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Duration 44:07

Women and Children First

This talk looks at the origins and social context of why women and children were evacuated from the Titanic first, and did this conformity to the social norm actually lead to a greater loss of life. The talk also looks at the experience of some of the women and children on board.

Janet Dempsey is a Maritime record specialist at The National Archives where she has worked for eight years. Her particular interest in the records of the Merchant Navy comes from at least six generations of her family being part of the service and includes a fireman on board Titanic.