Charles Herbert Lightoller was born in Chorley, on 30th March 1874, and a mere 13 years later he had gone to sea.

“I don't think my relatives ever knew how amazed I was when I obtained their consent to go to sea. I chuckled at my good luck, as they no doubt chuckled at their good riddance.

I had long since made up my mind (or what, at the mature age of thirteen, I was pleased to call my mind) that I would go to sea. And to sea I went, knowing little and caring less about those prospective first few years of hellish servitude, during which experience must be gained-- experience that, like a corn, had to grow, become hardened, and most damnably hurt.

My Dad didn't enter into it, as he was settled in New Zealand, having seen the best days in cotton. In fact we had been "in cotton" for generations, and I had fully expected that I should have to "follow in father's footsteps."

Extract from: Titanic and Other Ships By Charles Herbert Lightoller

His early career was packed with near-disaster and high-drama, which he came through unscathed, although it must have made a much better man of him.

The success of the White Star Line’s ships on the Atlantic crossing was not lost on their rivals, Cunard and the Inman Line, who both ordered new and larger tonnage.

The White Star Line commissions bigger ships

It was the White Star Line’s intention to have the biggest ships on the Atlantic and countered their rivals’ orders with larger versions of the Oceanic, Britannic and Germanic, also built at Harland & Wolff in Belfast. Each ship was of 5,004 tons and accommodated 220 First Class and 1,500 Steerage passengers.

Britannic entered service in 1874, followed by Germanic in 1875.

1877

The White Star Line and the Inman Line received a share of he lucrative

mail contract, then held exclusively by Cunard. Ten years later the new contract was to be awarded jointly to the White Star Line and Cunard.

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