Miss Helen Loraine Allison - Titanic First Class Passenger
Miss Helen Loraine Allison was a 2 year old first class passenger travelling aboard Titanic with her mother Bessie Waldo Allison, her father Hudson Joshua Creighton Allison, her baby brother Hudson Trevor Allison and their new servants, Alice Cleaver who was her brothers nursemaid, Sarah Daniels who was a maid, George Swane (in 2nd class) who was the family’s chauffer and Amelia Mary Brown (in 2nd class) who was a cook for the family. Helen Loraine Allison, who seems to have been known as Loraine, was born on 5th June 1909.
In March 1912, Loraine sailed to Britain with her family so that her father could attend a Director’s meeting of the British Canadian Lumber Corporation. Before boarding Titanic, to begin their journey home, the Allison’s recruited the four servants that were to make the journey home with them.
The family and their new servants boarded Titanic in Southampton on 10th April 1912. After the collision with the iceberg, Loraine’s baby brother, Hudson Trevor, was taken to the boat deck by his nursemaid, Alice Cleaver, where they both safely boarded Lifeboat 11. It is said that Loraine’s mother and father were not aware that their baby son was in a lifeboat and spent most of Titanic’s remaining time before sinking searching for their baby. It was, however, reported in the press after the disaster that the reason for them staying behind was because her mother refused to leave her father on the ship. Loraine, her mother and father were all lost in the sinking. Hudson Trevor Allison was the only member of the family to survive. Of the servants, George Swane was the only one to perish.
Loraine was the only child from first and second class to be lost in the disaster. Her body was not found.
In the 1996 made for TV film/mini-series, the Allison’s are portrayed and their story, although not all factual, is a key part of the film. Loraine Allison was played by Devon Hoholuk.
Related pages - Titanic's First Class Passengers, All Titanic Pages
