Miss Marjorie Lottie Collyer

Who was Marjorie Lottie Collyer?

Marjorie Lottie Collyer was a young second-class passenger and survivor of the RMS Titanic disaster. Born on January 28, 1904, in Leatherhead, Surrey, England, Marjorie was just 8 (eight) years old when she embarked on the ill-fated voyage that would change her life forever.

Early Life and Family Background

A Child of Surrey

Marjorie was born to Harvey Collyer and Charlotte Caroline Collyer, both natives of Surrey, England. She was baptized on April 17, 1904, at All Saints Church in Leatherhead, where the family resided on Linden Road.

Relocation to Hampshire

The Collyers were active members of their church community. Following their minister, Reverend Sydney Sedgwick, they moved to Bishopstoke, Hampshire. Here, Marjorie’s father took on multiple roles:

Bell ringer at St Mary’s Church
Sexton at the same church
Owner of a local grocery store

By 1911, the family had settled at 82 Church Road in Bishopstoke, as recorded in that year’s census.

The Titanic Journey

Why did the Collyers board the Titanic?

The Collyer family decided to emigrate to Payette, Idaho, following in the footsteps of family friends who had successfully established themselves as fruit farmers in the area. This decision led them to book passage on the RMS Titanic.

Titanic Boarding Details

Embarkation Point: Southampton
Date of Boarding: April 10, 1912
Passenger Class: Second Class
Ticket Number: 31921
Fare: £26 5s (26 pounds, 5 shillings)

The Fateful Night

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, when the Titanic struck an iceberg and began to sink, Marjorie’s life took a dramatic turn.

Survival and Rescue

Marjorie and her mother managed to escape the sinking ship
They were rescued in Lifeboat 14
Upon arrival in New York, they were approached by the press to share their harrowing experience

Life After the Titanic

Return to England

Contrary to their original plans, Marjorie and her mother did not settle in the United States. Instead, they returned to England, where life continued to present challenges.

Family Tragedies

1914: Marjorie’s mother remarried to James Ashbrook Holme
1916: Marjorie’s mother passed away
1919: Marjorie’s stepfather died

A New Home

Now an orphan at the age of 15, Marjorie was taken in by her uncle Walter Collyer, a gamekeeper in West Horsley, Surrey. Although her time there was reportedly unhappy, she remained until her marriage.

Marjorie’s Adult Life

Marriage and Family

Wedding Date: December 25, 1927
Spouse: Royden Bernard Bowman Dutton (b. 1901)
Wedding Location: St Mary and St Nicholas’ Church, Leatherhead

The couple settled in Chilworth, Surrey. While there are suggestions they had a child who died in infancy, no official records confirm this.

Widowhood and Career

Marjorie was widowed on February 28, 1943, when her husband Roy died at the young age of 41. Following this loss:

She remained in Chilworth
Worked as a doctor’s receptionist
Never remarried

Marjorie’s Connection to Titanic History

During the 1950s, Marjorie played a role in preserving Titanic history:

Corresponded with Walter Lord during his research for “A Night to Remember”
Attended a London screening of the film adaptation as a special guest
Shared the event with other Titanic survivors

Final Years and Legacy

As Marjorie’s health declined in her later years, she moved to Langdale, a nursing home in Alverstoke, Hampshire. She passed away on February 26, 1965, at the age of 61 (sixty-one), following a stroke.

Marjorie’s Final Resting Place

Cremated at Porchester crematorium on March 2, 1965
Ashes were sent to someone in Guildford, London
The current whereabouts of her ashes remain unknown

Marjorie Lottie Collyer’s life, shaped by the tragic events of the Titanic, stands as a testament to survival and resilience in the face of extraordinary circumstances.