THE TITANIC NEARLY CRASHED EVEN BEFORE THE ICEBERG THAT SANK HER
The Titanic was originally late to depart from her berth after almost colliding with the liner SS New York. The latter vessel had been docked nearby, but the Titanic's gigantic wake as she pulled away caused the New York to break from her moorings and tugboat had to come to the rescue. Was this the first sign that greater danger lurked?
THE SINKING MADE FRONT PAGE NEWS ALL OVER THE WORLD - AND SPAWNED MANY FILMS AND BOOKS
We all now know what happened on April 15, 1912. But the first newspapers to release the story of the Titanic stated no lives were lost. It took two days before an accurate report was published. Since then, the Titanic's tragic story captured the public imagination across the world, spawning countless books, museums and exhibitions.
A ONE WAY TICKET TO HELL
How much did people pay for their one way ticket to death? The first class tickets ranged in price, from $150 (about $1700 today) for a simple berth, up to $4350 ($50,000) for one of the two luxury suites. Second class tickets were $60 (around $700 today) and third class passengers paid between $15 and $40 ($170 - £460).
FIRST CLASS PASSENGERS ENJOYED A TEN COURSE MEAL
First class passengers were treated to fine dining, this menu reveals they enjoyed a ten course feast including oysters and beef steak. There was also a Turkish spa onboard for the rich passengers to luxuriate in.
THIRD CLASS PASSENGERS TUCKED INTO A MORE MODEST DINNER
Those travelling with a third class ticket ate more modestly - including porridge for breakfast and jacket potato for lunch. Famously, this huge discrepancy between the passengers according to their wealth carried through to their survival rate, too. From who had travelled in first class (61 percent lived to tell the tale) to those in third class (just 24 percent lived).
PANIC AND FEAR AT SOUTHAMPTON AS PEOPLE AWAIT NEWS OF LOVED ONES
James Cameron's 1997 Titanic movie - released 20 years ago today - is the most famous re-telling of the disaster. Kate Winslet's Rose falls madly in love with Leonardo DiCaprio's Jack on the ship's mighty bow. But in real life there were 13 tragic couples on their honeymoon when the ship sank.
IT IS THE BIGGEST PEACE TIME MARITIME DISASTER... BUT IT DIDN'T NEED TO BE
Of the 2,240 passengers and crew on board the 'unsinkable' boat, more than 1,500 lost their lives in the disaster. But shockingly, such an epic loss of lives could have been avoided...
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC ENQUIRIES WERE HELD AFTERWARDS
In the aftermath of the sinking, enquiries were held on both sides of the Atlantic. It was discovered that while the boat was equipped for 64 lifeboats, it only held 20 on board.... and most were not even filled to capacity.
THE SS CARPATHIA - THANKS TO THE ORDERS OF CAPTAIN ROSTRON - RESCUED 705 SURVIVORS
Captain Rostron - pictured - ordered his boat the SS Carpathia to brave dangerous ice fields and diverted all steam power to the engines in a rescue mission which saved 705 people. The little girl seen here with the Carpathia's captain gave all her spare clothes to the children who survived.
CAPTAIN ROSTRON (SEATED, CENTRE) WITH OFFICERS OF THE SS CARPATHIA
When the Titanic sank, the temperature of the water was only 28 degree - four degrees below when water freezes. The SS Carpathia - under the direction of her Captain (centre) - arrived two hours after Titanic had sunk and managed to rescue 705 survivors from the ship's lifeboats.
SEAMAN THOMAS JONES WAS ON A LIFEBOAT THAT FATEFUL NIGHT - BUT WANTED TO GO BACK
Thomas Jones was a crewman from Wales who ended up on lifeboat number 8. He desperately wanted to go back for more people, but was overruled by those already on the boat. He told those on board: 'Ladies, if any of us are saved, remember, I wanted to go back. I would rather drown with them than leave them.'
SURVIVOR HAROLD BRIDE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS IN STORE WHEN HE ACCEPTED WORK ONBOARD
Harold Bride was a junior wireless operator aged 22 on shift when the doomed ship struck the iceberg. He described how the ship looked: 'She was a beautiful sight. Smoke and sparks were rushing out of her funnel. The ship was gradually turning on her nose, just like a duck does that goes down for a dive.' It is from his report that we know the band continued to play too.
HAROLD BRIDE (LEFT) WITH AN OLDER MAN ARRIVING IN LONDON AFTER THE DISASTER
In later life, survivor Harold Bride disliked discussing the Titanic, and was deeply disturbed by the whole experience. He lived out the rest of his days in Scotland, living in comparative obscurity. He died on 29th April 1956, aged 66.
SURVIVORS WERE FOUND TO SUFFER IN DIFFERENT WAYS IN LATER LIFE
Being a survivor of the the most famous maritime disaster of all time was in many ways a tough legacy to live with. They carried the burden of both explaining the tragedy to the world, as well as justifying why their life was spared above others. In some cases, there were those who simply couldn't, and later took their own life.
THE FINAL MESSAGE OF DOOM
The hand-written last message ever received from the doomed White Star Liner after she had struck a submerged iceberg. While more than 1500 lost their lives, only 306 bodies were ever found.
