Historical information

Links to another image in the collection previously unidentified now known as at 2018 to be the children of a seafaring family of Captain and Mrs Aviss. In 1918 the family was re-united with Mrs Aviss' parents after a dangerous journey by sea the first time that the children met their grandparents, Captain and Mrs Frampton also seafarers .
Mrs Aviss gave birth to her third child in August 1918 on board the ship.
She contracted the "Spanish flu" probably in St John, New Brunswick and died, at the age of 28, on the 3 November 1918 after a week in hospital, leaving her husband with two toddlers and a 3 month old baby.
The story demonstrates the respect and support of the Mission for two remarkable families of seafarers and the dangers of the influenza epidemic post WW1.

Significance

An example of lives and tribulations of a seafarer family who survived the Great War but who also had to deal with the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1919.

Physical description

Large engraved brass plaque mounted onto brick wall commemorating wife of sea captain.

Inscriptions & markings

To the Glory of God / and in memory of Catherine Florence/ the beloved wife of Captain Herbert Aviss/ (Barque Inverneill) who died at St John. N.B./ Nov 3rd 1918.