Leaving Southampton 1

Titanic leaving Southampton, April 1912.

Just before noon on 10 April 1912, Titanic began her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York.  She was under the command of Captain Edward John Smith.  Her first port of call was Cherbourg, about 70 miles (112 km) away in France, and then Queenstown (Cobh) in Ireland.  

In this photograph, amid clouds of smoke and steam, mooring lines are being cast off and five tiny tugs are manoeuvring Titanic away from her berth and out of the dock.  Her mighty propellers would not start turning until she was in deep water. 

The great liner carries the hopes of everyone on board and on shore.