Barbara West facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barbara Joyce Dainton West
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Barbara Joyce West
24 May 1911 Bournemouth, Hampshire, England
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| Died | 16 October 2007 (aged 96) |
| Known for | Survivor of the Titanic sinking |
| Spouse(s) | Stanley Winder (m.1938–1951, his death) William Ernest Barrel Dainton (m.1952–1990, his death) |
| Parent(s) | Edwy West and Ada Worth |
| Relatives | Constance and Edwyna West (sisters) |
Barbara Joyce Dainton (born West, May 24, 1911 – October 16, 2007) was one of the last people who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic. The Titanic was a huge ship that sank on April 14, 1912, after hitting an iceberg during its very first trip. Barbara was the last survivor who had traveled in second-class on the ship.
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Barbara's Early Life
Barbara Joyce West was born in Bournemouth, England, on May 24, 1911. Her parents were Edwy Arthur West and Ada Mary Worth. Barbara had an older sister named Constance, born in 1907. When they boarded the Titanic, her mother, Ada, was expecting another baby.
Barbara's father, Edwy, wanted to start a new life. He planned to work in the fruit farming business in Gainesville, Florida, in the United States. So, the family decided to move there. They chose to travel on the famous Titanic.
Aboard the Titanic
On April 10, 1912, Barbara, her parents, and her older sister, Constance, boarded the Titanic. They got on the ship in Southampton, England, as second-class passengers. Barbara was very young, just ten months and eighteen days old. This made her the second-youngest person on the entire ship.
Barbara later said that she could still remember the screams from the sinking ship. She also recalled her father taking her to the boat deck. He placed her into a lifeboat and said goodbye. That was the last time she ever saw him.
When the Titanic hit an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. on April 14, 1912, Barbara was sleeping. Her mother, Ada, later shared what happened:
We were all asleep when the collision happened. We only felt a small jolt. My husband and children didn't even wake up. It was only when other passengers hurried outside our cabin that we became worried. The ship's steward told us to get up and dress warmly. Arthur (my husband) put lifebelts on the children. Then he carried them to the boat deck. I followed, carrying my handbag. After making sure we were safe in the lifeboat, Arthur went back to our cabin. He got a thermos of hot milk. He reached the lifeboat by a rope, gave me the flask, said goodbye, and went back to the ship's deck.
Barbara, her mother, and her sister all survived the sinking. They were rescued by another ship called the Carpathia. Sadly, her father did not survive. His body was never found or identified.
The surviving West family arrived in New York City on the Carpathia on April 18. After arriving, Ada booked passage for herself and her daughters on another ship. This was the White Star Line's RMS Celtic. The ship arrived in Liverpool, England, on May 6. On September 14, Ada gave birth to her third daughter, Edwyna Joan.
Barbara's mother, Ada, passed away on April 20, 1953, at age 74. Her older sister, Constance, died on September 12, 1963, at age 56. Barbara's sister, Edwyna, married a British diplomat. She lived in England and the Bahamas.
School and Work
As a child, Barbara went to the Worshipful Boarding School in Purley, England. She then attended the Truro High School, which was an all-girls school. After that, she studied at St. Luke's College in Exeter.
After college, Barbara became a governess. This means she was a private teacher for a family from Cornwall. She moved with them to Spain. However, they had to return to England when the Spanish Civil War started in 1936. After returning, Barbara taught at a high school in Guildford, England.
In the 1950s, Barbara taught at a school in Truro. Later, she became the deputy head of physical education at Plymstock School. She worked there until 1972.
Marriages
In 1938, Barbara married Stanley Winder, who was a rugby player. They were married for 13 years. Stanley sadly died of a heart attack in 1951. Barbara married her second husband, William Ernest Barrel Dainton, in 1952. They were married until his death in 1990.
Later Life
Throughout her life, Barbara tried to avoid attention about the Titanic. As she got older, she became one of the last few living survivors. People became more interested in her story. But she refused to talk about the disaster outside her family. She often said she wanted "nothing to do with the Titanic people." She did communicate a little with the British Titanic Society. However, she was very careful about what she shared.
In her later years, she lived in Truro. She volunteered as a guide at the Truro Cathedral. This cathedral has a special memorial tablet for her father.
Death
Barbara died on October 16, 2007, in Truro, Cornwall. She was 96 years old. Her funeral was held on November 5 at Truro Cathedral. To avoid unwanted attention, Barbara asked that her funeral happen before her death was announced publicly. After her death, 95-year-old Millvina Dean became the last living Titanic survivor. Millvina Dean passed away 19 months later.
See also
In Spanish: Barbara West para niños
