Titanic Orphans: two brothers put on last lifeboat by father

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


Titanic survivors


Click topic for LINK

They were placed on the lifeboat by their father - but it was the last time they ever saw him.


As the 100th anniversary of the disaster approaches, Michel and Edmond's incredible story of survival has been resurrected through a series of photographs documenting those who escaped.


The boys became known as 'Louis and Lola' - the only children to be rescued from the Titanic without a parent or guardian.

After placing them on the lifeboat, their father died during the sinking.


The boys' parents had separated in early 1912 and Marcelle was awarded full custody of the children. However, she allowed her sons to stay with their father over the Easter weekend and he instead decided to emigrate to the United States.



The three travelled to England following a brief stay in Monte Carlo before boarding the doomed ship.



In later life, Michel recalled his memories of the Titanic as a 'magnificent ship'.


Through a translation he said: 'I remember looking down the length of the hull - the ship looked splendid. My brother and I played on the forward deck and were thrilled to be there.


'One morning, my father, my brother, and I were eating eggs in the second-class dinning room. The sea was stunning. My feeling was one of total and utter well-being.


'I don't recall being afraid, I remember the pleasure, really, of going plop! into the life-boat. We ended up next to the daughter of an American banker who managed to save her dog - no one objected.
'There were vast differences of people's wealth on the ship, and I realised later that if we hadn't been in second-class, we'd have died. The people who came out alive often cheated and were aggressive, the honest didn't stand a chance.'



Immortalised in films and brought to life with exhibits throughout the world featuring artefacts from the cabins that now lay 12,415 feet below sea level, the ship is undoubtedly one of the most famous in history.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2120129/The-Titanic-Orphans-Brothers-Michel-Edmond-Navratil-escaped-sinking-vessels-lifeboat.html#ixzz1qBOTsGz9