The Empress of Ireland – Canada's Titanic Part I

In the first Posted in the Past book, one postcard revealed not just the story of the person who sent the card but a tragedy that affected hundreds of people on both sides of the Atlantic.

Edith (reproduced by
kind permission of her family)

Edith Stainer was born in Dorchester, Dorset. Unlike many of her close relatives she moved away and worked in Braunton, Devon and in London. She doesn’t appear in the 1911 census but she does appear in records in Canada where she eventually worked as a maid.

In 1914 she was returning to England – perhaps on a holiday, or perhaps permanently.

More than 3 million people emigrated from the UK to Canada in the early years of the 20th century – escaping the toxic legacy of the Industrial Revolution and rising unemployment. Of those that I discovered through postcards – and it was surprising how many there were – many would travel back to the UK for a few weeks and then return to either Canada or America. These weren’t wealthy people; they were workers who quite likely saved every cent so they could go home.

So, I don’t know why Edith was planning to return – or for how long.

In May 1914 she sailed on the RMS Empress of Ireland, leaving Quebec for Liverpool.

Two of the last photographs taken of the Empress of Ireland 
(reproduced by kind permission of the Salvation Army)

During the first night the ship collided with another – thick fog and bad luck played their part – and within 15 minutes the Empress sank. More than 1000 people, including Edith, drowned.

Children's coffins

The tragedy is known as ‘Canada’s Titanic’ – more passengers were drowned on the Empress than on the Titanic (although the total lost was far greater on Titanic). It’s also known as the forgotten tragedy – I’d certainly never heard about it – it was overshadowed by the outbreak of the First World War and it would always come second to Titanic.

As well as writing about Edith’s short life and the Empress, it’s one of the subjects I offer to groups as a talk and once you learn about something so awful you never forget it. Since I researched Edith’s card – almost three years ago now – I still keep an eye out for mentions of the ship. When I find families who emigrated before 1914, I check to see if I can trace their ship.

Lillian's card from Bert

I came across this new postcard (that will be included in my next Posted in the Past book – Second Delivery) and hoped I would be able to trace the sender – who signed the card ‘Bert’. At the time of writing this article I haven’t succeeded but I do know who received the card. Lillian lived in Kent in a pub with her parents and brother. The postcard was sent from Liverpool and the date matches the Empress’ departure in 1911.

Once I had been reminded of the Empress, I looked to see if Lillian had received any other postcards from the sender (ebay is a wonderful resource) and hoped there might be more details that would lead to Bert's identification.

Lillian's second postcard

Eventually I found another postcard – but not from Bert. Confusingly, the ship depicted isn’t the one this family sailed on in 1913. I have traced them to the same village as Lillian and know, in general terms, what happened to them in Canada.

I’m hoping that I still might find Bert – all I know with any certainty is that Lillian didn’t emigrate and she didn’t marry anyone who could be Bert.

You can read more about Edith Stainer and her family, and the sinking of the Empress of Ireland, in Posted in the Past. Lillian's story will be in the second book, published in 2021. Posted in the Past is available from a number of online stores, indie bookshops and direct from me for £9.99 including P&P. Email me at info@helenbaggott.co.uk for more information.

The Empress of Ireland – Canada's Titanic Part II

A couple of weeks ago I shared the story of Edith Stainer and the tragedy of RMS Empress of Ireland.

In May 1914 the ship sailed from Quebec on her way to Liverpool. The journey would take six days, two of them spent sailing along the St Lawrence River. During the early hours of 29 May, the ship was engulfed in thick fog – so thick that it lost its position and ultimately collided with a Norwegian collier. It took only 15 minutes for the Empress to sink – with catastrophic loss of life.

Although the story shared in Posted in the Past was concerned with Edith Stainer (it was her postcard that began the research) I also researched other passengers – including some who had connections with my part of the UK.

Albert Mullins
(Photo courtesy of Brian Cleary, from Barnes and Mullins Ltd)

Albert Mullins was born in Somerset and his family moved to Wimborne after his birth in 1872 – living in Leigh Road. Samuel ‘Bowley’ Barnes was born in Wimborne and his family lived in the High Street. The young men shared an interest in music and formed Barnes and Mullins – selling musical instruments. Their company began trading in Bournemouth.

In 1914, Albert was returning to England following a successful business tour of several countries. Accompanying him were his wife Kate and their daughter Eileen (their son remained in England). With only 15 minutes from impact to sinking, it’s perhaps understandable why so many children – 133 – were lost, including Eileen. Albert also drowned. His wife survived with terrible injuries – and was eventually brought back to England by her sister and brother-in-law, Bowley Barnes (the business partners had married sisters).

(Photo courtesy of Brian Cleary, from Barnes and Mullins Ltd)

Barnes and Mullins continued to trade – and still does. The founders never forgot their roots and even named a mandolin The Wimborne Mandolin. A banjo was named The Empress – acting as a form of remembrance for the company’s co-founder and his daughter.

The Wimborne Mandolin
(Photo courtesy of Brian Cleary, from Barnes and Mullins Ltd)

You can read more about Edith Stainer in Posted in the Past – available from a number of online stores, indie bookshops and direct from me for £9.99 including P&P.  Email me at info@helenbaggott.co.uk for more information.