James Paul Moody

**James Paul Moody** was the sixth officer of the RMS *Titanic* and the only junior officer of the ship to die in the disaster

## Early life

James Paul Moody was born in Scarborough, England on August 21st, 1887; the youngest of four children born to John Henry Moody and Evelyn Louis Lammin. Moody's grandfather and namesake, John James Paul Moody, had been a prominent local figure, having served as the town clerk. His father, John, was also well known, holding a position on the town council.

Moody attended the Rosebery House School before joining HMS *Conway* as a cadet in 1902. His two years on the ship, 1902 and 1903, counted as one years' sea time towards his Board of Trade Second Mate's Certification.

## Career

In 1904 he joined the William Thomas line's Boadicea as an apprentice, and endured an horrific, storm-troubled voyage to New York, in which one of his fellow apprentices was driven to suicide.

Moody graduated from the King Edward VII Nautical School in London and passed his Masters Examination there in April 1911. In 1910 Apprentice James Moody also became Sub-Lieutenant James Moody, RNR, when he recieved a commission in the Royal Naval Reserve. He did shore work when he could. The White Star Line thought it was essential that all of their Ship's Officers be in the Royal Naval Reserve as well. It also meant that the line was doing something for Great Britain and recieved other benifits from the British Government.

He was 24-years-old when he was transferred from the *Oceanic* to the *Titanic*. His 1912 address was: St. James House, Grimsby, Lincolnshire. His family was also known in Grimsby as one of his ancestors, Charles Bartholemew Moody, was the town's first coroner. At the time of his death, he was living with an uncle who was a solicitor - and whose firm is still in business today.

## *Titanic*

Sub-Lieutenant Moody held the position of Sixth Officer on board RMS *Titanic*. He was a junior officer and therefore helped the Officers Of the Watch when he was on duty.

He stood the 8 A.M. to 12 P.M. and 8 P.M. to 12 A.M. watches, as well as the first Watch, that of 4 to 5 P.M. Moody was on watch on the bridge when the *Titanic* struck the iceberg at 11:40 P.M. on Sunday 14th April.

Moody went to launch lifeboats, mostly working on the aft side. After launching Lifeboat 16 on port side, he went to the starboard side to help Murdoch with boats 9, 11, 13 & 15. A well-known incident is the separation of the Becker family. Ruth Becker went back to her cabin to get some extra blankets when Moody threw her three relatives in Lifeboat 11. Ruth casually asked Moody to board the next lifeboat (13), so he lifted her up and threw her in.

Moody was last seen by the ship's lamp trimmer, Samuel Hemming, on top of the officers' quarters trying to launch Collapsible A just a few minutes before the final sinking. Lightoller also said; "Mr. Moody must have been standing quite close to me at the same time. He was on top of the quarters clearing away the collapsible boat on the starboard side, whilst Mr. Murdoch was working at the falls. If that is so, we were all practically in the water together."

Moody died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified. Aged 24, he was the only junior officer on the *Titanic* to die in the sinking.

A monument in Woodland Cemetery, Scarborough, commemorates Moody's sacrifice on the *Titanic* with the Biblical quote, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (see John 15:13) He is also commemorated by a Blue Heritage Plaque at 17 Granville Rd Scarborough, the house where he was born. Another commemoration is standing by a brass altar set presented by his aunt, Hannah Mountain, to the church of St Augustine of Hippo in Grimsby.

## Legacy

Moody's last actions were poignantly recalled by Geoffrey Marcus in The Maiden Voyage .

There is a memorial plaque bearing James' name in the Church of St. Martin on the Hill, Scarborough. It bears the verse:

There is an additional monument to James Moody in Woodland cemetery, Scarborough, the existence of which was known only to a few members of the Moody family. The headstone refers to his role in the *Titanic* disaster, and commemorates Moody's sacrifice with the words