Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03

Charles Herbert Lightoller Biography and Timeline

Follow Charles Herbert Lightoller through 18 dated historical records for Great Britain.

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Charles Herbert Lightoller, historical timeline

A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.

18Distinct records

1 of 1Page

1912–1912Years on this page

1912

20 March 1912

Titanic Belfast Assignment

Second Officer · Belfast · Exploration / Exploration and Discovery

Joins Titanic at Belfast as an officer while the new liner is being prepared for service.

2 April 1912

Titanic Lifeboat Gear Test

Second Officer · Belfast · Exploration / Exploration and Discovery

Supervises tests in which Titanic's lifeboats are swung out and selected boats are lowered.

2 April 1912

Titanic Sea Trials

Second Officer · Belfast · Exploration / Exploration and Discovery

Takes part in Titanic's sea trials, including turning-circle work and compass adjustment.

14 April 1912

Bridge Watch Handed Over

Second Officer · North Atlantic · Exploration / Exploration and Discovery

Hands the evening bridge watch to First Officer Murdoch at 10 p.m. before retiring to his cabin.

14 April 1912

Bridge Watch Handed to Murdoch

Second Officer · North Atlantic · Exploration / Exploration and Discovery

Hands the bridge watch to First Officer Murdoch and tells him that Titanic is entering the reported ice region.

14 April 1912

Ice Lookout Warning

Second Officer · North Atlantic · Exploration / Exploration and Discovery

Has a warning passed to the crow's nest to keep a sharp lookout for ice during the evening watch.

15 April 1912

Collapsible B Survival

Second Officer · North Atlantic · Exploration / Exploration and Discovery

Survives on overturned collapsible lifeboat B after Titanic disappears beneath the water.

15 April 1912

Collapsible D Loading

Second Officer · North Atlantic · Exploration / Exploration and Discovery

Supervises loading of collapsible D during the final minutes of Titanic's evacuation.

15 April 1912

Lifeboat Eight Loading

Second Officer · North Atlantic · Exploration / Exploration and Discovery

Oversees the port-side departure of lifeboat 8, one of the earlier boats lowered during the evacuation.

15 April 1912

Lifeboat Four Loading

Second Officer · North Atlantic · Exploration / Exploration and Discovery

Supervises preparations for lifeboat 4 and directs women and children into the boat.

15 April 1912

Lifeboat Six Loading

Second Officer · North Atlantic · Exploration / Exploration and Discovery

Directs women into lifeboat 6 and sends the under-manned boat away from Titanic's port side.

15 April 1912

Lifeboat Sixteen Loading

Second Officer · North Atlantic · Exploration / Exploration and Discovery

Helps supervise lifeboat 16 during the port-side evacuation.

15 April 1912

Port Lifeboat Evacuation

Second Officer · North Atlantic · Exploration / Exploration and Discovery

Supervises the loading and lowering of lifeboats from Titanic's port side during the evacuation.

15 April 1912

Port-Side Evacuation

Second Officer · North Atlantic · Exploration / Exploration and Discovery

Survives after reaching an overturned collapsible boat.

15 April 1912

Titanic Lifeboat Loading

Second Officer · North Atlantic · Exploration / Exploration and Discovery

Supervises loading and lowering lifeboats on Titanic's port side.

19 April 1912

Senate Officer Evidence

Second Officer · New York · Exploration / Exploration and Discovery

Gives evidence about Titanic's officers, navigation, lifeboats and evacuation on the inquiry's opening day.

24 April 1912

Senate Second Officer Recalled

Second Officer · Washington · Exploration / Exploration and Discovery

Returns to the inquiry for additional questioning about Titanic's navigation and evacuation procedures.

20 May 1912

Lightoller Titanic Inquiry Evidence

Second Officer · London · Exploration / Exploration and Discovery

Begins evidence to the British inquiry about navigation, ice warnings, the collision and lifeboat loading.

Records, sources and methodology

These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.