Nothing is really known about Minnie Webb except that she was born in Great Britain in the latter half of the nineteenth century and she was unmarried.
In 1915, she had been living in New York City in the United States of America and decided to return home to Great Britain.
Consequently, she booked a second cabin passage on the Lusitania and joined the liner on the morning of 1st May at her berth at Pier 54 in New York harbour. The steamer’s departure from the port was delayed because she had to load passengers, crew and cargo from the Anchor Liner Cameronia but just after mid-day, she slipped into the North River and out into the Atlantic Ocean.
Just six days later, she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20, whilst twelve miles off the coast of southern Ireland and only 250 miles from her Liverpool destination.
Minnie Webb was fortunate enough to be counted amongst the survivors and after being rescued from the sea and landed at Queenstown; she eventually made it back to her British home.
Nothing further is known about her and as far as can be ascertained, and she did not
give any newspaper interviews following her ordeal as far as is known.
Cunard Records, PRO BT 100/345, Graham Maddocks, Nyle Monday, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.