The British Government quickly followed suit and ordered a formal inquiry into the Loss of the Titanic. On Monday, 22 April, 1912, Sydney Buxton, President of the Board of Trade, requested the Lord Chancellor appoint a Wreck Commissioner to investigate the disaster. To fill the seat of Wreck Commissioner, Lord Chancellor Robert, Earl Loreburn, appointed Charles Bigham, Lord Mersey of Toxteth, President of the Probate, Divorce & Admiralty Division of the High Court.
Charles Bigham
"Lord Mersey"
Illustrated London News
Also appointed to assist Lord Mersey during the proceedings were:
Professor J. Harvard Biles----- R. Adm. S.A. Gough-Calthorpe
(Chair: Naval Architecture -----------(Royal Navy: Retired)
at Glasgow)----------------------------Illustrated London News
Illustrated London News --------------------------------------
Edward C. Chaston----- ----- ---Captain A. W. Clarke ------- Cmdr. F.C.A. Lyon
(Senior Engineer Assessor) -------(Trinity [House] Master ------(Royal Navy: Retired)
Illustrated London News -----------in Admiralty Court) -------Illustrated London News
Illustrated London News
All these assessors were experts in the maritime and naval fields, with emphasis in marine construction and architecture.
The hearings were opened in the Wreck Commissioner's Court, Royal Scottish Drill Hall, Buckingham Gate, Westminster, on 2nd May, 1912.
Wreck Commissioners' Court.
Scottish Hall,
Buckingham Gate,
PROCEEDINGS
BEFORE
The Right Hon. LORD MERSEY,
Wreck Commissioner of the United Kingdom,
WITH
Rear Admiral the Hon. S. A. GOUGH-CALTHORPE, C.V.O., R.N.,
Captain A. W. CLARK,
Commander F. C. A. LYON R.N.R.,
Professor J. H. BILES LL.D., D.Sc.,
Mr. E. C. CHASTON, R.N.R.
Acting as Assessors.
ON A FORMAL INVESTIGATION
ORDERED BY THE BOARD OF TRADE INTO THE
LOSS OF THE S. S. "TITANIC."
Over the years the whole Enquiry has been called a ‘whitewash’ but now, you, the reader, will have the chance to decide on whether or not it was a whitewash. Whatever your conclusions I can assure you it will be a fascinating and very worthwhile read.
In the following pages you can see not only the questions and answers that were given, but you can speculate on the questions that were ‘not asked’ and obviously not answered. Why were these questions not asked? Why were passengers from the lower decks not called upon to give evidence?, etc., etc.
Brian J. Ticehurst,
Witnesses
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9
Day 10 | Day 11 | Day 12 | Day 13 | Day 14 | Day 15 | Day 16 | Day 17 | Day 18
Day 19 | Day 20 | Day 21 | Day 22 | Day 23 | Day 24 | Day 25 | Day 26 | Day 27
Day 28 | Day 29 | Day 30 | Day 31 | Day 32 | Day 33 | Day 34 | Day 35 | Day 36
Final Report