SchoolTube Community
You'd think surviving one maritime disaster would be enough for a lifetime. But Violet Jessop wasn't just any survivor. This remarkable woman stared down the jaws of death aboard not one, not two, but three of history's most infamous shipwrecks. Was she cursed? Let's dive into the story of Violet Jessop and her incredible brushes with the Titanic, the Britannic, and the Olympic.
A Life Meant for the Sea?
Born in Argentina to Irish immigrants, Violet's life was marked by hardship from the start. She battled tuberculosis as a child, a disease that often proved fatal in the late 19th century. Yet, she defied the odds, recovering fully and setting her sights on a life at sea, following in her mother's footsteps as a ship stewardess.
The Olympic's Near Miss
Violet's first encounter with disaster came in 1911 aboard the RMS Olympic, the Titanic's sister ship. The Olympic collided with the British warship HMS Hawke, suffering significant damage. While both ships survived, the incident foreshadowed the string of bad luck that seemed to follow Violet.
The Unsinkable Titanic
In 1912, Violet joined the crew of the Titanic, a ship touted as unsinkable. We all know how that story ended. As the Titanic sank beneath the icy waves, Violet found herself in a lifeboat, a child thrust into her arms, a poignant reminder of the chaos and tragedy unfolding around her.
The Britannic and the Shadow of War
World War I saw the Titanic's other sister ship, the Britannic, converted into a hospital ship. Violet, ever the dedicated stewardess, signed on. In 1916, disaster struck again. The Britannic struck a mine in the Aegean Sea. This time, Violet's escape was even more harrowing, narrowly avoiding being sucked into the ship's churning propellers as she jumped into the lifeboat.
A Life Lived on Her Own Terms
Despite these terrifying experiences, Violet continued to work at sea for decades. She later reflected on her experiences with a mix of humor and stoicism, once remarking that she was
You may also like