Sarah Louise Rose Arnold, always known as “Rose” was born in Hackney, London, England, on the 19th February 1877, the daughter of Samuel and Sarah Annie Arnold
(née Rose). Her father was a boot maker, and the family home was at 12. Poole Road, Hackney, London, and later at 1. Edward Street, Bethnal Green, London, and 429. Hackney Road, Bethnal Green, London.
In late 1901, or early 1902, she married Henry John Lohden in Bethnal Green, and on the 26th June 1902, their only child – Rose Emily Elsie, always known as “Elsie”, was born. In 1905 or 1906, the family immigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where Rose’s husband found work as a photo engraver.
Some time in early 1915, perhaps because of the war, Rose Lohden decided to revisit London, and consequently booked second cabin passage for herself and Elsie on the Lusitania. They boarded the liner at New York, before she left on her final ever trans-Atlantic voyage, just after mid-day on 1st May 1915.
When she was torpedoed, six days later, mother and daughter were able to get into a lifeboat with the help of fellow second cabin passenger, Vincente Egana, and having been eventually picked up by the Queenstown harbour tender, The Flying Fish, they were landed at that town. Once they had arrived in London, Rose Lohden later told of their ordeal to a reporter from the local press and the story was syndicated in many newspapers afterwards. The Western Mail of Monday 10th May 1915 reported it thus: -
Mrs. Lohden and her daughter E1sie were rescued in the nick of time by a young Spaniard Vinceti (sic) Egana who showed most remarkable chivalry and heroism. After carrying fainting women in his arms to the deck from which the boats were being lowered, Egana rushed back again and again to render further assistance “There were tears in his eyes,” said Mrs. Lohden. “and his one concern was how many he could save before he thought of his own life.
He spoke not a word of English; his1anguage was the language of chivalrous looks and absolute unselfishness. I think I am right in saying that he and Captain Turner were the last men on the Lusitania. Jumping into the sea, he swam round in the hope of saving other souls. I was overjoyed when we picked him up. We had to transfer four times until we were picked up by the Flying Fish. The women behaved splendidly, although they could not restrain their feelings amidst such a scene of horror.
And now let me tell you of a brave mother who clutched her little one to her heart for two hours before we took her from the water. She was hurled from the Lusitania just before the last plunge, but she managed to cling to the infant. Just as we succeeded in getting within a few yards of her raft, the baby girl closed its tiny eyes in her arms.
Almost overcome with exhaustion the mother caught hold of the side of our boat, the lifeless mite still close to her heart and when we got her into the boat, she could hardly speak. For a few moments her eyes were centred on her baby.
Then, lifting the little one in her arms, she turned to those in the boat and with tears in her voice, simply said, "Let me bury my baby". Within a few seconds the almost naked body of the child floated peacefully on the sea.
There was one little touch of subdued humour to relieve our gloom amid those terrible scenes. Mr. Hammond the New York magnate was picked up by us. A steward had lent him his coat and not knowing Mr. Hammond by
sight, I remarked as we drew him on board “Well steward, I’m so glad you were saved.”
“Thank you Madam” he replied, and just then I caught sight of the fashionable yellow boots and spats he was wearing, and a man sitting in front of me gave a sad smile. “That’s the millionaire Hammond of New York,” he observed.
Rose and Elsie Lohden, accompanied by Rose’s mother, returned to Canada, via New York City, on board the Philadelphia, in August 1916.
Rose Lohden filed a claim with the Canadian Commission seeking compensation for the loss of their personal possessions in the sinking, and was eventually awarded her full claim of $714.87 some years after the war.
The family resided at 66. Lyall Avenue, Toronto, and on the 22nd July 1931, Rose’s husband, Henry John, died. Then, on the 19th January 1932, Rose married Alexius Terence Pinard. The groom’s stated age was 29 years; while Rose’s age was understated as being 47 years!
Rose had been suffering from bronchitis and asthma for many years, and her second marriage was very short-lived, as she died at her home at 140. Bingham Avenue, Toronto, on the 20th October 1932, aged 55 years. She was laid to rest in St. John’s Norway Cemetery, Toronto, where her first husband had been buried the previous year.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Ontario Canada Marriages 1826 – 1938, Ontario Canada Deaths and Deaths Overseas 1869 – 1948, 1881 Census of England & Wales, 1891 Census of England & Wales, 1901 Census of England & Wales, 1921 Census of Canada, Canadian Passenger Lists 1865 – 1935, Cunard Records, Canadian Claims Case No. 765, Bradford Daily Times, Illustrated London News, Western Mail, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.