RMS Titanic - photos from R D Westy Legate archive

RMS Titanic - important photographic archive belonging to R. D. Westy Legate, 4th officer of the CS Mackay-Bennett, a cable laying ship that took part in the recovery of over 300 bodies of those lost on the Titanic, including that of bandleader Wallace Hartley. Material relating to the Mackay Bennett and this chapter in her history is extremely scarce. Centre bottom is a photograph of Titanic victims on board the Mackay-Bennett, with Rev. Hind in the foreground conducting a burial service and crewmen consigning a body into the ocean. A canvas bag stencilled with the number 177 is also visible, relating to leading fireman William Peter Mayo, buried at sea on 24 April 1912. This photo illustrates the horrific conditions that would have been experienced on deck. Handwritten notation to border. Reverend Hind presided over 166 bodies buried at sea aboard the Mackay-Bennett. He indicated that for each body, he would offer the same prayer: "For as much as it has pleased Almighty God to take unto Himself the soul of our dear brother departed, we therefore commit his body to the deep to be turned to corruption; looking for the resurrection of the body (when the sea shall give up her dead) and the life of the world come, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who shall change our vile body, that it may be like unto His glorious body, according to the mighty working whereby He is able to subdue all things to Himself." Despite the number of bodies buried at sea, visual records of the burial and service, such as this photograph, are almost non-existent, even in period publications. Reverend Hind found it curious that White Star would have chartered the Mackay-Bennett to recover the bodies while not sending a company agent to accompany the vessel. This was the case for all the vessels chartered by the company for this purpose. 4.5 x 4 inches. The photograph is contained in a period album of personal and other marine images. The archive also includes a number of photographs of Legate, two in uniform, and two albums full of photographs

4ins Able Accompany According Albums Almighty Bandleader Belonging Buried Chapter Chartered Clearly Commit Conducting Contained Corruption Crewman Crewmen Curious Dear Departed Despite Directly Exceptionally Experienced Extremely Glorious Handwritten Hartley Hind Horrific However Illustrates Includes Indicated Legate Mackay Mackay-bennett Mayo Mighty Notation Observed Offer Onboard Onto Pleased Presided Publications Purpose Recover Recovery Relating Resurrection Reverend Scarce Sending Shall Soul Stencilled Subdue Superb Therefore Unto Vile Whereby

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