Century-old black and white photos tell the heroic story of how a modest ocean liner the SS Carpathia was thrust into history by rescuing more than 700 Titanic survivors

  • Dramatic pictures of the Titanic rescue mission as the liner went down on April 15, 1912 have been unearthed
  • The UK-US Carpathia achieved worldwide fame when it raced 58 miles to rescued hundreds of people
  • The ship picked up 705 men, women and children as the liner went down en route to America 
Dramatic photos of the ship that rescued survivors of the Titanic as the liner went down after hitting an iceberg have been unearthed.
The UK-US Carpathia achieved worldwide fame when it heeded a distress call on April 15, 1912, and raced 58 miles to rescue hundreds of people from the Titanic.
The photos have emerged on the 106th anniversary of the day the Titanic set sail from Southampton for its first and only voyage.   
This picture shows rescue boats from the Titanic making their way to Carpathia after the liner went down en route to America
This picture shows rescue boats from the Titanic making their way to Carpathia after the liner went down en route to America
These were the officers on duty on the Carpathia, which picked up 705 men, women and children as the Titanic went down
These were the officers on duty on the Carpathia, which picked up 705 men, women and children as the Titanic went down
This picture, taken from the deck of the Carpathia, shows Titanic survivors about to board the rescue ship 
This picture, taken from the deck of the Carpathia, shows Titanic survivors about to board the rescue ship 
RMS Carpathia was sailing from New York to Austria-Hungary on the night of Sunday, April 14, 1912, when it received the distress signal.
Although the Titanic had already sunk, the Carpathia's crew spent four hours rescuing survivors before returning to New York.
The ship picked up 705 men, women and children as the liner went down en route to America. Pictures from the collection show the view from the deck of the Carpathia as lifeboats from the Titanic approached, while another shows the officers from the ship posing for a picture.
Other shots show several survivors of the Titanic, including Maggie Brown who was later nicknamed the 'Unsinkable Molly Brown' for her courage in standing up to the sailor in charge of the boat who refused to turn back to look for survivors in the water.  
Captain Arthur Henry Rostron presented with a trophy that was presented to him by Titanic survivor Maggie Brown (pictured) 
Captain Arthur Henry Rostron presented with a trophy that was presented to him by Titanic survivor Maggie Brown (pictured) 
Survivors of the Titanic aboard the Carpathia that was involved in the dramatic rescue operation on April 15, 1912
Survivors of the Titanic aboard the Carpathia that was involved in the dramatic rescue operation on April 15, 1912
Two children, believed to be called Louis and Lola, who survived the Titanic 
Two children, believed to be called Louis and Lola, who survived the Titanic 
After returning to shore the brave crew of the Carpathia were rewarded for their heroic efforts in rescuing the survivors of the Titanic. 
Crew members received bronze medals, officers got silver and Captain Arthur Henry Rostron received a trophy which was presented to him by Maggie Brown.   
Carpathia, a 13,000 tonne liner, was sunk in 1918 by a German U'boat's torpedo. The ship was found 500ft down in the Atlantic in 1999.  
Five of the crew were killed by the explosions but 215 people were rescued by HMS Snowdrop and then taken to Liverpool. 
Crowds of people awaiting survivors from the Titanic in New York where the Carpathia docked after the four hour rescue mission
Crowds of people awaiting survivors from the Titanic in New York where the Carpathia docked after the four hour rescue mission