Ada Mary West: A Titanic Survivor’s Tale

Who was Ada Mary West? She was a remarkable English woman who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912, enduring personal tragedy while demonstrating extraordinary resilience in the face of disaster.

Early Life and Family

Ada Mary Worth was born on February 17, 1879 (thirty-three) in Truro, Cornwall, England. She was the youngest of five children born to Thomas Worth, a printer and bookseller, and Ruth Pearce. Ada’s early years were spent in Truro, where her family lived at various addresses including Prospect Place and 6-7 Lemon Street.

Marriage and Family Life

On September 12, 1905, at the age of 26 (twenty-six), Ada married Edwy Arthur West, a native of Perranzabuloe, Cornwall. The couple’s life together unfolded as follows:

• 1907: Their first daughter, Constance Miriam, was born in Bristol
• 1911: The family moved to Bournemouth, where Edwy worked as a shopfloor walker at JJ Allen department store
• 1911: Their second daughter, Barbara Joyce, was born

The Fateful Titanic Journey

Why did the West family decide to leave England?

The Wests had ambitious plans to start a new life in America. They intended to travel to Gainesville, Florida, to establish a fruit culture business. This decision would lead them to book passage on the ill-fated RMS Titanic.

Titanic Ticket Details

• Ticket Number: 34651
• Class: 2nd Class
• Cost: £27 15s (27 pounds, 15 shillings)

Ada, her husband Edwy, and their two young daughters boarded the Titanic at Southampton on April 10, 1912. During the voyage, they reportedly became acquainted with fellow passengers Clear Cameron and Nellie Wallcroft.

The Night of the Disaster

Ada’s vivid recollection of the Titanic’s sinking provides a harrowing account of that fateful night:

“We were all asleep when the collision took place, but were only jolted in our berths - my husband and children not even being awakened, and it was only the hurrying of passengers outside the cabin that caused alarm. The steward bade us all get up and dress thoroughly with plenty of warm things. Arthur placed lifebelts upon the children and then carried them to the boat deck. I followed carrying my handbag. After seeing us safely into the lifeboat Arthur returned to the cabin for a thermos of hot milk, and, finding the lifeboat let down he reached it by means of a rope, gave the flask to me, and, with a farewell, returned to the deck of the ship.”

What happened in Ada’s lifeboat?

Ada’s experience in the lifeboat was marked by several notable incidents:

1. Male passengers had hidden under women’s skirts to secure a place.
2. These men had to be asked to stop lighting cigarettes for fear of setting the women’s skirts on fire.
3. A steward attempted to lighten the mood by encouraging the passengers to sing.
4. As dawn broke, Ada saw no wreckage or [bodies]https://titanicuniverse.com/ship/wreck/bodies), only icebergs.

Ada and her daughters were rescued by the RMS Carpathia. Tragically, her husband Edwy did not survive the disaster.

Life After the Titanic

How did Ada’s life change after the Titanic disaster?

1. Return to England: With their American dreams shattered, Ada and her daughters returned to England aboard the RMS Celtic.
2. Birth of Edwyna: On September 14, 1912, Ada gave birth to her third daughter, Edwyna Joan, named in honor of her late husband.
3. Relocation: Ada never remarried and settled in Truro, Cornwall, living at 46 Lemon Street for many years.
4. Education Support: The Worshipful Company of Drapers sponsored her daughters’ education until the age of 12 (twelve).
5. Further Loss: 1915 proved to be a difficult year, with Ada losing her mother and both parents-in-law.

Ada’s Final Years and Legacy

Ada West passed away on April 20, 1953, at the age of 74 (seventy-four) in St Vincent’s Nursing Home in Plympton, Devon. Throughout her life, she kept a poignant memento of her Titanic experience - the flask her husband had given her just before they parted for the last time.

After her cremation at Efford Crematorium in Plymouth, her ashes were scattered on Plymouth Sound Bay, bringing her remarkable life full circle to the sea that had so profoundly shaped her destiny.

Ada’s legacy lives on through her descendants, including her daughter Edwyna, who was herself a Titanic survivor. Edwyna married Clarence Patrick Erskine-Lindop in 1941, a man who would go on to become a prominent civil servant in the Bahamas.

Ada Mary West’s story serves as a testament to human resilience in the face of unimaginable tragedy, embodying the spirit of survival that has captivated generations in the enduring tale of the Titanic.