Jack Phillips: Boy from Godalming became Titanic hero
By Sally Nancarrow
BBC News, Surrey
The son of a draper, Jack Phillips operated the most modern and powerful wireless equipment of any merchant ship of the time.
Jack Phillips by Martin Ellis. Picture: Godalming Town Council
Nonetheless his actions in the early hours of 15 April 1912, as Titanic sank in the Atlantic, ensured that he was remembered as a hero of the disaster.
He stayed at his post, sending out the distress calls and advising on the latest position of the ship until it foundered.
His last message was picked up by another ship, the Virginia, at 02:17, three minutes before the stern sank.
His body was never found and it is believed he went down with the liner.
"He was a tremendous hero at the time," said Alison Patterson, curator of an exhibition about Phillips at Godalming Museum.
"His messages brought the Carpathia to people in the lifeboats.
