A WOMAN'S STORY

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 108, 2 November 1940, Page 9

A WOMAN'S STORY

BOMBING OF THE EMPRESS

OF BRITAIN

(British Official Wireless.) (Received November 2, 10.20 a.m.)

RUGBY, November 1,

Survivors from the Empress of Britain, which was destroyed at sea by enemy air action, have now given details of scenes when the ship was struck by bombs.

A woman passenger said: "I was coming out from the breakfast-room, which was about four or five decks down, just under the water level, when a bomb fell. We were against the outside wall of the ship, and we laydown as ordered. Fumes began to come through—phosphorous fumes from an incendiary bomb. The air became very foul and we got up. Our lives were saved by an old steward who must have been about 05. He got a torch from somewhere and led us through the back of the ship through fumes and smoke. "We got out to the boat-deck and were very glad to get some fresh air. The women were told to go first down the ropes over the side of the ship, and I was very lucky. I skinned my hands going down the rope., but got straight into the boat. There were only four children on board, but they were particularly good. A baby nine months old was strapped on the back of a sailor who went down the rope with it into the boat, and the child never cried."

Of the 643 passengers and crew on the Empress of Britain 598 were rescued.