J. W. Bilbrough.
Telegrams: “Annex, Leeds.”
West Park,
Leeds.
Sept. 8, 1915.
MOSTYN PRICHARD Esq.,
7. Brockenhurst Road,
Ramsgate, Kent.
Dear Sir,
Your Letter of 4th inst. to my Son, G.W. Bilbrough, came duly to hand. He returned to Canada two months ago. I did not like to forward it without knowing from who it was lest it should be lost on the way, so kept it till his Brother returned last night, thinking he might possibly know the handwriting. As he did not, we opened the letter, and seeing at once that it was not of a private nature, we read it and beg to offer you our sympathy.
I will forward the letter by next mail and as a precaution have taken a copy of it. It will be a month before his reply can reach you. He himself, after running up & down stairs for life-belts for others, had barely time to throw off his clothes before being shot into the water by the heeling over of the vessel. After swimming for some time he and 2 or 3 others came upon some empty collapsible boats and piled one on another; these they disentangled and climbing into one proceeded to pick up others till it was full and after 2 or 3 hours were taken off by a trawler and eventually landed at Queenstown at midnight, 9 hours after the accident, which happened some 20 miles from land.
[Editor’s note: Personally, I would not call the attack on the ship an ‘accident,’ and the sinking occurred closer to 12 – 8 miles from land.]
The Yorkshire Post of Friday, May 10, gave a column and a half of survivors’ names. I am just leaving home but will call at the office of the paper on my way to the station and send you one if they have any left: if not, you might be able to obtain one from their London office, 177, Fleet Street.
In case of need please write me again. My Son’s address is SMITH’S FALLS, ONT., CANADA.
I am [sp?] Dear Sir,
Yours faithfully
J. W. Bilbrough.
P.S. I have obtained a paper & am sending it but for the paper in address for [hard to read]. I approbend [hard to read] you will have to apps [hard to read], to the Cunard Co. at Liverpool.
J.W.B.
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