Thomas Andrews

This is a story. A sad story which is shined by courage. The story of a man who was not only intelligent, but also brave and generous, and in front of the tragedy, he chose to save others' life.

He was the young Thomas Andrews and the tragedy is that of the Titanic.

Thomas Andrews was the nephew of William James Pirrie*, the chairman of Harland and Wolff. In 1989, at the age of 16, Andrews left school to begin his apprenticeship at Harland and Wolff in Belfast. His apprenticeship lasted 5 years and during this period he gained experiences in all the sectors of the company. The last 18 months of these 5 years, were spent in the Drawing Offices where he could shown his skills in mechanical engineering and construction, together with his leadership ability.

In 1901, at the age of only 28, Andrews became the manager of the construction works, and also member of the Institution of Naval Architects.

In 1907, he was appointed managing director and head of the drafting department at Harland and Wolff.

In July 1908 the White Star Line, one of the Harland and Wolff's largest consumer, commissioned the company to build three new liners, the Olympic, the Titanic and the Britannic.

Andrews carefully supervised the design of the three ships (which was the same) making sure that were in optimal working order. Unfortunately, not always his suggestions were followed, as that one of supplying the ship with 46 lifeboats (instead of the 20 it ended up with).

He also headed the Harland and Wollf's "Guarantee Group", a group formed by the best 9 men of the company whose task was to accompany each vessel in its maiden voyage, that is in its first journey, to see that all went well and to spot any necessary improvements.

Under this role, on 4 April 1912, Andrews went on board of the Titanic for her maiden journey, leaving from Belfast to Southampton. From Southampton, on 10 April 1912, the Titanic with Andrews on board left for her first trans-Atlantic to New York. During the voyage, Andrews took notes on various improvements he felt were needed, primarily cosmetic changes to various facilities. However, on 14 April, Andrews remarked to a friend that Titanic was "as nearly perfect as human brains can make her."

On Sunday 14 April 1912, at 11:40 pm, the Titanic struck an iceberg. Andrews was in his stateroom, planning changes he wanted to make to the ship, and barely noticed the collision. Captain Edward J. Smith called Andrews to help him examine the damage, who conducted a rapid tour of the ship to assess the damage and concluded that the ship would have inevitably sunk.

At 12.15 am, the order was given to start filling lifeboats. Andrews known that he would have not had more than one hour, and he spent all the remaining time ensuring the survival of the passengers. Several survivors testify to have met or spotted Andrews several times. Fully aware of the short time the ship had left and of the lack of lifeboats space for all passengers and crew, he continued to urge reluctant people into the lifeboats in the hope of filling them with as many people as possible.

Shortly before the sinking, Andrews retired to the first class smoking room: at approximately 2:10 a.m., ten minutes before the Titanic fully sank into the Atlantic, he was seen by John Stewart, a steward on the ship,  standing alone staring at a painting, "Plymouth Harbour", above the fireplace, arms folded over his chest, his lifejacket lying on a nearby table.

At 2.19 am the ship split in two, two hours and forty minutes after striking the iceberg, and began its descent into the ocean.

That night, Andrews died with other 1521 persons, and his body was never found.

"Plymouth Harbor" by Norman Wilkinson. The painting depicted the

entrance to Plymouth Harbor, which Titanic had been expected to visit on

her return voyage. The story of Andrews being last seen in front of this painting

has been however several times disproved by other testimonies who said to have seen

Andrews in other locations. Photo of the painting taken here.  

Below a short video who tells you more on the courage of Thomas Andrews. To read more about his life, there is also Wikipedia.

*William James Pirrie enterd the Harland and Wollf in 1862, at the age of 15. An excellent worker and manager, he was made partner of the company in 1874, at the age of 27, and when Harland died, in 1895, Pirrie became Chairman of the company, until his death in 1924.


Slipways No. 2 and 3

Slipways Nos. 2 and 3 are the slipways where the White Star Liners Olympic and Titanic were built. To accommodate the new liners, Harland and Wollf re-engineered three existing slipways in these two larger which could accept the huge hulls. The works for the Olympic started in December 1908, and those for the Titanic in March 1909.

Nowadays, slipways Nos. 2 and 3  form a lasting memorial to those who died, and to those who survived, the disaster.

Slipways Nos. 2 and 3 in the Titanic Quarter
(photo taken from the descriptive board)

Slipways Nos. 2 and 3 in the Titanic Quarter, now a lasting memorial
of the tragedy. Belfast, 2015