Memorial to a hero

One hundred years after it sank the story of the Titanic, its passengers and crew, continues to be a source of fascination for many. Such is the interest that a worldwide group of dedicated Titanic enthusiasts, known affectionately as Titanoraks, piece together stories of those aboard the White Star liner on its ill-fated maiden voyage.

Those enthusiasts may well be more familiar than many people locally of the role of Harold Thomas Cottam, of Southwell, in the events that unfolded after Titanic struck an iceberg at 11.40pm on April 14, 1912.

Cottam, who attended the Minster Grammar School and was the youngest ever graduate of the GB School of Telegraphy, was just 21 and a wireless operator on the SS Carpathia, when he was the first to receive the distress call from Titanic.

He immediately woke his captain who ordered his crew to sail to Titanic’s aid. Although the ship had already sunk, Carpathia was able to pick up survivors, and Cottam was hailed a hero.

The survivors rescued by Carpathia included another Harold who was also hailed a hero — Titanic’s fifth officer, Harold Lowe.

After overseeing part of the evacuation and leaving the ship in a lifeboat, Lowe later transferred survivors to other lifeboats and returned to look for people in the water. He rescued four men.

Lowe is due to be honoured this month with the unveiling of a plaque in his home town of Barmouth, Gwynedd, Wales.

There are plans to honour Cottam in a similar way in Lowdham, where he lived for many years until his death, aged 93, in 1984.

Hopefully soon there will also be a memorial in Southwell — a permanent tribute to the man whose actions, according to historian Graham Anthony, helped hundreds to survive the Titanic tragedy and ensured its story is still told a century later.