The Hampshire Family Historian | Volume 49 No.4 | March 2023

Member’s article

William Gamblin

Edith Maria with Harry

After working on the Isle of Wight ferries, Edith joined the Union Castle line in 1921, sailing on the Arundel Castle to South Africa and one year later moving to the Windsor Castle as a laundress. Obviously being quite ambitious, Edith moved to the Homeric as a stewardess in 1925 on the regular run to New York. Then in 1926, she sailed on the Orca, followed by the Araguaya in 1927, the Albertic in 1928, back to the Homeric in 1928 and the Majestic in 1928. It was during one of these trips she became pregnant with Ena and I have no idea who her father was. Edith

remained with the Majestic until 1931 when she transferred to His Majesty’s Troop ship Lancashire carrying troops to India and China. Then in 1934 she went back to the Homeric cruising in the West Indies and Mediterranean. Edith then spent two years on the Aquitania on the New York run until she was asked to join the crew of a new Cunard liner called The Queen Mary. After a short “shakedown” cruise the Queen Mary embarked on her maiden trip to New York on 27th May 1936, returning to Southampton on 10th June 1936. Edith said she would never forget the

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