Eva Hart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eva Hart
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Hart in 1993
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| Born | 31 January 1905 |
| Died | 14 February 1996 (aged 91) Chadwell Heath, London, England
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Eva Miriam Hart was a British woman who became famous as one of the last people to survive the sinking of the RMS Titanic. She was only seven years old when the huge ship sank on April 15, 1912. Eva lived a long life, passing away on February 14, 1996, at the age of 91.
Contents
Eva Hart's Life Story
Her Early Years
Eva Hart was born on January 31, 1905, in Ilford, England. Her parents were Benjamin and Esther Hart. Eva was their only child together. She went to school at St. Mary's Convent in Gidea Park, London.
In early 1912, Eva's father, Benjamin, decided their family would move to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He wanted to join his brother who already lived there. Also, there were not many jobs in England at that time.
Aboard the Titanic
Eva was seven years old when she and her parents boarded the Titanic. They were second-class passengers. They got on the ship on April 10, 1912. They were supposed to travel on another ship, the SS Philadelphia. But a coal strike stopped that ship from sailing. Many passengers, including the Harts, were moved to the Titanic.
Eva's mother felt worried about the Titanic. She feared something bad would happen. People were calling the ship "unsinkable." Eva's mother thought this was too proud and tempting fate. Because of her fear, Eva's mother only slept during the day. She stayed awake and fully dressed in their cabin at night.
Eva was sleeping when the Titanic hit an iceberg. This happened at 11:40 pm on April 14. Her mother was awake and felt "a slight bump." She immediately asked her husband to check what happened. He left the cabin, but came back quickly.
Eva's father told them about the collision. He wrapped Eva in a blanket and carried her to the boat deck. He then put his wife and daughter into Lifeboat No. 14. He told Eva, "be a good girl and hold Mummy's hand." These were the last words he ever said to her. It was also the last time she saw him. He died when the ship sank. His body was never found or identified.
Eva and her mother were rescued the next morning. The ship RMS Carpathia picked them up. They arrived in New York City on April 18. Soon after, Eva and her mother returned to the UK. Her mother had never wanted to go to New York in the first place.
Eva had many nightmares after the sinking. When her mother died in 1928, Eva was 23. She decided to face her fears. She booked a ticket on a ship going to Singapore. She stayed locked in her cabin for four days. After this, her nightmares finally went away.
In April 2012, an audio guide was made for Titanic memorials in Southampton. It included recordings of Eva Hart talking about her experience. The guide takes listeners on a walk around Southampton. This is where the Titanic began its first voyage. Eva was seven years old during the sinking. She remembered many things clearly: {{quote|We went on the day on the boat train. I was 7, I had never seen a ship before. It looked very big. Everybody was very excited. We went down to the cabin and that's when my mother said to my father that she had made up her mind quite firmly that she would not go to bed in that ship. She would sit up at night. She decided that she wouldn't go to bed at night and she didn't! One fact about the beautiful Titanic is that some said the Titanic was 'unsinkable' but now it went world wide that the Titanic has sunk and there were an estimated 700-1,500 survivors.
Her Career and Public Service
Eva Hart had many different jobs during her life. She was a professional singer in Australia. She also worked as an organiser for the Conservative Party in the UK. Later, she became a magistrate, which is like a judge in a local court.
During the Second World War, Eva volunteered to help. She organised fun events for soldiers. She also gave out emergency supplies to people after The Blitz, which was when London was bombed. She was a member of Soroptimist International of East London for 34 years. She was even the club president from 1970 to 1971.
Special Recognition
In 1974, Eva Hart was given a special award. She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This award was for her work in politics and for the public in London. The Duke of Kent presented the award to her.
Later Life and Legacy
Eva Hart stayed involved in Titanic events even when she was in her 80s. In 1982, she went back to the US. She joined other survivors at a Titanic Historical Society meeting. This meeting celebrated 70 years since the sinking. She attended three more meetings in 1987, 1988, and 1992.
In 1994, she wrote her own book. It was called Shadow of the Titanic – A Survivor's Story. In the book, she shared her experiences on the ship. She also wrote about how the sinking affected her life. On April 15, 1995, Eva and another Titanic survivor, Edith Brown, dedicated a memorial. It was a garden plaque at the National Maritime Museum in London.
Her Passing
Eva Hart died from cancer on February 14, 1996. She passed away in a hospice in London. This was just two weeks after her 91st birthday. After her death, only eight Titanic survivors were left. A Wetherspoon's pub in Chadwell Heath, where she lived, was named 'The Eva Hart' in her memory.
Eva Hart in Popular Culture
Because of her connection to the Titanic and her active role later in life, Eva Hart became well-known. She was mentioned in many books, museums, and exhibitions.
- Several Titanic documentaries included interviews with Eva Hart. One of these was Titanica in 1995.
- Shadow of the Titanic is Eva Hart's life story. Professor Ronald C. Denney wrote it with her help. It was first published in 1994.
- Eva and Little Kitty on the Titanic is a children's book. It was published in 2012. This book is based on Eva Hart's memories of the disaster.
- The 1997 movie Titanic has a scene that refers to Eva's story. In the movie, a father tells his daughter, "You hold Mommy's hand and be a good little girl." This is like what Eva's father, Benjamin, told her when she got into the lifeboat. An interview with Eva was also part of a behind-the-scenes documentary about the 1997 film.
See also
In Spanish: Eva Miriam Hart para niños
