Violet Madeline Mellenger: A Young Titanic Survivor’s Tale

Who was Violet Madeline Mellenger?

Violet Madeline Mellenger, better known as Madeline, was a 13 (thirteen) year-old English girl who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born on February 22, 1899, in Walthamstow, Essex, England, Madeline’s life would be forever changed by her experience aboard the ill-fated ship. Her story of survival and subsequent life in Canada offers a unique perspective on one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters.

Early Life and Family Background

What was Madeline’s family situation?

Madeline came from a family that faced significant challenges:

Parents: Claude Leinard Deschamps Mellinger (1874-1952) and Elizabeth Anne Mellenger
Siblings: Four, including Eugenie, Alexander, Edmund, and Constance
Family status: Parents became estranged, father emigrated to Australia before 1910

The family’s difficult circumstances led to Madeline being placed in a children’s home in Wimbledon, Surrey, as recorded in the 1911 census. Her mother, left in a precarious financial situation, took work as a domestic servant to make ends meet.

The Journey to a New Life

Why were Madeline and her mother on the Titanic?

In early 1912, a glimmer of hope appeared for the Mellenger family:

Madeline’s mother secured a position as a housekeeper in Bennington, Vermont
The job was at Fillmore Farms, owned by the Colgate family of toothpaste fame
They boarded the Titanic at Southampton on April 10, 1912
Traveled as second-class passengers (Ticket number: 250644)
Fare cost: £19 10s (19 pounds, 10 shillings)

Interestingly, Charles Cresson Jones, the Fillmore Farms superintendent, was also aboard the Titanic in first class. He visited Madeline and her mother in second class to show them pictures of Bennington, their future home.

The Fateful Night

How did Madeline and her mother survive the Titanic disaster?

Madeline’s account of the Titanic’s sinking is both harrowing and vivid:

“We were asleep in our berths when a man banged on our door and told us to put on warm clothes and lifebelts and to get on deck.”

The mother and daughter’s survival can be attributed to a series of fortunate events:

They were hurled into a half-empty lifeboat (Lifeboat 14)
Later transferred to Lifeboat 12 by Fifth Officer Lowe
Witnessed the final moments of the Titanic from a distance

Madeline’s recollection of that night is chilling:

“I could see the lights of the ship starting to go under water, then soundlessly, perhaps a mile away, it just went down. It was gone. Oh yes, the sky was very black and the stars were very bright. They told me the people in the water were singing, but I knew they were screaming.”

Life After the Titanic

How did the Titanic experience shape Madeline’s life?

The aftermath of the Titanic disaster led Madeline and her mother on a new path:

Initially returned to England after the sinking
Emigrated to Canada around 1915, settling in Toronto
Madeline married David Daniel Mann on October 1, 1921
Had four sons: Alex, Bill, Don, and Carl

Madeline’s connection to the Titanic remained a significant part of her life:

Participated in a Titanic reunion dinner on April 15, 1939, at the Royal York Hotel, Toronto
Shared her memories with Walter Lord for his book “A Night to Remember” in the 1950s
Attended a Titanic Historical Society convention in the 1970s

Preserving the Memory

Even decades after the disaster, Madeline kept the tragedy alive in her memory:

“A survivor of the sinking of the Titanic, the world’s best-known sea tragedy, Madeline Mann still has a chart of the supposedly unsinkable ship that went down in the Atlantic 62 years ago today, carrying more than 1,500 passengers to their deaths. She remembers the screams of the drowning.” (Toronto Star, April 13, 1974)

Final Years

Madeline Mellenger Mann passed away on May 27, 1976, in Toronto at the age of 77 (seventy-seven). Her cremated remains were interred at St. John’s Ridgeway Anglican Cemetery near Welland, Ontario. Her husband, David, survived her by nearly two decades, passing away on October 1, 1994.

Madeline’s life, shaped by the extraordinary events of April 1912, serves as a poignant reminder of the Titanic’s lasting impact on its survivors and their families. Her story continues to fascinate those interested in the human experiences behind one of history’s most famous maritime disasters.