A PERSONAL tribute to the hundreds of Southampton residents who died on board the Titanic will be led by the children of the city, as part of the centenary commemoration of the disaster.

More than 600 schoolchildren will parade through Southampton holding placards bearing the pictures of all those who served as crew and who lost their lives when the ship went down.

They will lead the poignant tribute to the men and women who were aboard RMS Titanic when she sank as part of the opening ceremony for the city’s SeaCity museum – the visitor attraction dedicated to the disaster.

The parade led by Southampton’s Youth Brass Band will lead from the Engineers memorial, along Above Bar and then along Commercial Road towards the new museum in Havelock Road from noon on April 10, exactly 100 years on from when the ill-fated liner left the city.

For several months the youngsters from more than 27 schools across the city have been researching the crew members and all the information they have gathered will be written on the back of each placard they carry.

Of the 897 crew members |on the Titanic, 714 were |from Southampton. In total 685 crew members lost |their lives, with 538 registered to a Southampton |address.

Cabinet member for Resources, Leisure and Culture John Hannides said: “This will be a truly fitting tribute to all those crew members who lost their lives on the Titanic.”

As previously reported by the Daily Echo organisers are appealing for descendants of victims of the Titanic to take part in the ceremony.

Relatives wanting to take part in the event should email keith.hamilton@dailyecho.co.uk, call 023 8042 4492 or write to Keith Hamilton, Southern Daily Echo, Test Lane, Redbridge, Southampton SO16 9JX.

Find out more about Titanic

You can find out more about Titanic and the disaster's impact on Southampton with the Daily Echo.

Throughout the coming months ahead of the centenary in April, we will be showcasing unique content in our Titanic mini-site.

In the meantime, you can discover key sites across the city relating to the tragedy, the latest news relating to the ship or even find out some of the key facts behind the vessel, her demise and the people who perished and survived, including a list of all the crew members and the locations of their homes in Southampton.