In Hanley Town Hall a framed portrait of Captain Edward John Smith in his Royal Naval Reserve Lieutenant's Uniform hangs with a brass tablet. The inscription on the tablet reads "This tablet is dedicated to the memory of Commander Edward John Smith R.D. R.N.R. born in Hanley 27th January 1850. Died at Sea 15th April 1912. Be British". "Whilst in command of the White Star S.S. Titanic that great ship struck an iceberg in the Atlantic ocean during the night and speedily sank with nearly all who were onboard. Captain Smith having done all that man could for the safety of the passengers and crew remained at his post on the sinking ship until the end. His last message to his crew was "Be British"."

A mural also exists in the Potteries Shopping Centre, showing Captain Smith and the Titanic sinking.

After the disaster, resentment was fostered towards certain key figures in the Titanic disaster, most notably by the tabloid press of the time. It has been suggested that Captain Smith didn't do all he could have and that he shot himself. This is something which does not stand up to cross-examination, a contemptible slur against a man who had no way of defending his name. That an experienced mariner would have chosen to end his life in such a way is inappropriate and offensive. His death would have added yet another name to the list of victims which was already too long.

Joseph Bruce Ismay was also criticised in the press; the specific allegation against Bruce Ismay is that as Managing Director of the White Star Line he should have gone down with the ship, and he was a coward for taking a place in the lifeboat. However he endeavoured to get women and children into the lifeboats, only leaving in one of the last lifeboats; not the actions of a coward. Condemning Joseph Ismay for demonstrating the most basic of human instincts - survival - is wrong. Ismay did leave in one of the last boats after trying to help as many people into the lifeboats as he could. After the disaster he didn't become the recluse some have suggested. An intelligent and diligent man, he died on 17th October 1937, aged 74. He remains the most misunderstood figure in the disaster.

On a personal level I don't think it is fair to condemn either man for their actions. We have the benefit of hindsight; both men - in fact every man, woman and child aboard the Titanic - found themselves in circumstances that they nor any of their contemporaries had ever experienced before and they acted as best they could. It is not fair to pass judgment.

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