Ada West

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February 17th, 1879 - April 20th, 1953

She is a Aquarius.

Ada Mary Wood was born in Truro, Cornwall, England and was later baptized in St Paul's Truro on April 24th, 1879. She was the youngest child of Thomas Worth (1831 - 1904), a printer and book seller, and Ruth Pearce (1837 - 1915), both Truro natives who had married in 1866. She had 4 elder siblings: Reginald Kempthorne (1867 - 1932), Thomas Vivian (1869 - 1894), Henrietta (1871 - 1940), and Arthur Pearce (1874 - 1945). Ada and her family appear on the 1881 census living at Prospect Place in Truro followed by the 1891 and 1901 censuses when the family are listed as living at Lemon Street in St Marys, Truro. By the time of the latter census, Ada then 22, had no stated profession. Her father died in 1904 and he was buried on April 14th, 1904 that year in St Mary's, Truro.

She was married just over a year later on September 12th, 1905 to Edwy Arthur West (born 1875), a native of Perranzabuloe, Cornwall. The couple moved to Bristol and their daughter Constance Miriam was born there in 1907. They later settled In Bournemouth where her husband worked for the department store JJ Allen as a shopfloor Walker. The family appeared on the 1911 census residing at Livadia, Paisley Road, Stourwood, Bournemouth and their 2nd daughter Barbara Joyce was born later that year.

Aboard Titanic/April 14th-15th, 1912:
Deciding to strike out for a new life in America decisions were made by the family to travel to Gainesville, Florida and begin a fruit culture business. They embarked at Southampton on the RMS Titanic on April 10th, 1912 as 2nd class passengers. Whilst aboard it appears they became acquainted with Clear Cameron and Nellie Wallcroft. Ada later recalled the events of the night of the sinking:

'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 lifebelts upon the children and then carried them to 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.'

Ada also recalled male interlopers in boat who had hidden under the women's skirts; the men had to be asked to stop lighting cigarettes in fear of the women's skirts being set alight. She also stated that she didn't fear of her husband's safety until after the ship sank and she heard the cries of those in the water. A steward in the boat tried to soften the mood by shouting 'Pull all man—they singing in the other boats. Give them a shout.' The boats occupants apparently made enough of a din to drown out at least a bit of the carnage happening not far away. As day broke Ada and her 2 daughters were treated kindly. She later recalled another survivor scoff that Titanic's surviving officers were feted by the passengers and crew of their rescue ship, allegedly being treated to champagne in the 1st class dining saloon on the evening of their rescue.

After The Sinking/Later Life/Death:
With a new life in America now thrown out of the question Ada, Constance, and Barbara returned to England aboard the RMS Celtic. Having been pregnant at the time of the disaster, Ada gave birth to a daughter on September 14th, 1912 and named her Edwyna Joyce in honour of her lost husband. She never remarried and resettled in Truro, Cornwall, living at Lemon Street for a number of years. Her daughters' education up to the age of 12 was sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Drapers. The year of 1915 was to be a difficult year for Ada; she lost her mother in May and both her parents-in-law Edwy and Elizabeth West, died only months apart of the same year.

Ada died in St Vincent's Nursing Home in Plympton, Devon on April 20th, 1953 at the age of 74. One keepsake that remained in her possession for the remainder of her life was the flask that her husband had passed to her the last time she ever saw him. She was cremated at Efford Crematorium, Plymouth, England, and her ashes were picked up by a family member to be scattered on Plymouth Sound Bay, Plymouth, England. Edwyna, a Titanic survivor in her own right, was married in 1941 to Clarence Patrick Erskine-Lindpop (1920 - 2001) who later became Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Local Government in the Bahamas and he was made an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 1977. The couple are also believed to have spent time in Manhattan. Edwyna died in Plymouth in 1969.    

Sources:
www.encyclopedia-titanica.org

Rest In Peace Ada West.

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