Mr Charles Herbert Lightoller - R.M.S. Titanic

Mr Charles Herbert Lightoller – Lived at Nikko Lodge, Station Road, Netley. The house was said to have been a double fronted and spacious with a separate building for baking. In its grounds was a tennis court.

R.M.S. Titanic sailed from Southampton on its fated maiden voyage on April 10, 1912. Its Second Officer, Charles Herbert Lightoller was one of the survivors. He escaped by diving into the sea from the top of the wheelhouse after all the boats had got away. He was the most senior officer to survive

He went on to win the DSC and bar in World War I. During World War II aged 66, he captained his own 58’ cruising yacht, ‘Sundowner’ to rescue 125 men off the beaches at Dunkirk. The yacht crew were Charles, his eldest son Roger and 18 year old Sea Scout Gerald Ashcroft.

Lightoller's boat was renamed from Hobo to Sundowner in honour of his Australian wife Sylvia. In Australia, a hobo who tends to enter town at sunset is known as a 'sundowner'.

1912 newspaper - RMS Titanic	RMS Titanic on her maiden voyage - 10/04/1912
Sundowner