Arthur Lee - Titanic Survivor?
 
 
Arthur Lee was a seaman in the early decades of the twentieth century, who posted a series of postcards of the ships he worked on to his mother, Mrs E Lee, of Peckham Rye, London. He sent these cards from Southampton, on his arrival home, or just before taking a new ship. The Titanic connection is that he was supposed to have been aboard, but under a different name (I believe the name Arthur Lee is not listed in the relevant texts as a survivor). He posted a Titanic "In Memoriam" card from Southampton to his mother on 12th May 1912, with the message: "Am just writing you a few lines to let you know that I am alive and kicking. I am keeping well and hope all at home are." - I suspect it is this card which generated the family legend that Arthur Lee was actually on board the Titanic. There is no direct reference to being on the Titanic, and I strongly doubt that the story is true, but the collection is of sufficient other interest to reproduce here in its entirety.
 
 
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Olympic
 
Arthur's first card home was posted from Southampton on 4th March 1912. It is an extremely interesting card by A.Rapp of Southampton, showing the damage incurred to the Olympic after a collision with HMS Hawke on the 20th September 1911. The message reads: "Just a note to let you know that I am back. I may be able to come and see you Saturday afternoon. I will not be able to stop long because I have to get back here on Saturday night." Olympic actually arrived back on February 28th, having lost a propeller blade on this crossing. She left for Belfast on 1st March for repairs, resuming Atlantic service from Southampton on March 13th. The card does not state that Arthur was actually on the Olympic, he may have just thought it an interesting card.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Titanic
 
The next card home is the aforementioned card of Titanic, posted 12th May 1912 (Titanic was lost on 14th April 1912). The message read: "Am just writing you a few lines to let you know that I am alive and kicking. I am keeping well and hope all at home are."
 
 
 
 
 
 
Philadelphia
 
Arthur Lee's next ship was the Philadelphia, and he sent this card home on 11th September 1912. His message reads:- "Just a lines to ask you if you will send me on urgently my cottons and shirt which I want most urgently. I am sailing on this boat on Saturday, so you may just have the time."
 
 
Arthur was obviously still on the Philadelphia at Christmas, because part of the collection his mother retained had the following breakfast menu from Christmas Day, 1912.
 
 
 
 
 
Edinburgh Castle
 
Arthur Lee's next ship was the Edinburgh Castle, and the following card was sent on 22nd October 1913. the message is very similar to his Titanic card, leading one to doubt whether the message on that was particularly significant: "Just a line to let you know that I am back again alright and am keeping well which I hope you and all are."
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aquitania
 
The next card of the Aquitania, as a WW1 hospital ship, was not posted, but is annotated by his mother: "This is the ship that he is working on".
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kenilworth Castle
 
The next card in the collection is the Kenilworth Castle, posted Southampton on 13th July 1924. The message reads: "Hope all are well. We leave here on Sunday."
 
 
 
 
 
 
Majestic
 
The final card in the collection is the Majestic. This card was not posted and has no message, so I presume it was kept by his mother as just another ship he had worked on.
 
 
 
 
 
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