Charles Herbert Lightroller was born in Chorley, Lancashire, England back in 1874 to Frederick and Sarah. When he was 10, his father moved to New Zealand leaving him in the care of the extended family. Not want to end up with a factory job at 13, he began a four-year apprenticeship on board the Primrose Hill.
In 1898, he nearly died from a bout of malaria. That same year he headed to the Klondike Gold Rush, failing he then became a cowboy in Alberta, Canada. That did not suit him, he arrived back in England in 1899 penniless. He received his master’s certificate and in 1900 began his career with the White Star Line as fourth officer of the SS Medic. Two weeks before the sinking of the RMS Titanic he was acting first officer. As the officer in charge of loading passengers into lifeboats on the port side, Lightoller strictly enforced the women and children only protocol not allowing any male passengers into the lifeboats unless they were needed as auxiliary seamen.
NW Arkansas, come for a visit, stay for a lifetime.
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