Helen West Burrows, Gerald Burrows, and Mary Burrows set sail on S.S. Athenia from Belfast on 1st September 1939. Tragedy struck when U-30 torpedoed the liner.
Passenger on S.S. Athenia
Helen Burrows departed from Belfast on the ill-fated S.S. Athenia on 1st September 1939 with her son Gerald Burrows and daughter Mary Burrows. Her address given on boarding documents was that of her brother Alexander Coleman, York Lodge, Riverside, Antrim, Co. Antrim and they appeared under a list of American and Canadian residents sailing in Cabin Class.
The Burrows family resided with the head of the family Mr. William H.R. Burrows at 29 Tecumseh Street, Orillia, Ontario, Canada. Helen, a 50 year old housewife, died as a result of the sinking. Newspaper reports suggest Helen was on board the lifeboat smashed by the propeller of the Norwegian steamship Knut Nelson. She was rescued from the water by the crew of H.M.S. Escort but never regained consciousness before succumbing to her injuries. Her son and daughter were reported safe with fellow survivors at Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 5th September 1939. Helen’s name appears on a commemorative plaque at St. James’ Church, Orilla, Ontario, Canada.
The tragic news was received in Antrim on Tuesday afternoon that Mrs. Helen Burrows who was a passenger on the Athenia had lost her life in the disaster, and that her two children, Mary and Gerald, had been rescued and taken to Glasgow. Mrs. Burrows was a member of a well-known Antrim family, being a daughter of the late Mr. And Mrs. James Coleman, York Lodge, Antrim. The tragic news cast a gloom over the town and district, as many had earnestly hoped that all three would be rescued from the ill-fated steamer.