A campaign by Bath’s former mayor, Bryan Chalker, who has long worked to have Bath’s industrial heritage recognised, has raised the money needed for a plaque to honour a Bath woman who survived the sinking of the Titanic in 1912.
Edwina Troutt, known locally as Winnie, was just 28 years old when she sailed from Southampton on board the Titanic bound for New York. She was born in Bath, having lived at 40 Claverton Street and 13 Newark Street whilst a resident of the city.
Despite it being the ship’s maiden voyage, the Titanic struck an iceberg off the Newfoundland coast on 10th April 1912 and sank. It was reported that 1,522 of the passengers and crew aboard the ship died, but Edwina Troutt was one of the few rescued by the steamship Carpathia. She went on to live until the age of 100 in California, USA.
Edwina isn’t Bath’s only connection to the Titanic, another passenger, Edwin Wheeler, was also born in Bath, however, he did not survive the incident. Local engineering firm, Stothert and Pitt also have a connection, as they manufactured various parts for the ship, as well as other ocean liners including the Lusitania.
The campaign to acknowledge Bath’s connection to the Titanic through Edwina has been going on for a little while, with Bryan Chalker campaigning on his website and seeking out funds to raise the £600 that was needed for the plaque. The American Museum, along with members of the public generously contributed to the fund, which has now reached its total.
The plaque dedicated to Edwina will be pinned to a wall near Bath’s Apple Store, which now stands in the area that she once lived.
