Lightollers tattoos / personalty

[Aly Jones]

I've read lightoller had tattoos. Just wondering where were they on his body and what of?

Lightoller comes off as being a fun, out going, type of guy. I've read he played a practical joke in Sydney in 1900, so having tattoos suit him.

I also believe he was born way to early for his time. He would make an awesome YouTuber

 

[Dan E. Parkes]

According to his 1895 First Mate application, he had a "tattoo mark" on his left arm. The BOT document says no more than that although it does have a mark before the word tattoo that looks like the number 2 gone wrong, but with some imagination could be an anchor. - a popular kind of tattoo among sailors I would guess.

More information here: Titanic's Officers - RMS Titanic - Second Officer Lightoller

 

[Julie McAllister]

I've read lightoller had tattoos. Just wondering where were they on his body and what of?

Lightoller comes off as being a fun, out going, type of guy. I've read he played a practical joke in Sydney in 1900, so having tattoos suit him.

I also believe he was born way to early for his time. He would make an awesome YouTuber

The 1895 mates application is the only one that reference a tattoo, but they also had him as 5'8", auburn hair and grey eyes. That doesn't match the other descriptions on the applications that have no mentions of a tattoo at all. Also taller, dark hair and blue eyes. I think it might have been a mistake.

 

[Dan E. Parkes]

There were always a lot of variances in the BOT descriptions -especially height. For example, Pitman seems to get shorter going from 5ft 9 (1900), 5ft 8 (1902), 5 ft 7 (1902, 1906). Pitman is also listed as having both dark and fair complexion. The difference between blue/grey eyes is not huge at all, neither the difference between auburn/dark (auburn is sometimes referred to as reddish-brown or dark ginger).

I think they were only an approximation and subject to personal interpretation and perspective. So I wouldn't say that Lightoller's tattoo is necessarily a mistake. Perhaps it was spotted on his upper arm when he was younger and more prone to showing it; later as he advanced in qualification he wisely made sure it was covered up. Although it was not unusual - Fifth officer Lowe also had a tattoo - of "HGL in heart on right fore arm."

You can see all the applications on a single page here: What Did Titanic's Officers Look Like? | William Murdoch