1883 - 1938

Born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, in 1883, Evelyn Marsden migrated to Australia with her parents and sibling while a child. The family settled in South Australia where her father eventually became station master at Hoyleton.

As a young woman Evelyn became an accomplished equestrian and her riding skills were much admired. Holidays at Murray Bridge provided her with opportunities to learn to row - a skill which was to be very useful later in life. Following her nursing training and after gaining experience by working in hospitals in Melbourne, Evelyn sailed to England, where she was reunited with her relations in Chesterfield in 1908.

Her love of the ocean and a spirit of adventure prompted her to seek employment as a stewardess/nurse. Her first experience was on the Olympia in 1911. Surviving its crash, she then enrolled in 1912 on the Titanic. When it famously sank having hit an iceberg, she was fortunate to find a place in lifeboat 16 where her prowess in rowing proved essential.

Having initially been told that Evelyn had been lost, her family and finance were delighted to learn that she was among those saved. Her fiancé, Dr William Abel James, was a ships doctor. He’d also been on the Olympia, which is perhaps where they met. The couple were married in Southampton on 27 July 1912. The newlyweds soon left for Australia, arriving in Adelaide where they made their home.

Dr James originally found employment at the Adelaide Hospital. During WW1 he served as a medical officer in Egypt, later in Britain. On his return to South Australia in 1919, the couple lived and worked in the coastal town of Wallaroo for 15 months. After a number of moves, they finally settled in North Bondi. The choice of Sydney may have been determined by the fact that Dr James had a cousin living in Sydney.

Evelyn died 30 August 1938 aged 54 years. Her husband died a week later on 7 September 1938, reportedly after a short illness. They were buried at Waverley Cemetery in Sydney in an unmarked grave. Their resting place remained unmarked until 5 October when a stone was finally erected on the site.