Who was Mrs Ada Julia Elizabeth Doling?

Mrs Ada Julia Elizabeth Doling was a 34-year-old (thirty-four) English passenger who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. Born as Ada Julia Elizabeth Bone on September 9, 1877, in St Helens near Ryde, Isle of Wight, she was a second-class passenger aboard the ill-fated ship, traveling with her sister-in-law Elsie Doling to visit family in the United States.

Early Life and Family

Ada was born into a large family, being the eldest daughter and third child of William Bone, a coachman, and Julia Sarah Whittingstall. She grew up with nine siblings in a household that moved from Eling, Hampshire to Southampton in the 1880s. Tragically, Ada’s father passed away in January 1892 at the young age of 45.

Marriage and Children

In late 1898, Ada married John Thomas Doling, an immigrants’ hotel manager. The couple settled in Southampton and started a family. Between 1899 and 1906, they welcomed five sons:

• John Thomas Percival (1899-1955)
• Alfred (1900-1900, died in infancy)
• William Sydney Charles (1901-1964)
• Reginald Stanley Ernest Arthur (1903-1925)
• Victor Morris Patrick (1906-1975)

By 1911, the Doling family resided at 33 Canute Road, Southampton. John Doling had followed in his father’s footsteps and become the proprietor of the Atlantic Hotel at 151 Albert Road in the city.

Why was Ada Doling on the Titanic?

Ada Doling boarded the Titanic with the intention of visiting her family in the United States. Several of her siblings and her widowed mother had emigrated to America around the turn of the century, settling in Manhattan. Ada secured second-class passage on the Titanic, sharing ticket number 231919 with her 18-year-old sister-in-law, Elsie Doling. The ticket cost £23.

The Fateful Journey

When the Titanic docked at Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland, a significant moment was captured on camera. Ada, Elsie, and an unidentified male passenger were photographed on the aft-promenade deck. This photograph gained prominence after the disaster, appearing in newspapers and becoming a poignant reminder of the passengers’ last moments before the tragedy.

Survival and Aftermath

Ada and Elsie Doling were among the fortunate survivors of the Titanic disaster. However, the specific lifeboat they boarded remains unknown. After their rescue by the Carpathia, Ada attempted to send a telegram to Southampton, but due to the operators’ overwhelming workload, it was not transmitted.

“Express, Southampton, England Ada Elsie safe”

This brief message, though never sent, encapsulates the relief and urgency of the moment.

After a short stay with their relatives in New York, Ada and Elsie returned to England aboard the Philadelphia on May 11, 1912, reuniting with their family in Southampton.

Life After the Titanic

On January 30, 1913, less than a year after the Titanic disaster, Ada gave birth to her only daughter, Ida Julia Augusta. This event sparked speculation about whether Ada had been pregnant during her voyage on the Titanic or if she conceived after her return to Britain.

Over the years, Ada faced both joys and sorrows. She outlived her son Reginald, who died at the age of 25, and saw two of her sons, William and Victor, emigrate to the USA. Ada was widowed on April 1, 1938, when her husband John passed away.

Final Years and Legacy

Ada Doling remained a resident of the Southampton area for the rest of her life. By 1939, she had moved to 49 Kipling Road in Eastleigh. She passed away on April 11, 1962, at the age of 85 (eighty-five). Following her wishes, Ada was cremated, and her ashes were scattered at South Stoneham Cemetery’s Garden of Rest (section 7).

Ada’s story is a testament to the resilience of Titanic survivors and the lasting impact of the disaster on their lives. Her experience aboard the Titanic, captured in that famous photograph on the promenade deck, serves as a poignant reminder of the human stories behind one of history’s most infamous maritime tragedies.