Sylvia Zillah Lightoller (July 16th, 1885 - October 3rd, 1969) was the wife of Second Officer of the Titanic, Charles Herbert Lightoller.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Sylvia was born as Sylvania Zillah Hawley-Wilson, on 16th July 1885 in Australia.
Sylvia later met her future husband when Lightoller was on an Australian run on board the SS Suevic in 1903, on her way home to Sydney after a stay in England.
On the return voyage, she accompanied Lightoller as his bride. The couple had five children: Frederic Roger (b. 1906), Richard Trevor (b. 1908), Sylvia Mavis (b. 1913), Claire Doreen (b. 1915), and Herbert Brian (b. 1918). Their youngest son Brian, an RAF pilot, was killed in action on 4th September 1939 in a bombing raid over Wilhelmshaven, Germany, on the first night of Britain's entry into the Second World War. He was flying with 107 Squadron as 2nd Pilot.
Their eldest son, Roger, served in the Royal Navy and was killed in March 1945 during the Granville raid whilst commanding a Motor Torpedo Boat. Trevor joined the army and gained the rank of lieutenant colonel, serving under General Bernard Montgomery's command for the duration of the war. Mavis served in the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, and Doreen in the Political Intelligence Unit. Her grandson, A.T. Lightoller, served in the Royal Navy, commanding the submarine HMS Rorqual in the early 1970s.
A not so well-known story about Sylvia was told later by herself about her time during Titanic's journey from Belfast to Southampton after her trial. It was the night of April 4th 1912. It was the first incident that Titanic was involved in (before the near-collision with SS New York and of course the disaster on April 15th). To the public this is a rather unfamiliar tale. A small pleasure craft with a few spectators came right into the course line of the ship, and too close for the likes of Captain Smith and his officers. A few powerful blows on the Titanic's mighty horn were enough to persuade the boat to get out of the way rapidly. At breakfast her husband Charles let his young wife in on 'the stupidity of nightly pleasure-cruisers' that were nearly ran over by them. He was still annoyed by what happened, but she hardly responded. Not before 50 years later, and with her as a widow for 10 years, she finally admitted it for the first time it was her and her niece that had been in that boat to await and marvel at the arrival of the large ship. Not ever having told her husband, she was still very proud she caused the grandest ship in the world to roar sonorously and loudly over the port and city at night.
A Night to Remember[]
Actor Kenneth More talks to Mrs. Lightoller during the filming of A Night to Remember (1958)
Sylvia helped Walter Lord in writing the book A Night to Remember, and even helped Kenneth More develop the character of her husband, Charles Lightoller in the film.
Sylvia herself is portrayed by actress Jane Downs, where she appears at the beginning of the film.
Death[]
Sylvia died caused of heart failure and diabetes on 3rd October 1969 in her house, 1 Ducks Walk Twickenham.
Portrayals[]
A Night to Remember (1958)[]
Jane Downs as Sylvia Lightoller in A Night to Remember (1958)
| “ |
I'm sure my husband would agree. He joins the Titanic as her Second Officer. |
” |
—Sylvia Lightoller to Mr. Bull | ||
In A Night to Remember, Sylvia appear in the beginning of the film, portrayed by actress Jane Downs.