Lusitania Survivor

In the Beginning

46 William St. corner of St. Anne's Place

Avis Dolphin came to Canada with her recently widowed mother before the First World War. They moved into 46 William Street and Avis attended Wellington Street School. When she was twelve, her mother decided to send her back to England to finish her education. So, despite the fact that the much touted phrase "we'll be home for Christmas" [1914] did not prove true, Avis traveled to New York with two nurse companions, Miss Hilda Ellis and Miss Sarah Smith, to board the Lusitania on May 1st 1915.  Seven days later she was tossed into the sea and had to fend for herself.

Parts of the letter that she wrote to her mother on May 10th from the Waverley Hotel in Dublin, Ireland were published in the St. Thomas Journal and appear below.

In Her Own Words

I feel I want to tell you everything from our first arriving at New York and my thoughts of that beautiful boat, Lusitania, for it was simply grand.
 
The first day on board everything was perfect; then for three days I was very seasick. On the third day I was lying in the lounge room, when a gentleman, who was sitting nearby, came up to me and asked if there was anything he could get me, as he thought I did not look very comfortable, but I felt too sick to care for anything. I thanked him very much and said there was nothing I wanted.

Professor Ian Holbourn

Befriended by Famous Lecturer

Yet he seemed determined to do something for me and back he came with a deck chair and a pillow wrapped up in a shawl. When I was sitting or rather lying in the chair, he told me all about his three little children, of which the eldest was seven years. Also about his summer home in the Shetland Islands and his winter home in Edinburgh, Scotland. I thought how interested Jack [Miss Dolphin’s brother] would have been, could he just have been with me, to have heard all about the Shetland ponies he had. Also, he told me a lot of interesting things about boats, etc. I learned that his name was Mr. Holbourn end that he was a great lecturer and traveled a great deal.

Going Zig-Zag

After the third day, I began to feel much better and was beginning to enjoy everything around me, until that afternoon when, as we were sitting having luncheon (we waited for the second sitting), we felt the boat take a sudden turn, It seemed as though we were going zig-zag, dodging here and there. Then two torpedoes struck the ship on the opposite side to where we were sitting. Mr. Holbourn said to wait until the rush ceased. Then we had to go up one flight of stairs.

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Never Saw them Again

Mr. Holbourn’s cabin was on that floor, and he went to it and returned with three life belts. He put one on Miss Ellis and myself and tried hard to persuade Miss Smith to have one on but she said, No! You have a wife and three children. Save yourself. Then he put us all three in a lifeboat, and just as we were being lowered, some men jumped in on top of us.  This broke one of the ropes and we were all turned out into the water. It was then I lost sight of Miss Ellis and Miss Smith, and saw nothing of them after.

Under the Water

I was under the water for a little while, it seemed like a minute. Then I floated about for a little while when I noted a string and grabbed hold. To my delight it was a raft.  A gentleman saw me from a small boat and came to my rescue. He was also a Lusitania survivor. I was taken into the boat, where I stood up to exercise to get warm. We rowed away and got other ladies in. Then we were picked up by a small steamer, where we found a lovely fire. Hot brandy and milk was served to us.

Aboard the Rescue Steamer

I took some tea and went into a cabin to take off my wet clothes, but I could not get them dried, so I put a rug around me, but I saw a lady who looked sick and cold with only a towel around her, so I took the towel away from her and gave her my rug.  Another lady asked me to share her rug, and as it as a larger one we both were covered and both took a little rest. Then I put on my wet clothes again, and by the time I was dressed we were at Queenstown.

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The Queen's Hotel

We were taken to the Queen’s Hotel, where the first think I did was to cable to you and Auntie Louise that I was saved and all right.  At the hotel, I found Mr. Holbourn, who had put us in the lifeboat. I went to bed and was given hot milk, which was lovely. You know I never used to like hot milk, but that was lovely. The doctor said I could get up in the morning. Mr. Holbourn was not able to get up in the morning. He managed to get up in the afternoon and went out to get some clothes for himself.

Kindness of a Stranger

There was a gentleman amongst the survivors who asked Mr. Holbourn if he had lost money or knew anyone else who had lost theirs, so he told him I had lost all I had with me. He gave me what I had lost and took me up town to get fitted up, as I lost everything except just what I had on at luncheon. We arrived at the above address last night. This is a rather nice hotel. We start tomorrow for England, then I shall write and tell you about my first experiences there.  We made a search for Miss Ellis and Miss Smith at Queenstown, but couldn’t get any satisfaction. We left all particulars about them with the Cunard Company, also your address in St. Thomas, Mr. Holbourn also gave his father’s address to be communicated with if they were found.

New Glasses

I must not write more at present as Mr. Holbourn wants us to meet him at 2 o’clock. He is going to take me to get my eyes tested as I lost my glasses.  It is now 1 o’clock, so I must go for dinner. Will write again soon. Give my love to all.
 
Please tell all my friends I am feeling splendid although sad at the thoughts of losing Miss Ellis and Miss Smith.

[For more about Hilda Ellis and Sarah Smith www.rmslusitania.info/people/second-cabin/hilda-ellis/ (the entry for Sarah is the same)]

Life After the Lusitania and More Memories

In 1987, Avis (Dolphin) Foley returned to St. Thomas for the first time since the spring of 1915. She and her family visited the Elgin Military Museum which is just a few blocks from her old home and which holds the military records of some of her family.