Miss Elsie Edith Bowerman, 22, was born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on 18 December 1889, the daughter of William Bowerman and his wife Edith Martha Barber. Elsie was an only child, and her father died when she was only five years old.
In 1901, when Elsie was 11 years old, she was the youngest girl at Wycombe Abbey1, a prestigious Church of England girls' boarding school in Buckinghamshire. She left Wycombe Abbey in 1907 to spend time in Paris before going to Cambridge a year later to read Mediaeval and Modern Languages at Girton College2. Elsie passed the Tripos examination in 1911.
Around 1910, she and her mother became active members of Mrs Pankhurst's Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), which campaigned vigorously for the extension of the franchise.
Although Edith had moved to Thakeham, Sussex, following her marriage to Alfred Chibnall, by 1912 she and Elsie were living together at 'Thorncliffe' 145 London Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex.
On 10 April, they boarded the Titanic at Southampton as first-class passengers (ticket number 113505, cabin E-33) for a trip to America and Canada.
The two women were rescued in lifeboat 6. After reaching America, they did not abandon their travel plans but journeyed across the country, up to a ranch in British Columbia, to the Klondyke and Alaska.
In September 1916, Elsie became an orderly in a Scottish women's hospital unit which served Serbian and Russian armies in Rumania. Arriving just as the allies were defeated, her unit joined the retreat northwards to the Russian frontier. In March 1917, Elsie was in St Petersburg and witnessed the Russian Revolution; she kept a diary in which she recorded the momentous events.
Elsie returned to England in 1917 and continued her suffragist work. She travelled nationwide with the Pankhursts as an organizer of mass meetings at which suffrage leaders gave patriotic speeches to encourage men to join the Forces and women to volunteer for war work.
After the Armistice in 1918, Elsie became secretary of the Women's Guild of Empire. But her principal interest was now the law, in which she gained an MA and was admitted to the Bar in 1924. She practised until 1938 on the South Eastern Circuit.
As the Second World War approached, Elsie gave up her legal practice to join the Women's Voluntary Services, for which she worked for two years. After a short period at the Ministry of Information, she began work with the Overseas Services of the BBC, remaining there for over three years. In 1947, she returned to the United States to help set up the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
During the 1950s, Elsie returned to live in St Leonards-on-Sea to be near her elderly mother.3 When Edith died, Elsie, then 64, retired to a country house near Hailsham.
Elsie suffered a stroke in 1972 and died at home on 18 October 1973, aged 83. She was buried in the family grave with her parents in Hastings cemetery. She left an estate worth £143,000.
© Helena Wojtczak, UK
Comment and discuss
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Just researching family history and trying to tie in Miss Elsie Bowerman and her mother Mrs.Edith Chibnall (Bowerman) into my family line. If anyone has any more info on the two would love to hear. Van L Bowerman Columbia Mo.
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The Elsie Bowerman on life boat #6 and her mother also visited relatives in Quakertown Penn. On their way to Cleveland, Ohio. My grandfather, then 12, talked of the cousin from England that was on the Titanic. His father and mother were visitng his parents in Quakertown. My grandfather said, ' She was out of place on a dairy farm. Her clothes were to nice. She gave use kids candy. She walked about spinning her parasol. She was at times crying.'- Ron Bowerman
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I am writing the biography of Elsie Bowerman (Lifeboat 6 survivor.) Any little snippets about her welcome. Will add to her biog on ET in due course Helena Wojtczak Hastings England
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A pioneer of "women's lib" on Titanic? Yes indeed. Bowerman was a fascinating figure. I had not known she was so prominent in the suffrage movement. AND one of the first practicing female lawyers in England. I much enjoyed learning about her contributions to women's rights. What a life. There are letters and several photos, including one of Elsie in a 1912 march/parade. The picture of the lady being beaten down by police in the streets during the 1910 Parliament Square riot, in which Elsie's mother herself was injured, is really disturbing.
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let's try the link again: members.lycos.co.uk
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Very good website Randy, I agree the picture of the lady on the ground covering her face is very disturbing. If I was there, I would personally punch the men out if I saw them beating on a lady like that. and to know that 3 women later died from their injuries is rediculous. I thought that back then the women had all the priorities. Andrew M.
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Elsie Bowerman a remarkable woman maybe shes a relitive of minw i hope so. (my last names Bowerman) and its not a common name any wayz great site i will be back.
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Survivor Elsie Bowerman to get Blue Plaque - all invited
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