More than eighty years after the Second World War, two life jackets worn by the late Maurice Atkins have been donated to the Maritime Museum of British Columbia in Victoria, B.C.
Both artifacts were originally gifted to author Dan Black who conducted several interviews with Mr. Atkins during the research phase of his 2025 book Oceans of Fate: Peace and Peril Aboard the Steamship Empress of Asia. “I’ve carried them all my life,” he told the author. “I’m 96. It’s time to get rid of them.”
While Mr. Black was grateful to be entrusted with such a gift, he suggested that perhaps both life jackets should one day be placed in a museum. That has now happened thanks to the interest shown by the MMBC, which was also the location of the 2025 book launch for Oceans of Fate.
Maurice Atkins was a young officer cadet on the Empress of Asia when she was destroyed within sight of Singapore by Japanese aircraft, February 5, 1942. Mr. Atkins wore one of the life jackets while escaping the burning troopship with other crew and British soldiers. The second life jacket donated to the MMBC was worn by Mr. Atkins when he escaped the Empress of Canada, torpedoed and sunk off the west coast of Africa, March 13-14, 1943, by an Italian submarine. At the time, Mr. Atkins was the ship’s Third Officer.
Once the MMBC exhibit is established, visitors will have the opportunity to view the life jackets and reflect on how they helped save the life of a wartime merchant seaman. Oceans of Fate is available at bookstores and online.