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Violet Jessop survived Titanic and Britannic sinkings, plus Olympic collision

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Violet Jessop began her unusual string of survivals in 1911 when the RMS Olympic collided with a British warship, followed by the Titanic disaster where she was handed a baby while escaping on lifeboat 16. During World War I, she served aboard the hospital ship HMHS Britannic and leaped into the Aegean Sea to escape sinking propellers after it struck a naval mine. Following these catastrophic events, she returned to maritime service in 1920, eventually completing two round-the-world voyages for the Red Star Line.

Key points

  • Jessop suffered a skull fracture after being pulled under the keel while escaping the Bri…: Jessop suffered a skull fracture after being pulled under the keel while escaping the Britannic's churning propellers.
  • Born to Irish parents in 1887, Jessop initially entered the maritime trade aboard the Ori…: Born to Irish parents in 1887, Jessop initially entered the maritime trade aboard the Orinoco in 1908 to support her family.
  • Rather than leaving the sea after three disasters, she rejoined the White Star Line in 19…: Rather than leaving the sea after three disasters, she rejoined the White Star Line in 1920 and later sailed for other major shipping lines.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Violet Jessop's life at sea was marked by three disasters involving some of the most famous ships in maritime history. The Argentine-born stewardess survived the 1911 collision involving the RMS Olympic, the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912 and the loss of the HMHS Britannic during World War I in 1916. Her remarkable experiences earned her the nickname 'Miss Unsinkable'. According to her memoir Titanic Survivor, published with biographer John Maxtone-Graham, and historical accounts from Biography dot com and Encyclopedia Titanica, Jessop was not merely a passenger caught up in these events. She was a working member of the crews who witnessed the disasters at close quarters and continued her career at sea afterwards.

From Argentina to a career at sea

Born in Argentina in 1887 to Irish parents, Jessop was the eldest of a large family. Her childhood was marked by serious illness, including tuberculosis, which she survived despite doctors reportedly believing she would not recover. Following her father's death, the family moved to England. Her mother subsequently found work as a ship stewardess, but when she became…

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