‘For goodness’ sake! Put your arm around my shoulder.’ She supported me around the waist and ushered me towards the stack of lifeboats. ‘Why haven’t you got your lifesaver on?’ She called over the noise of the screeching davit. ‘Really, Miss Smith, you must learn to obey orders!’

Matron’s remark gutted me. Wasn’t I always doing my best? Hadn’t I tackled every foul job with all my energy? I noticed she had abandoned her petticoat and thought perhaps I should do the same, but there was no time, and even as we arrived at the muster, I was still trying to deal with my ankle pain and clutch onto my bulging pillow-bag.

The last lifeboat at this muster appeared to be full, but the sergeant in charge ordered everyone to make room for two more. He thrust a lifesaver at me.

Matron was given a place in the bow, and the pale, silent occupants of the stern bench budged up for me, then my pillow-bag was thrown in. I struggled to try and get my lifesaver on. We were lifted, swung over the side, and part lowered. Terror filled me as we hung far above the water. One of the men called up, ‘For God’s sake, set us down on the water!’

I prayed to Sissy and Arthur to keep us safe!

Lifeboat 1 was ahead of us, almost meeting the sea. Our vessel continued to hang halfway down the side of the ship. Perhaps there was a problem with the lowering mechanism. I hoped we would not have to jump from this great height. Why didn’t I take my petticoat off? At least I could swim; I guessed some of my companions could not. Could I rescue anyone from drowning? What terrible choices would I have to make? I tried to see Matron. Many lives would depend on her survival. If she ended up in the water, I’d try to save her first.

To start with, everything moved in a steady, comforting way. I assured myself, the King’s Navy had trained for this unfortunate eventuality. Then the ship rocked and the lifeboat rim crashed against the Britannic’s side. Everyone cried out when the green glass stripe that ran around the hull shattered. Glass daggers flew into the boat and hit some of the crew. Thankfully, eyes and faces escaped serious damage and our sturdy lifesavers spared anybody from being decapitated.

The Britannic’s bows dipped further, tilting us, terrifying everyone as we swung precariously, only six feet above the Aegean. Thank God the sea was flat. Then we continued down. However, the moment we reached the water and ropes were released, the propellers started up again.

Overwhelmed by the scene, I could hardly draw breath. My fear was not at that minute for myself, but for the people in Lifeboat 1.