Joseph Boxhall was born March, 1884 in Hull, Boxhall’s father Joseph Boxhall senior, was a Captain, with the Wilson line and his uncle was a Board of Trade official, it’s easy to see that maritime ran in the family and naturally made sense for Boxhall to follow in his father’s footsteps. Boxhall’s career at sea began in 1899 when he joined with the William Thomas Line and during his tenancy with the line he had achieved second mate. By November 1907 Boxhall, after passing his masters, joined the White Star Line, a company that would go on to play a significant part of his sea career.
Boxhall and the White Star Line.
One of Boxhall’s earliest ships he sailed on was the S.S Oceanic. Boxhall had served as sixth officer and it was on Oceanic that Boxhall met Charles Lightoller. Both would go on to serve on Titanic as fourth and second officers. After completing the North Atlantic run with the S.S Arabic, Boxhall signed on with the R.M.S Titanic in January 1912.
Boxhall and the Titanic
Boxhall had been present for Titanic’s sea trials which took place on April 1st, 1912. Just nine days before she was due to sail from Southampton to New York. Titanic’s sea trials had been conducted by the Board Of Trade, to see if Titanic was suitable to sail. Boxhall had been one of the officers instructed by first officer William Murdoch to go an inspect the lifeboats. Once Titanic’s sea trials were complete, she set sail for Southampton. At the time of Titanic’s departure Boxhall had been seen on the navigating bridge alongside sixth officer James Moody, third officer Herbert Pitman and fifth officer Harold Lowe.
April 14th ,1912
According to Boxhall’s testimony he had been in his cabin at the time of the collision. James Moody had taken over watch after Boxhall had retired to his cabin. Boxhall recalls in an interview “ at the time when the iceberg was reported, when they struck the bell, I was sitting in my cabin having a cup of tea and immediately got up and walked up to the bridge.” Originally Boxhall had thought Titanic had suffered no damage. He stated “ I walked through the third class accommodation and I don’t see any sign of any damage.” Whilst in third class Boxhall had seen a passenger carrying a large piece of ice “there was one man carrying a piece of ice and I took it out of his hands and asked him where he got it from.” He took it away and told the third class passenger to go back to bed.
It’s no myth that a nearby passenger ship S.S Californian had been in close proximity to the Titanic as she went down. It’s commonly believed that the crew on board the Californian had mistook Titanic’s distress rockets as fireworks. Boxhall confirmed that he had seen the lights of the Californian. “I should say she must have been within five miles. You could not only see her lights with a naked eye. But you could see the lights in her port holes.” Boxhall had even reported the lights of the Californian to Captain Smith he had said “you see that white light over there… that is the stern light of a ship.” Smith’s response was to pack Boxhall into emergency lifeboat number 2. He was accompanied by three of the ship’s crew.
Boxhall had described that by the time he was a safe distance away from the doomed Titanic he could see her propellers sticking out of the water. He also describes watching the Titanic sink he recalled “we got away clear of the ship and we just laid on the oars until we realised, she’d gone and we heard all the screams. We couldn’t do anything.” He also added “the screams went on for some considerable time.” Boxhall’s vivid description of the foundering of the Titanic is one of the most harrowing testimonies out there and highlights the pure fear people in the water must have felt.
Lifeboat 2 was the first to picked up by the Cunard liner R.M.S Carpathia at four o’clock. According to Encyclopaedia Titanica, in the wake of the Titanic disaster Boxhall had suffered from pleurisy (exposure to the cold). On the morning of April 15th, 1912 Boxhall had reported to the Carpathia’s Captain Henry Rostorn. Rostorn had asked where the Titanic was and Boxhall’s reply was “she sank.”
As always I’ll leave a few external links on the life of Joseph Boxhall. If you have any further questions or comments please feel free to get in contact or leave a comment.
Have a titanic week, Millie.
Encyclopaedia Titanica: https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-survivor/joseph-groves-boxhall.html
Titanic Inquiry Project: Boxhall’s testimony before the US Senate: https://www.titanicinquiry.org/USInq/AmInq03Boxhall01.php
Titanic Inquiry Project: Boxhall’s testimony before the British Wreck Commissioners: https://www.titanicinquiry.org/USInq/AmInq03Boxhall01.php
Joseph Boxhall recalls the sinking of the Titanic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALHlseIlAFc
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