Wallace Hartley was the band leader of the Second Class Orchestra. He died in the sinking.
Biography[]
Wallace Hartley was born on June 12th, 1879 and raised in Colne, Lancashire, England. Hartley's father, Albion Hartley, was the choirmaster and Sunday school superintendent at Bethel Independent Methodist Chapel, where the family attended worship services. Albion's wife was Elizabeth G. Foulds. She and Albion had 5 children, with Wallace's sister Mary Ellen being the eldest, as she was conceived in 1877. After Wallace, two brothers and two sisters were begotten. Ughtred Harold was the first to follow Wallace in 1886, then came Elizabeth Gertrude in 1887, before Conrad Robert and Hilda Margaret were added in 1889 and 1894 respectively.
Albion Hartley himself introduced the hymn "Nearer, My God, to Thee" to the congregation. Wallace studied at Colne’s Methodist day school, sang in Bethel’s choir and learned violin from a fellow congregation member.
Hartley later moved to Dewsbury, West Yorkshire and in 1909, he began working on Cunard Line ocean liners, primarily on the RMS Mauretania. In 1912, Hartley worked for the music agency C.W. & F.N. Black, which supplied musicians for Cunard and the White Star Line.
In April of that year, Hartley was assigned to be the bandmaster for the orchestra of the White Star Line ship RMS Titanic. He was at first hesitant to again leave his fiancée, Maria Robinson, to whom he had recently proposed, but Hartley decided that working on the Maiden Voyage of the Titanic would give him possible contacts for future work. Joining in Southampton, he used Ticket 250654.
His accomodation was in Cabin E with some of his colleagues. He and his colleagues were listed as passengers in Second Class and as the Head Bandmaster of the Titanic he did not have to pay for his ticket.
Sinking of the Titanic[]
When the Titanic hit an iceberg and began to sink, Hartley and his fellow band members started playing music to help keep the passengers calm as the crew loaded the lifeboats. Many of the survivors said that he and the band continued to play until the very end. None of the band members survived the sinking and the story of them playing to the end became a popular legend. One survivor who clambered aboard Collapsible A claimed to have seen Hartley and his band standing just behind the first funnel, by the Grand Staircase. He went on to say that he saw three of them washed off while the other five held on to the railing on top the Grand Staircase's deckhouse, only to be dragged down with the bow, just before Hartley exclaimed, "Gentlemen, I bid you farewell!" A newspaper at the time reported "the part played by the orchestra on board the Titanic in her last dreadful moments will rank among the noblest in the annals of heroism at sea." A memorial to the Titanic's musicians in Southampton, featuring Wallace Hartley's name RMS Titanic Musicians' Memorial, Southampton. Though the final song played by the band is unknown, "Nearer, My God, to Thee" has gained popular acceptance. Former bandmates claimed that he would either play Nearer, My God, to Thee or O God, Our Help in Ages Past if he was ever on a sinking ship, but Walter Lord's book A Night to Remember popularized wireless officer Harold Bride's account of hearing the song Autumn.
Hartley's body was recovered by the CS Mackay-Bennett (number 224) almost two weeks after the sinking. He had a bloody scratch next to his mouth. He possibly was crushed by a wave or tripped into the sea.
NO.224 - MALE - ESTIMATED AGE, 25 - HAIR, BROWN CLOTHING - Uniform (green facing); brown overcoat; black boots; green socks. EFFECTS - Gold fountain pen, "W.H.H."; diamond solitaire ring; silver cigarette case; letters; silver match box, marked "W.H.H., from Collingson's staff. Leeds"; telegram to Hartley, Bandmaster "Titanic"; nickel watch; gold chain; gold cigar holder; stud; scissors; 16s; 16 cents; coins. NAME- BANDMASTER WALLACE H. HARTLEY |
He was transferred to the Arabic and sent to England. One thousand people attended his funeral, while 40,000 lined the route of his funeral procession. He is buried in Colne where a 10-foot monument, containing a carved violin at its base, was erected in his honour. Hartley's large Victorian terraced house in West Park Street, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, bears a blue plaque to remind passers-by that this was the bandleader's home. As of 2001, Hartley's name was still being used when naming new streets and housing in the town of Colne.
Violin[]
Among the effects recovered with Hartley's body was a suitcase containing the violin he played on the slanting decks. It was sold in 2013 on the London auction with the price $ 1,6 million.
Portrayals[]
In Nacht und Eis (1912)[]
Titanic (1953)[]
In Titanic (1953) Wallace's role as bandmaster for the orchestra is replaced by an fictional bandmaster named Mr. McDermott. During the sinking, Captain Smith ordered him and his band to play any song to calm the passenger, they're playing "Londonderry Air" and "Nearer My God to Thee".
A Night to Remember (1958)[]
Wallace Hartley was portrayed by Charles Belchier in A Night to Remember (1958 film adaptation of Walter Lord's eponymous 1955 book).
S.O.S. Titanic (1979)[]
Wallace Hartley was portrayed by Victor Langley in S.O.S. Titanic (1979 television movie). However, he is shown with a mustache, in which he never had, and he plays on the Piano during the sinking but in real life he played with a Violin. He is last seen sliding down on deck as the waves get up, he most likely Freezes to death.
1996 Miniseries Titanic[]
Wallace Hartley was portrayed by an uncredited actor, this miniseries showing Songe D'Autumn and Nearer My God to Thee as the last song to played by his band.
Titanic: The Musical (1997)[]
Ted Sperling played Wallace Hartley in the 1997 production of Broawday.
Titanic (1997)[]
Wallace Hartley was portrayed by Jonathan Evans-Jones in Titanic (1997 film).
The Legend of The Titanic (1999)[]
Titanic: The Legend Goes On (2000)[]
2012 Miniseries Titanic[]
Wallace Hartley was portrayed by Csongor Veer in the 2012 Miniseries Titanic.
We're Good (music video)[]
Wallace Hartley briefly appeared in the We're Good music video by Dua Lipa.
Roblox Titanic: Reimagined[]
Wallace Hartley was animated in this film.
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