On the night of April 14, 1912, the infamous transatlantic liner Titanic collided with an iceberg. Of the 2206 people on board, only 705 survived. One of the lucky ones was 22-year-old Briton Elsie Bowerman.
Tragedy and salvation
On April 10, 1912, Elsie Baurman and her mother left England to cross the Atlantic Ocean in the largest ship of the time, the Titanic. In America and Canada, where the girls were heading, family and friends were waiting for them.
British liner "Titanic" Photo: Francis Godolphin Osbourne Stuart
Of course, the choice of this particular ship was not the most successful decision. But Bowerman and her mother, as first class passengers, will be the top contenders in the line for a lifeboat.
In the early morning of April 15, Elsie and her mother left the Titanic in boat number six. The boat could accommodate 65 people, but instead there were only two men, a boy and 21 women. One of them was the famous "unsinkable" Molly Brown.
Later Elsie Bowerman shared her recollections of the events of that day: “… the silence that followed the stopping of the engines was followed by the knock of the steward. He ordered us to go on deck, which we did. The lifeboats were then launched and we were told to row as quickly as possible from the liner. It was very strange to pull the oars out in the middle of the Atlantic surrounded by ice. Bowerman and the others were later rescued by the Carpathia.
Support for women's suffrage
WSPU Leaders Photo: unknown author Source:
Before her trip on the Titanic, Elsie Bowerman took an active part in the political life of the country. As a student at Gurton College, Cambridge University, she advocated for women's rights. In 1909, the girl joined the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). Her group, led by Emmeline Pankhurst, fought for women's suffrage in England. After the ill-fated trip on the Titanic, she continued her activities in this organization.
Service during World War I
With the outbreak of the First World War, the political situation in England changed. Following the lead of other WSPU members, Bowerman stepped back from the struggle for women's suffrage to do her part in support of her country. She joined the Scottish Women's Hospital and traveled to Romania.
In the end, the girl ended up in Russia. She was in St. Petersburg until the beginning of the October Revolution. Later, Bowerman described the events that took place in March 1917: “… a great commotion in the street. Armed soldiers and civilians everywhere, marching up and down. Armored cars rush between them. Suddenly, attention was focused on our hotel and the house next door. Shots rained down on both buildings as the police were supposed to be on the upper floors.
Legal career
After the end of World War I, Elsie Bowerman returned to England. At this time, new opportunities opened up for the female population of the country. For example, in 1919, a law allowed women to practice accounting and jurisprudence, which were previously prohibited.
Bowerman took advantage of these changes and trained to become a lawyer. In 1924 she was admitted to the Bar. Bowerman became the first female attorney to practice at the Old Bailey, the famous London courthouse.
World War II and the UN
"Red Army" 1941-1945 Photo: Temin Viktor Antonovich
With the outbreak of World War II, Elsie Bowerman again did not stand aside. She went to volunteer service for women, receiving a position in the Ministry of Information. She was also a liaison officer from 1941 to 1945.
After the end of the war, the United Nations was created. In 1947, Bowerman received support in the creation of the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Rediscovered portrait
A small portrait of Elsie Bowerman, who died in 1973, was recently discovered and put up for auction. During the auction, it turned out that auctioneer Timothy Medhurst was the great-great-grandson of Robert Hitchens, the quartermaster who was in boat number six with Bowerman.
Before the auction, Medhurst said it was amazing to see the same lady who looked at his great-grandfather over a hundred years ago in a lifeboat in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
The surviving passengers of the Titanic Source:
The suddenly discovered connection with the Titanic once again reminded of those who managed to survive that terrible night, continued to build their careers, to serve their country. And think about what the passengers of this liner could achieve, who never got off the coast.
