Frank Maguire - Shipbuilder on the Titanic

I remember everything as if it were yesterday. Sandy and I made our way towards Queen’s Island to the deepwater wharf on a dull dreary morning. We had an appointment with the Foreman at Thompson’s Graving Dock. The smell of the River Lagan was the first sign we were nearing the Dock. We joined 14,000 other Workers as they made their way to the shipyard and the biggest dry dock in the world. We were like ants or Lowry’s stick people. The trams were full, some workers hanging on the footplates, some wearing bowler hats (to protect their heads from the hot rivets which the Prods! used to drop accidentally on purpose on them (the R.C’s.) It was a proud day for us because we had been selected to help build the biggest ship in the world and had travelled from Liverpool, where we had worked at Cammell Laird. Still although we had an idea that what we were about to see nothing prepared us for the first sight of the Ship. Ithad staggering dimensions. At that time it was the largest man-made moveable object in the world. The gantry alone was reputed to be higher than St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Foreman had the plans of the ship and he warned us not to wander away from our group or we would never find our way out as the ship was so vast. We followed him to our allotted place of work. One of my tasks was to french polish the grand staircase which was topped by a dome of iron and stained glass from which light flowed onto the stairs and landings. The staircase was greatly admired, as without doubt it was the finest piece of woodwork afloat. The balustrade had yet to be fitted and I can tell you I shivered with fright to look down at the cavernous drop below. I was glad to return to the carvings which were very beautiful. All the woodwork was composed of the choicest of timber, that the world had to offer, Mahogany, Oak, Maple, Pine, Walnut, etc., and nothing but the best was good enough for this ship. Some described it afterwards as “opulence gone mad”. Although the work was good because of using such an array of lovely timber, there was a feeling of unease about the ship. For a start we had all brought our lunches but had to eat where we were working as too much time would be lost going ashore. But try as we would the water would not boil. We tried everything using numerous stoves, primus, etc., but to no avail. We had to drink cold water. Shipbuilders and sailors as you know, are a superstitious lot and this to them was a bad omen. Another odd thing was that several men of our gang went missing mysteriously during the work and were never seen again. In hindsight it was thought that as we were working so hard, and in those days if you didn’t work hard you’d get the tap on the shoulder from the Foreman and your cards. There were plenty of men waiting to replace you. It was thought that they went into a corner for a smoke, which was not allowed (because of the danger of fire) and fell asleep from fatigue and were literally boarded up. It was the only solution we could think of. We were under pressure to get the work done, at all costs, and everything was behind schedule. The ship was due to leave Southampton on her maiden voyage and was booked out with many V.I.P.’s travelling. On one of the days whilst having our break in a corridor my mate Sandy, a red headed Scotsman from Glasgow, who often entertained us singing, opened a door and discovered a lovely ballroom, with a Grand Piano just inside the door, whereupon he opened up the lid and proceeded to play and sing Harry Lander songs which were all the rage at that time. We all joined in the sing song - “ I Love a Lassie....etc” “I Belong to Glasgow’ Dear Old Glasgow Town .....etc” “You certainly are a F***ing common old working man” shouted a stentorian voice of a bearded uniformed man who we later learned was Captain Smith. "How dare you dirty scum defile my beautiful vessel with your F***ing bawdy music hall songs. Get out of here at once ”, and calling on a couple of his followers to put us out and lock the door in case we should go in again. The day was fast approaching when the ship would have to leave Belfast and head down the Irish Sea to Southampton and we had to travel on board and continue working all this time and try to get finished at Southampton. My work finished just one hour before she sailed. Some of my workmates, including Sandy, and some carpenters and plumbers were not finished and gloated over the fact that they would see New York and the Statue of Liberty. Sandy promised to send me a card from the States saying he might not come back at all if work was available there. He was right for once for I never got that “Letter from America”. I was very glad to disembark. My pockets had never been so full. The last 24 hours I had worked non-stop and we were well paid. Even though I was very fatigued and had a long journey ahead of me to my homeport of Liverpool I managed to get a viewing point among the thousands who were gathered to watch the ship sail. There were even l0,000 troops drafted in to control the crowd. The band played. I remember one of the tunes as the British Grenadiers. The ship was dressed over all and the flag of the White Star Line flew from her mast and as she moved into the solent on her prow proudly written her name TITANIC. Frank Maguire, Shipbuilder