R.M.S. TITANIC: Leo James Hyland (1893-1974). One of only a ...

Estimate

£12,000 - £15,000

R.M.S. TITANIC: Leo James Hyland (1893-1974). One of only a handful of contemporary drawings of the Titanic sinking by a survivor. Mr Hyland was a Third-Class Steward from Southampton who survived the sinking in lifeboat 11. Prior to Titanic he served onboard the S.S. New York the same liner that narrowly avoided a collision with Titanic as she left Southampton on April 10th, 1912. After surviving the Titanic disaster, he returned to sea onboard the New York where he met father and daughter Arthur and Angus Young. During the voyage he drew the Titanic sinking with a lifeboat rowing away, signed it and gave his contact address. The drawing is on the reverse of a U.S.M.S. New York menu dated 26th June 1912, only ten weeks after Titanic sank.
A provenance letter from Mr Young's grandson accompanies the letter
'Aunt Agnes met Mr Hyland and asked (or he offered) to do a drawing of the sinking. It is in pencil on the back of a U.S.M.S. 'New York' breakfast menu card for Wed. June 26th 1912. The size of the card is 6 x 3¾ inches. Mr Hyland printed his name and home address on the drawing. The handwriting on the menu side is that of my aunt and reads "Drawn by L. Hyland June 1912, (Titanic Survivor) Boat #16)". I think most historic sources place Mr Hyland in boat #11 so where Aunt Agnes got the #16 information I do not know. He told Aunt Agnes that as they were loading the boat, they needed people who could row so that was the reason he was aboard. Aunt Agnes worked for many years at the Stratford CT Library. In 1956 while reviewing a new book "A Night To Remember" by Walter Lord, she saw a photo of a drawing similar to hers. Mr Lord did not mention Leo James Hyland by name but stated something to the effect that it was the only known drawing by a survivor. Agnes Lucy Young married Thomas L. Joyce in 1950. She wrote Mr Lord (no copy of that letter was made) and Mr Lord's reply (original - included with drawing) states "Thanks so much for your interesting note of June 4. You have good eyes - your drawing and mine were indeed done by the same man, Steward Leo James Hyland.'
Mr Hyland's drawing that he gifted to Walter Lord, referred to above, now lies in The National Maritime Museum's collection in Greenwich meaning the drawing being sold is likely a unique opportunity to own a piece of this importance. In addition the example being offered for sale was drawn in 1912 and the National Maritime example 1956. The lot also includes the original letter to Agnes' husband Thomas from Walter Lord, photographs including Arthur and Angus onboard the U.S.M.S. New York on the June 1912 voyage, and a postcard written onboard the New York by Arthur Young. It also featured in Titanic Unseen by Senan Moloney.