John Clarke: The Bassist Who Played Through Titanic’s Final Hours

John Clarke: The Bassist Who Played Through Titanic’s Final Hours

I have been learning about some of the people on board the Titanic, and have over the past few days have focused on the musicians, and today I want to share a little about John Frederick Preston Clarke.

He was born on the 28th of July 1883 in Manchester, into a working family. His father worked as a law clerk and his mother was a dressmaker.

In 1901, he was living in Liverpool and working as an insurance clerk. But by 1911, he had turned to music, living with his family and performing professionally. He played with local orchestras and even the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.

In April 1912, he joined the musicians on board RMS Titanic, and travelling in second class. When the ship hit the iceberg on the 14th of April, he like everyone else was faced with fear and anxiety, but he and the other musician continued to play. Maybe using music to try and calm the others in those terrifying final moments.

He died in the early hours of the 15th of April, aged just 28. His body was later recovered and laid to rest in Halifax.

Do you think continuing to play in such a moment was an act of courage, or something far deeper?