. Titanic.

Life & Career

Lightoller was promoted to the rank of Sub-Lieutenant R.N.R. on 1 April, 1903.[1]

Lightoller was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant R.N.R. on 16 May, 1913.[2]

He was awarded the D.S.C. for firing upon Zeppelin L 31 from T.B. 117 on 31 July, 1916.[Fact Check]

Lightoller was promoted to the rank of Acting Lieutenant-Commander R.N.R. on 30 June, 1918.[3]

On 19 June 1918, Lightoller was in command of the River Class destroyer Garry when she sank UB 110.

On 25 July, 1918 he was appointed in command of the armed boarding steamer Carron as an acting Lieutenant-Commander R.N.R.. He remained in this posting until being demobilised on 5 January 1919. Lightoller was placed on the Retired List at the rank of Commander R.N.R. on 31 March, 1919.[4]

Dunkirk

Lightoller was one of the many civilian volunteers who joined the Dunkirk evacuation effort, taking their own ships into harm's way. Sailing from Ramsgate, his motor yacht Sundowner rescued 130 men in her only trip across the Channel, an impressive achievement for the small 58 foot long, 26 GRT vessel.

See Also

Bibliography

  • Lightoller, Lieut. C. H. "Testimonies From the Field." Christian Science Journal XXX (7): pp. 414–5.
  • Lightoller, Charles Herbert (1935). Titanic and Other Ships. London: Ivor Nicholson and Watson.
  • Lord, Walter (1984). The Miracle of Dunkirk. London: Penguin Books.
  • Stenson, Patrick (1984). "Lights": the Odyssey of C. H. Lightoller. London: Bodley Head.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Stafford H. Dillon
Captain of H.M. T.B. 117
20 Dec, 1915[5] – 26 Jul, 1916[6]
Succeeded by
George B. Bray
Preceded by
Alastair C. N. Farquhar
Captain of H.M.S. Falcon
26 Jul, 1916[7][8] – 1 Apr, 1918[9][10]
Succeeded by
Vessel Lost
Preceded by
Charles T. Gervers
Captain of H.M.S. Garry
30 Apr, 1918[11] – 25 Jul, 1918[12]
Succeeded by
Geoffrey H. Barnish

Footnotes

  1. The Navy List. (January, 1912). p. 483-5.
  2. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 460.
  3. Lightoller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 240/82/467. f. 95.
  4. Lightoller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 240/54/205. f. 205.
  5. Lightoller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 240/54/205. f. 205.
  6. Lightoller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 240/54/205. f. 205.
  7. Lightoller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 240/54/205. f. 205.
  8. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 393t.
  9. Lightoller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 240/54/205. f. 205.
  10. Hepper. British Warship Losses in the Ironclad Era: 1860-1919. p. 126.
  11. Lightoller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 240/54/205. f. 205.
  12. Lightoller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 240/54/205. f. 205.