Bertha Ilett

Who was Bertha Ilett?

Miss Bertha Ilett was a 17 (seventeen) year-old Titanic survivor from the Channel Islands who embarked on a journey that would forever change her life. Born on October 12, 1894, in Millbrook, Jersey, Bertha was a second-class passenger on the ill-fated RMS Titanic, surviving the tragic sinking and going on to live a long life filled with remarkable experiences.

Early Life and Family

Bertha Ilett was born into a large family, one of ten children to Edward Ilett and Elizabeth Hamling. Her father, originally from Eling, Hampshire, worked as a gardener, while her mother hailed from Alderney in the Channel Islands. Bertha’s siblings included:

• Lillian (born 1884)
• Florence (born 1886)
• Elsie (born 1889)
• Edward (born 1892)
• Dorea (born 1897)
• Mabel (born 1898)

Growing up in Jersey, Bertha’s early life was shaped by the close-knit community of the Channel Islands. The 1901 census shows the family residing in St. Lawrence, Jersey, where they would continue to make their home for years to come.

Working Life in Jersey

By the time of the 1911 census, Bertha had entered the workforce. At the age of 16 (sixteen), she was employed as a tea packer, a job she shared with her sisters Florence and Mabel. The family had settled at Bayfield, Millbrook, St. Lawrence, where they continued to live and work together.

The Journey to America

Why did Bertha board the Titanic?

Bertha’s decision to board the Titanic was influenced by family connections and the promise of new opportunities. Her father, Edward Ilett, frequently traveled across the Atlantic to supervise cattle shipments between England and the United States. The family had connections in Athenia, New York, where Mr. Ilett would stay during his visits.

Bertha’s sister Elsie had married a Danish man named Chris Olsen and started a family in Geneva, Ontario County, New York. Inspired by her sister’s new life and the chance to visit her father and other relatives, Bertha decided to make the journey to America.

Titanic Voyage Details

• Embarkation: Southampton
• Class: 2nd Class
• Ticket Number: 14885
• Ticket Cost: £10, 10s
• Lifeboat: 14 (initially), later transferred to Lifeboat 12

The Fateful Night

On the night of April 14, 1912, Bertha’s life took a dramatic turn. She had retired to her cabin around 10 pm, unaware of the impending disaster. The events that followed reveal her remarkable experience:

1. A woman knocked on her door, expressing concern about a disturbance.
2. Stewards initially assured them there was no danger.
3. Later, a steward instructed Bertha to dress warmly and head to the boat deck.
4. Clad in a heavy coat over her nightgown and wearing a lifejacket, Bertha made her way to the deck.
5. She described a surprisingly calm atmosphere as she boarded a lifeboat.
6. Bertha was placed in the second boat lowered from her section, likely Lifeboat 14.
7. During the night, her lifeboat began to leak, necessitating a transfer to another boat (Lifeboat 12).
8. Lifeboat 12 was the last to join the rescue ship Carpathia the following morning.

Life After the Titanic

Arrival in New York

Upon reaching New York, Bertha was greeted by her father and a family friend, Dr. E. T. Davison. From there, she traveled to Athenia, where anxious family and friends awaited her arrival. This warm welcome must have been a source of comfort after her harrowing experience.

Marriage and Family

Within a few years of her Titanic ordeal, Bertha found love. She married Chris Kristen Christensen, a Danish immigrant born on November 11, 1887. Interestingly, Chris had also emigrated in 1912, and it’s possible they met through Bertha’s sister’s Danish husband.

The couple settled in Geneva, New York, and built a life together. They had three children:

1. Edward (born 1916)
2. Phyllis (born 1918)
3. Richard (born 1926)

Remembering the Titanic

Even decades after the disaster, Bertha’s experiences on the Titanic remained vivid in her memory. A newspaper article from the Buffalo Courier Express, dated April 16, 1939, provides insight into her recollections:

“Mrs. Chris Christensen of 420 La Salle Avenue recalls vividly the sinking of the Titanic 27 years ago yesterday, for she was one of the survivors. She spent more than three hours in a lifeboat before being picked up by a rescue vessel. In her hands, she holds a large book describing the disaster and containing stories of several of the survivors.”

This account demonstrates how the events of that fateful night continued to resonate with Bertha throughout her life.

Later Years and Legacy

After her husband’s death in 1956, Bertha continued to live in Geneva, New York. In her later years, she resided at 88 White Springs Road. Bertha Ilett Christensen passed away on September 30, 1976, at the age of 82 (eighty-two) at the General Hospital in Geneva. She was laid to rest in Brookside Cemetery, leaving behind a legacy as a Titanic survivor and a testament to human resilience.

Bertha’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the Titanic tragedy and the lives it touched. Her journey from a young tea packer in Jersey to a survivor of one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters, and finally to a long life in America, encapsulates the dramatic changes and challenges faced by many in the early 20th century.