AN archive belonging to the “true hero of the Titanic” is set to make up to £60,000 at auction. Harold Lowe helped scores of women and children into lifeboats. The fifth officer went back for survivors after the ship sank in 1912. He was played in the 1997 film by Ioan Gruffudd. Included in the […]
AN archive belonging to the “true hero of the Titanic” is set to make up to £60,000 at auction.
Harold Lowe helped scores of women and children into lifeboats.
The fifth officer went back for survivors after the ship sank in 1912.
He was played in the 1997 film by Ioan Gruffudd.
Included in the sale are a telescope inscribed by a survivor “to . . . the Real Hero of the Titanic”, with a price of £20,000.
A photo of officers on rescue ship Carpathia is priced at £10,000.
Mr Lowe, of Barmouth, Gwynedd, died in 1944.
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: “He was without doubt one of the heroes of the Titanic disaster.
“After Titanic’s collision with the iceberg, he displayed a cool and calm demeanour under pressure.
“As he loaded women and children in the lifeboats it is said he ordered J.Bruce Ismay, the managing director White Star Line, to get out of his way, telling him ‘you will have me drown the lot of them’ if he didn’t.
“He left Titanic on lifeboat 14. After his crew rowed about 150 yards from the sinking, Lowe herded five lifeboats together and redistributed passengers.
“He then went back to the wreck site to pick up any survivors, the only lifeboat to do so with the others believing it to be too dangerous as the survivors would overwhelm the boats.
Mr Aldridge added: “He is venerated as the officer who went back.”
The sale is on June 20 in Devizes, Wilts.
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