THE THREE SEA-GOING DISASTERS OF VIOLET JESSOP

Violet (1887-1971) served in all three White Star Line’s Great Liners in the second decade of the 20th Century. But what was remarkable was she survived all the Disasters that hit those fated Ships. 

In the First two Cases Violet was acting in the Capacity of a Stewardess; but in the third she was a Voluntary Aid Detachment Nurse when the “Britannic” was serving as a Hospital ship & struck a German Mine in the Aegean Sea in 1916.  

Leaving aside the consequences of these tragedies, her family & friends found some Gallows Humour in the fact that she had famously on the third occasion, grabed her toothbrush before escaping the stricken Hospital Ship.  

“Why the toothbrush in particular?— Because there had always been much fun at my expense after the Titanic when I complained of my inability to get a toothbrush on the “SS Carpathia ( the rescue Ship)  I recalled Patrick’s joking advice!  Never undertake another Disaster without making sure of your Toothbrush.” Hence she had concentrated so much on securing her dental instrument as she scampered to escape the battered vessel.  

(llustration is from Instagram, The toothbrush mention is from Safari Overview both in Google)