Laura Martin, 56, was born Laura Truman and from Ilkeston, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom. She married Albert Martin. They moved to New Philadelphia, Ohio, United States in early 1914, but Albert died that August. Now widowed, Laura decided to return home. She took passage on the Lusitania. She survived and submitted this account to the Nottinghamshire Weekly Express, published on 14 May 1915:
“When the vessel was torpedoed, I was in a third-class cabin with another woman, who was nursing a baby, when there came a crash, which shattered the mirror of the cabin. I jumped up, crying, ‘My God! What’s that?’ Hurrying from the cabin I saw droves of people rushing forward, and I called to them to help me. I was picked up and put into a boat, which was packed and was, eventually landed in Queenstown.”
She saw one boatload of women and children break-up as it was being lowered. Screams and cries of “Save us! Save us!” were described as heart-rending.
References:
“Survivors’ Accounts from the Lusitania, 7th May 1915.” Small Town, Great War. Hucknall 1914 – 1918. Online. <http://www.facebook.com/notes/small-town-great-war-hucknall-1914-1918/survivors-accounts-from-the-lusitania-7th-may-1915/293207364031341>.
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