The Unbelievable Story of Violet Jessop!

Summary

Violet Jessop, born in 1887, survived three major maritime disasters: the RMS Olympic collision in 1911, the Titanic sinking in 1912, and the HMHS Britannic explosion in 1916. Despite numerous brushes with death, she continued her career at sea for 34 more years until retiring at 63. Her story is featured in Hollywood films, including the 1997 'Titanic.'

Takeaways

• 🌍 Violet Jessup was born in Argentina to Irish immigrant parents in 1887.
• 🏥 She survived a near-fatal case of tuberculosis as a child.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 After her father's death, her family moved to England where she cared for her siblings while her mother worked at sea.
• 🚢 In 1911, Violet joined the crew of the RMS Olympic, which collided with HMS Hawk but did not sink.
• 🧊 In 1912, she served on the Titanic and survived its sinking, being rescued by the Carpathia.
• 👶 She was loaded onto lifeboat 16 with a baby, who was later claimed by a woman who ran away.
• 🏥 Despite the Titanic disaster, Violet continued her maritime career, serving on the HMHS Britannic during World War I.
• 💥 The Britannic sank after an explosion, and Violet survived, even after being struck in the head by a lifeboat.
• 🚢 Violet continued to work on ships for another 34 years until her retirement at age 63.
• 🎬 Her life story was depicted in Hollywood films, including the 1997 blockbuster 'Titanic'.
• 💔 Violet Jessup passed away at the age of 83 from congestive heart failure.

Q & A

Who was Violet Jessup?

Violet Jessup was a woman born in Argentina to Irish immigrant parents in 1887, who survived three of the world's biggest ship disasters.

What happened to Violet Jessup's health as a child?

Violet contracted a fatal case of tuberculosis, but she recovered and went on to live a long life.

How did Violet's father die and what impact did it have on her life?

Violet's father died when she was 16, leading the family to move to England where she entered a convent school.

What was Violet's role on the RMS Olympic when it collided with HMS Hawk?

Violet was working as a stewardess on the RMS Olympic during the collision with HMS Hawk in 1911.

What was the outcome of the RMS Olympic's collision with HMS Hawk?

Despite the damage, the Olympic was able to make it back to port without sinking and with no fatalities.

Why did Violet join the crew of the RMS Titanic?

Violet joined the crew of the RMS Titanic in 1912, likely due to her previous experience and the ship's reputation as unsinkable.

How did Violet survive the sinking of the RMS Titanic?

Violet was loaded onto lifeboat number 16 with a baby in her arms and was rescued by the Carpathia.

What was the fate of the baby Violet was holding during the Titanic rescue?

The baby was retrieved by a woman, presumably the mother, who ran away without a word.

Why did Violet continue to work on ships after the Titanic disaster?

Despite the Titanic disaster, Violet continued to work on ships, including the HMHS Britannic, possibly due to the demand for crew during World War One.

What happened to the HMHS Britannic and how did Violet survive?

The HMHS Britannic sank after an explosion, killing 30 out of 1066 passengers. Violet survived by jumping out of a lifeboat to avoid the ship's propellers, despite cracking her skull.

How long did Violet continue to work on ships after the Britannic disaster?

Violet continued to work on large ships for another 34 years until she retired at the age of 63.

How did Violet Jessup's life story end?

Violet Jessup died of congestive heart failure at the age of 83, leaving behind her memoirs of her incredible years of service.