THE HEROIC actions of one of the illfated Titanic's radio operators are set to be commemorated in April.

Jack Phillips died 90 years ago on April 15 along with nearly 1,500 others on board the doomed vessel.

Mr Phillips was chief telegraphist on the liner and stayed at his post when the ship struck an iceberg on her maiden voyage.

He sent out scores of SOS messages using morse code - the first time the then new distress sign had been used.

Now, Godalming in Surrey is set to be the focus of a worldwide radio linkup organised by the town's museum and by the Titanic Wireless Commemorative Group.

A replica of Titanic's radio room is also planned to be made for the event which will be held at the Wilfred Noyce Centre in the town.

Titanic's radio call sign, MGY, will be remembered in the special call sign for the event - GB90 MGY.

Phillips, and the other wireless operator on board the Titanic, Harold Bride, stayed on board the ship relaying distress calls over the then newly invented Marconigraph until minutes before the ship foundered.

Initially, the pair transmitted the old distress call CQD but later used the then new, but now internationally recognised distress call, SOS.

Although Phillips died during the sinking his fellow operator, Harold Bride, then only 21, survived by clinging to an upturned boat until rescuers arrived.

Bride's legs were so badly frozen that when rescued, surgeons thought they would have to amputate.

He refused and later made a full recovery.