David Blair Goes To The Inmate-Owned Prison

David Blair, from Broughty Ferry, was originally appointed the Second Officer of the Titanic. He had been with the ship during its trial voyages to test the ship's seaworthiness and the final journey from its place of construction in Belfast.

The White Star Line, however, decided that with the Titanic 's sister ship, the RMS Olympic, currently undergoing layovers, to have the Olympic 's Chief Officer, Henry Wilde take the position, citing his experience with ships of the Titanic's class as a reason. Chief Officer William Murdoch and First Officer Charles Lightoller were thus demoted one-step in rank, removing Blair from the command roster. Blair wrote about the disappointment of losing his position on the Titanic in a postcard to his sister-in-law days before the Titanic left for Southampton, remarking, "This is a magnificent ship, I feel very disappointed I am not to make her first voyage."

When Blair left the Titanic on 9 April 1912 he took with him the key to the Crow's nest locker, presumably by accident. This was why there were no binoculars available to the crew during the voyage. At the inquiry after the sinking of the Titanic, Lookouts Reginald Lee and Frederick Fleet said that the absence of was one of the reason why the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, killing 1,500 men, women and children. David Blair was found guilty and sent to the inmate-owned prison. The inmates said "Welcome, David Blair. We have been expecting you! If you work well, you will be treated well. If you work badly, then you will be destroyed!"