Wallace henry hartley biography
Archive Look back into the past using the Legacies' archives. Find nearly tales from around the country in our collection. Titanic Historical Society. Southampton Titanic. Britannica Titanic. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external Web sites. Many of the survivors said Hartley and the band continued to play until the very end.
None of the band members survived the sinking, and the story of them playing to the end became a popular legend. A newspaper at the time reported "the part played by the orchestra on board the Titanic in her last dreadful moments will rank among the noblest in the annals of heroism at sea. Though the final song played by the band is unknown, " Nearer, My God, to Thee " has gained popular acceptance.
Wallace henry hartley biography
His father used the "Propior Deo" version, by Arthur Sullivan , at church, and his family were certain that he would have used that version. Hartley's body was recovered by the Mackay—Bennett almost two weeks after the sinking. Several press reports confirmed that Wallace was found "fully dressed with his music case strapped to his body". He was transferred to the Arabic and returned to England.
Hartley's father Albion met the ship at Liverpool and brought his son's body back to his home town of Colne, Lancashire. The funeral took place on 18 May One thousand people attended Hartley's funeral, while an estimated 30,—40, lined the route of his funeral procession. Hartley is buried in the Keighley Road cemetery, Colne, where a 10 feet 3.
A memorial to Hartley, topped by his bust , was erected in outside what was then the town library. The memorial is inscribed: Wallace Hartley. Erected by voluntary contributions to commemorate the heroism of a native of this town. This was later moved slightly to make way for the World War One memorial. Hartley's large Victorian terraced house in West Park Street, Dewsbury , West Yorkshire, bears a blue plaque to remind passers-by that this was the bandleader's home.
The people of Broken Hill were so moved by the bravery of the ship's bandsmen that within a few weeks they had launched a public appeal to create a memorial to them. The memorial, in the shape of a broken pillar, was unveiled in December It was erected by the Ballarat Council with funds raised by the Victorian Band Association, and citizens of the area.
The Titanic Memorial bandstand, was unveiled on October 22, Every year on the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, a band still plays "Nearer, My God, To Thee", in the bandstand. In , the pub chain J D Wetherspoon named a newly opened pub, the building having been the long-standing King's Head Hotel up until the mids , [ 11 ] in Colne after the bandleader.
The fine detail of the scan meant experts could examine the construction, interior and the glue holding the instrument together showing signs of possible restoration. Robinson, in which she stated:. After Maria Robinson's death in , her sister gave the violin to the Bridlington Salvation Army and told its leader, a Major Renwick, about the instrument's association with the Titanic.
The violin was later passed on to a violin teacher who gave it to the next owner's mother. Craig Sopin, the owner of one of the world's largest collections of Titanic memorabilia, a leading Titanic expert, and a general skeptic of Titanic claims believes the violin is "Hartley's violin and not a fraud" reports ABC News. Hartley was not alone in his heroic final performance.
His fellow musicians, who shared his fate, included:. Wallace Hartley did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. His body was recovered on May 4, , nearly three weeks after the disaster. From there, it was taken by hearse to his hometown of Colne, Lancashire. The service was a testament to the impact of his life and the circumstances of his death.
Under Hartley's direction, eight musicians played until the very end. Hartley was born on June 2, , and grew up in Colne, Lancashire. His father, Albion Hartley, was a choirmaster and oversaw the Sunday school. Wallace attended a local Methodist school, sang in the church choir, and learned to play the violin from a fellow congregation member.
In , he left home and played in the Bridlington Municipal Orchestra for the next six years. He later moved to Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, and in , he joined the Cunard Line as a musician for their transatlantic voyages. Hartley served on luxurious liners such as the Lucania, Mauretania, and the ill-fated Lusitania. During his time on the Mauretania, the music services were transferred to the music agency C.