The brightest stars burn the fastest

This claim was later reiterated in serialized and radio versions of his accounts in 1936. This caught the attention of former junior wireless operator Harold Bride, who prior to this had kept his distance from the disaster. He sent in this charged response to Lightoller's claims:

"Jack Phillips, the senior telegraphist of the Titanic, was one of the most skillful and experienced operators then in the service of the Marconi Company, hence his appointment to the Titanic, whilst myself as second telegraphist ensured a thoroughly competent wireless station being maintained. ... "If Commander Lightoller knew about the Mesaba message, as he claims, why did he not say so at the Board of Trade inquiry, and not wait until this late day to throw doubts on the efficiency of a very gallant gentleman who died procuring aid for Commander Lightoller and 701 other fortunate survivors? "Jack Phillips would have been the first to disclaim having done anything spectacular or heroic, but his calm efficiency resulted in the survivors being safely landed in New York. Such efficiency does not go with putting urgent ice warnings under paper weights and promptly forgetting them."

Then, Lightoller, who was not particularly known for being precise, sent in his own reply to Bride in which he cited the exact page numbers from the BOT inquiry report as evidence that he did, in fact, say so. That he bothered to do this at all becomes more poignant when you consider the phrasing he used to preface it:

"I yet maintain, as officer of the watch from 8 to 10 p.m. that night, and in further defence of that splendid officer W. M. Murdoch, who followed me on watch from 10 p.m. to the moment of collision, that had the Mesaba message been received by the bridge, and in reasonable time, the Titanic would not have been lost."

"and in further defence of that splendid officer W. M. Murdoch"

(Please note that said splendid officer had not been mentioned at all prior to this). Thus ensue his excessively long corrections and rebuttals to Bride's letter, finishing with:

"I blame no one and justify no one. Captain Smith, Murdoch, and Phillips played their parts as men living up to the highest traditions of the sea, and all three finally made the great sacrifice. "Let no man question but that they acted up to their very highest ideals in that supreme tragedy—the loss of the Titanic."

"I blame no one and justify no one"

A bold claim, after having just spent over 1,800 words refuting a perceived affront against your long dead colleague. And yet, the same can be said of what Bride had done: Bride, who had avoided everything Titanic until this letter 24 years later, coming out of the woodwork to defend that "very gallant gentleman" Jack Phillips whose death clearly still weighed heavily on his mind.

In the end, all Bride and Lightoller had were their regrets, and the thinly veiled meaning behind their words:

If it were not for you, I would not have lost my best friend.