Henry Aldridge & Son

The Devizes Auctioneers

Important Titanic Survivor Archive Estimated at

£40000-£60000 to be Sold on April 18^th

Henry Aldridge and Son are holding their latest auction of Titanic and White Star Line memorabilia on April 18^th at their Devizes auction rooms.

Barbara Dainton-West was only ten months old when the Titanic sank and was one of the final survivors of the Titanic disaster when she passed away in October 2007.

She set sail onboard Titanic with her parents Edwy and Ada and sister Constance Joyce on April 10^th 1912. Hailing from Cornwall but living in Bournemouth, they were going to start a new life in the US.  This unique archive of letters has been kept in the family since 1912 and only now are the contents being revealed to the world at large.

The archive gives its reader a first person description of life onboard Titanic and culminates in the tragic aftermath. It narrates a roller coaster of human emotions from the anticipation and excitement of sailing on the Titanic to the feelings of bereavement and anger once the surviving members of the family arrived in New York.

Contained within the collection are numerous anecdotes and accounts that were previously unknown to historians and collectors alike which further define the importance of the collection.

The collection starts with a handwritten letter from April 9^th 1912 with Ada West writing:

"We catch the 9.30am train from Christchurch & the 'h's' are going with us to Southampton. We have been hard at work nearly all the time packing & glad its done....”

Ironically they also receive a letter just before departing:

"Wishing you all a safe voyage & good luck. With much love and a kiss for Bobbie & Barbara".

Titanic is described in great detail with a letter on company stationery written by Barbara’s father Edwy on April 10^th 1912.

“Then we went aboard & found our cabin - its most beautifully fitted & the white paint shines like a mirror & the rest is mahogany with silver plated fittings. We have 2 hanging wardrobes - several drawers - infact plenty of space for everything. We went all over the ship with the H's & they seemed to think it grand. Both the youngsters come in to all meals with us so that's a blessing. Barbara appeared for dinner at 6 in all her glory - after a good long sleep, this afternoon”.

Only days after arriving in New York following their rescue by the Carpathia, Ada West wrote a six page letter which gives us a glimpse into the post traumatic stresses felt by survivors.

"My dear people, here's the end of my first awful week without my dear old boy. The experiences I have been through with all the other poor creatures have been enough for two life times. We were amongst the first to leave the ship - when I said 'goodbye' to dear Dad it was without a shadow of fear as to our ever seeing him again”.

“It was only when I saw the ship sink & heard the awful cries and groans from the poor drowning creatures that I felt the least bit of fear as to his safety. It was all too terrible!”

One particularly poignant item from the collection is a small thermos flask. This was cherished first by Ada West and later passed to Mrs Dainton West and kept with the collection. Ada was interviewed shortly after the sinking and described the events after the collision with the iceberg and the importance of this small item.

"We were all asleep when the collision took place, but were only jolted in our berths. My husband and children not even being awakened and it was only the hurrying of passengers outside the cabin that caused alarm. The steward bade us all get up and dress thoroughly with plenty of warm things. Arthur placed life belts upon the children then carried them onto the boat deck. I followed carrying my handbag. After seeing us safely into the lifeboat Arthur returned to the cabin for a thermos of hot milk, and finding the lifeboat let down he reached it by means of a rope, gave the flask to me, and, with a farewell returned to the deck of the ship".

However one of the most historically important documents within the collection is a narrative to the Board of Trade giving an in-depth account of the sinking and Mrs West’s viewpoint on the crew’s conduct. It also contains numerous anecdotes from their rescue and the aftermath

“The noise they made drowned all the cries & we gradually drew away from the scene of the wreck & did not turn back until some time after the Carpathia had appeared. I saw no signs of wreckage or bodies only icebergs - had no idea that the disaster had been so great. I might add that there were men in our boat who had concealed themselves under the ladies skirts & had to be asked to stop lighting cigarettes as there was a danger of the dresses becoming ignited”.

The Barbara Dainton West collection will be sold on April 18^th in Devizes and carries a pre sale estimate of £40000-£60000. Please contact either Alan or Andrew Aldridge for further details.