Auction for Titanic steward items

Edmund Stone's belongings were returned to his widow

A pocket watch frozen in time when its owner plunged into the Atlantic as the Titanic sank is among a collection of items due to be auctioned in Wiltshire.

Edmund Stone of St Andrew's Road in Southampton was a bedroom steward on E deck of the ill-fated liner in 1912.

Other items in the sale include the master key for cabins E1 to E42, Mr Stone's steward's pencil and a letter from White Star Line to his widow.

The collection is due to be sold by Henry Aldridge and Son on 18 October.

The Titanic hit an iceberg on 15 April 1912 in the Atlantic Ocean on her maiden voyage to New York, killing 1,521 people.

Mr Stone, who was 33 at the time, was mentioned in the American enquiry by Norman Chambers for whom he worked as a bedroom steward.

Edmund Stone was responsible for cabins E1-E42 on E Deck of Titanic

"Then my wife and myself returned in the direction of our stateroom, a matter of a few yards away only, and as we were going down our own alleyway to the stateroom door our steward came by and told us that we could go back to bed again; that there was no danger," said Mr Chambers.

Mr Stone's duties would have included attending to the safety of his passengers and ensuring they had put on lifejackets and warm clothing after leaving their cabins before getting off the sinking ship.

The White Star Line letter to his widow said: "Advise you that the body of your husband has been identified and buried at sea, the condition of the body unfortunately not permitting its removal to Halifax for burial."

His body was buried at sea on Sunday 21 April 1912.

He was allocated the number 41 and all his possessions were put in a canvas bag and sent back to his widow.

The canvas bag with the original receipt for his White Star Line steward's union is also due to be sold as part of the collection.