James Gibson was a apprentice of the SS Californian, at the time when the Titanic sank.
Biography[]
Not much is known about his personal life, but he was born in 1892 in Southport, Merseyside, England. He was 20 years old when he was apprenticed on the SS Californian.
At the night when the Titanic sank, the Californian was stopped because of ice. At 12:08 AM, Californian’s Second Officer, Herbert Stone, came on the bridge to relieve Third Officer Charles Victor Groves. Apprentice James Gibson comes up to join him few minutes later. Together, they were to stand the middle watch until 4 AM.
For the next two hours, Stone and Gibson would watch this ocean liner in the distance, until it disappeared about 2:40 A.M. At that time, Second Officer Stone sent James Gibson down to report to Captain Lord. From his written statement to Lord, he writes:
Just after two o'clock she was then about two points on the Port bow, she disappeared from sight and nothing was seen of her again. The Second Officer then said: “Call the Captain and tell him that the ship has disappeared in the S.W., that we are heading W.S.W. and that altogether she has fired eight rockets."
Captain Lord instructed them to tried to make contact with the distant ship with the Morse lamp, but they were failed to get a response.
In British Inquiry day 7, he testified:
| 7478. Did he tell you what the Captain had instructed him to do?
- Yes. 7479. What was it? - To call her up on the Morse light. 7480. Did he tell you whether he had tried to call her up on the Morse light? - Yes. 7481. Had he? - Yes. 7482. What had been the result? - She had not answered him, but fired more rockets. 7483. Did you see her fire these further rockets? - I saw three rockets. 7484. You saw three? - Yes. |
Later life[]
Sometimes after the Titanic disaster, Gibson had a subsequent maritime career with the Royal Navy and Cunard before becoming relief Officer at Liverpool docks. He was also married and had children's. Gibson died in 1963.
Portrayals
A Night to Remember (1958)[]
Barry MacGregor as James Gibson in A Night to Remember (1958)
| “ |
That big steamer that was out there, sir. The one that was firing rockets. She seems to have gone now, sir. |
” |
—James Gibson to Herbert Stone | ||
James Gibson was portrayed by actor Barry MacGregor in A Night to Remember.
He first appeared during the relieve of Third Officer Groves to Second Officer Stone, where Groves said good night to Gibson. A few moments later, Gibson notices a rocket fired into the air, he then informs Stone.
Gibson sees several more rockets being fired, Stone then informs Captain Lord. The captain tells Stone to communicate with the big steamer with a Morse lamp, while Gibson tries to observe the steamer with binoculars. He then realized that the steamer was listing, but Stone said that it was only due to the difference in angle.
At around 2:40 AM, Gibson realizes that the big steamer is already gone now, and Stone told it to the Captain. Captain Lord just instructed them to enter it to the log.