The Sinking of the Britannic

 The Harrisburg Telegraph - November 24, 1914

Titanic Survivor Survives Another Sinking Ship

Violet Jessop, one of the stewardesses on the sinking Britannic, has been through it all before because she was also Titanic survivor.

Although she preferred not to be identified in this news clip, she did own up to it years later when she wrote her memoirs.  

The short version:

The offices of the White Star Line have been advised by the British Admiralty that the Britannic was sunk by a mine.  Officials stated that the following message was received from London:

"Regret exceedingly to inform you that Britannic sunk by mine in Aegean Sea. Loss of life not exceeding 50."

One survivor stated that the order aboard, when Britannic was hit, was perfect. Thirty to forty of the crew were wounded by the explosion. The nurses, with officers and men of the Royal Navy, lined up on the deck.

It was impossible to launch all the lifeboats, although many got away.  Several survivors dropped into the sea with lifebelts on. Women, of course, were saved first. They all behaved quite cooly.  Wireless messages were sent in all directions asking for help and a number allied vessels, destroyers and mine sweepers quickly arrived.

One of the stewardesses was aboard the Titanic when it sunk after hitting an iceberg.  She told the terrible story of launching the first two Britannic lifeboats, they swung out over the water, whirring around in the air for several minutes.  

Two loaded boats were sucked toward the sinking vessel and were smashed like matchwood by the propeller. 

Many were killed outright and others received terrible wounds.

"It was really worse than the Titanic," the stewardess said.

Violet Jessop