A STORY of frustration was how George Fleming described searching for information and pictures of a Salisbury bride who died on the Titantic, when he spoke to members of the city’s branch of Wiltshire Family History Society.
Mr Fleming talked about how he and fellow researcher Frogg Moody used newspapers, census and Sunday school records and other documents to uncover the few facts known about Eileen McNamee, a 19-year-old cashier at Liptons in Silver Street. She was on the Titanic with her husband of only three weeks, who was taking up a new job with the firm in the United States.
But although several photographs of incidents close Eileen’s home or work and at the right time have come to light, there is only one known picture of her, probably taken at the start of the fateful journey. Her body was recovered and buried at sea, but her husband was never found.
A seat and tree in Churchill Gardens commemorate the couple.
At their next meeting at Wilton Community Centre on March 19 at 7.30pm, members will hear about the collections and services available at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham.
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