A RUSTY key a Southampton steward on Titanic used to get to stowed away lifejackets has surfaced for the first time after 104 years.

The key was recovered from the drowned body of Sidney Sedunary who was last seen passing the cork-filled life preservers to third class passengers on a lower deck of the sinking liner.

The fob was engraved with the words 'Locker 14 'F' Deck' and would have unlocked a cupboard housing the lifejackets.

It has now been put up for sale by a descendant of Sidney, who lived on Emsworth Road in Shirley, at Wiltshire auctioneers Henry Aldridge and Son for an estimated £50,000.

Sidney, whose wife Madge had just discovered she was pregnant when he boarded Titanic in April 1912, was the second third class steward.

F Deck was in the bowels of the ship and Sidney would have had to wade through icy sea water that filled Titanic after it struck an iceberg to carry out his duties.

It is also thought the steward would have realised there was little chance of surviving the impending disaster which claimed the lives of more than 1,500 people.

The 25 year old's body was recovered from the north Atlantic by the body recovery ship the Mackay Bennett days later.

His possessions, which included the key and his pocket watch which stopped at 2.20am - the time Titanic sunk - were returned to his grieving widow in Southampton.

In 1981 her son Sidney Jnr, who was born seven months after his father's death, gave the key to a cousin when she visited the UK from her native Australia.

Her daughter has now decided to sell it at auction and it has been given a pre-sale estimate of £50,000. The pocket watch was donated to Southampton's Sea City Museum before Sidney Jnr died in 2010.

Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge, said: "This key is a spectacular relic from the Titanic.

The ship was sinking and all the stewards had the task of looking after groups of passengers, making sure they had lifejackets and helping the women and children get to the boat deck and the lifeboats.

"We know from evidence at the official enquiry that Sidney Sedunary was seen in the bowels of the ship on F deck, handing out lifejackets.

"The lifejackets would have been locked away in a locker and this was that key that he used to get to them."

He added: "It was removed from Sidney's body and remained with his family for 104 years. It hasn't been seen before and this is the first time it has been offered for sale.

"It is an extremely important relic from that fateful night."

Sidney was originally from Newbury, Berks, but moved to Southampton when he got a job as a member of crew for White Star Line.

He married Madge in 1911 and signed on to Titanic on April 4, 1912 - six days before the liner left Southampton on its maiden voyage to New York.

After the tragedy he was buried at sea.

The key is being sold on October 22 in Devizes.