'Nearer My God To Thee'

The Titanic's band played a major role on the night of April 14, 1912, & the morning of the 15th.

All of these brave men met their fate in the chilling waters of the Atlantic Ocean, none survived. Shortly after impact, the band was asked to play ragtimes, waltzes, and other various tunes. The Captain hoped that the calm music would help quell any panic passengers might be feeling.
In almost every book that I have read, the Titanic's band comes in somewhere, their bravery and fortitude that fateful night was astounding. Everyone regards them as brave men willing to lay down their life for women and children, and they were calm about it. Many a man found comfort in the different tunes that they played that night.
Wallace H. Hartley once stated that if he should ever die at sea, the last song he would play would be 'Nearer My God To Thee'. There are some suggestions of what the band really played last. Some think it was the ragtime, 'Autumn,' or 'Nearer My God To Thee'. It's really something that everyone has to decide for themselves, out of all my knowledge, I would strongly think that the bandmaster led the band in the old hymn 'Nearer My God To Thee'. And there's more proof leading in the direction that this was the last song they played.
I cannot comprehend that kind of bravery, standing and playing till you could no longer keep balance because of the angle of the ship, and doing all of this for other passengers. A lot is thought of the rich men in first class, but not enough attention or honor is given to the Titanic's band. They should take first prize in bravery and self sacrifice.
Would not the beloved hymn cause the remaining passengers on deck to ponder where they were going to spend eternity, just the very name 'Nearer My God To Thee' causes you to think.
After the disaster, the White Star line charged the widows and the fatherless for the band uniforms that were lost!!!
The band leader had over 40,000 people attend his funeral.

Fred Clarke of Liverpool
P.C. Taylor of Clapham
G. Krins of Brixton
Wallace H. Hartley of Dewsbury (Bandmaster)
Theodore Brailey of Notting Hill
Jock Hume of Dumfries
J.W. Woodward of Headington,
All died the night of April 14, 1912, leaving behind children, and widows.
May they never be forgotten!!!