Well, I know both Lightoller and Lowe were off-duty when the collision occured, Boxhall initially inspected the damage (before Andrews & Smith went through), I'm assuming Murdoch and Moody remained on the bridge, but I really have no idea what Wilde was up to. I've really no idea how the conversation between Andrews or Smith went down, or who was or wasn't present. If I recall correctly, Cameron's "Titanic" had the officers in the room during the meeting while in "A Night to Remember" it was just the two of them.

Yes that is true. But both movies did have some fiction to them. If I were betting, I'd say it were Andrews, Smith, and Ismay. After 12am, crew was mustered and Wilde started to uncover the boats.

When and where did Smith give the order to make the boats ready? Or did he?

After all, it was Lightoller who asked him if they should start loading them after they were swung out and ready.

If I am not mistaken, we can conclude that no type of meeting of all the officers and Thomas Andrews never took place in the chart room or anywhere on the bridge, and the order to evacuate somehow kind of tricked out by word through the officers?

Ohh I was saying yes that was true about both movies having the officers present. I doubt it happend actually. hahaha.

What happened was that Lightoller had to ASK Smith (going over Wilde's head) for permission to swing out and lower the boats. Smith never actually gave a direct order to do so. At least to my knowledge.

So it was Lightoller that asked first if they should get the boats ready? I don't remember reading that. I just remember that he asked Smith once the boats were ready "hadnt we better get the women and children in the boats?"

Well, anyway, I guess it looks more and more as you study the story, that Captain Smith's breakdown in command seems to occur even earlier than I ever imagined.

I guesss the question can be raised, "was Smith in a competant captain in trying times"? But then again, I guess that is not really a fair question, since he never faced anything like this before. Although he did have his share of "hair raising moments"- ships running aground, his collision with the Hawke, and almost sinking that New York harbor tugboat on Olympic's first voyage (although admittedly, the harbor pilot was in charge in these last two occurances).

Well I'm glad someone took charge that evening.

I always thought Officer Wilde deserves credit, in regards that it may have been him that allowed more men to survive.

When the ship was listing to port, he ordered people to go to starbord, thus putting more men on that side for Murdoch to put in the boats after the women and children (the men seemed out of luck if they were on Lightoller's side).

Yes. Chief Officer Wilde also as I read today in a novel at my college inspected the damage with Andrews and Smith. I realize Lightoller didn't like the fact he was getting bummed down to 2nd officer. But hey, that's the way it goes in terms of experience. I suggest reading that book, It has all the log entries and blurbs after them going into detail it's called "The Last Log of the Titanic."

Has anyone read the inquiry questions he was asked? Over 1,600 questions....you can read it here.

http://www.titanicinquiry.org