Titanic Musicians' Memorial facts for kids
The Titanic Musicians' Memorial is a special monument in Southampton, United Kingdom. It remembers the brave musicians who died when the famous ship, the RMS Titanic, sank on April 15, 1912. The first memorial was put up in 1913, but it was sadly destroyed during World War II. A new, identical memorial was built in 1990.
This memorial has a musical note carved into it. It shows the start of a very old song called 'Nearer, My God, to Thee'. There are also carvings of a sad woman and an iceberg. Most importantly, it lists the names of all the musicians from the Titanic, including their leader, Wallace Hartley. All of them lost their lives.
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History of the Memorial
The first memorial was destroyed in 1940. This happened during the Southampton Blitz, when German planes bombed Southampton in World War II. The old library where it stood was also destroyed.
A new memorial was made in 1990 by W. Cornish. It was placed in the same spot. Famous Titanic survivors helped to show it to the public. These survivors included Edith Haisman, Millvina Dean, Bertram Dean, and Eva Hart. The memorial is now on the side of a building in Southampton.
The Musicians' Last Performance
When the Titanic hit an iceberg and began to sink, the ship's band played music. Their leader, Wallace Hartley, and the other musicians played in the first-class lounge. They wanted to help keep the passengers calm during the scary time.
Later, they moved to the ship's deck. They kept playing as the crew loaded the lifeboats. Many people who survived said the band played until the very end.
The Final Song
The song 'Nearer, My God, to Thee' is often linked to the Titanic. One passenger said the band played this hymn as the ship went down. However, no one knows for sure what the very last song was. Still, 'Nearer, My God, to Thee' is the most popular choice.
Some of Hartley's friends said he once mentioned what he would play if he were on a sinking ship. He said he would play either "Nearer, My God, to Thee" or "O God, Our Help in Ages Past".
Remembering the Musicians
This memorial honors the brave musicians who died on the Titanic. They were:
- Wallace Hartley (bandmaster, violin)
- Roger Marie Bricoux (cello)
- Theodore Ronald Brailey (piano)
- John Wesley Woodward (cello)
- John Frederick Preston Clarke (string bass, viola)
- John Law Hume (violin)
- Percy Cornelius Taylor (piano)
- Georges Alexandré Krins (violin)
All of these talented musicians lost their lives on that tragic night.
