He Played On: The Quiet Courage of Titanic Cellist John Woodward

He Played On: The Quiet Courage of Titanic Cellist John Woodward

I have been learning about some of the people on board the Titanic. Yesterday we found out a little about one of the musicians, Roger Bricoux and today I want to learn a little about John Wesley Woodward, another one if Titanic’s musicians.

He was born on the 11th of September 1879 in West Bromwich. He was the youngest of ten children. He grew up to become a professional cellist, performing in places like Oxford. He played at the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne and with the local orchestra.

He went on to join the musicians on transatlantic liners. On the 10th of April 1912, he boarded the Titanic at Southampton.

Only five days later, everything changed for him and everyone else on board that night. As the ship sank, Woodward and his fellow musicians continued to play. He may have felt afraid but he decided to use music to bring calm to others in their final hours. He tragically died that night and his body was sadly never recovered.

Today, he is remembered in Eastbourne and in West Bromwich.

Do you think the musicians realised the comfort they were giving in those final moments?