There are many individual human stories that have survived the decades from the sinking of Titanic. Keith Hamilton recalls just three

The life or death lottery that was the sinking of Titanic brought both untold misery and, at the same time, a sense of relief to families across the South.

As wives and parents grieved for husbands, fathers and sons lost beneath the Atlantic others were given the good news that their loved one was among the survivors.

Southampton communities were hardest hit. Some streets, where many crew members lived, were decimated while the names on the list of those who were saved answered the prayers of local people who had experienced agonising days of uncertainty.

These are the stories of three individuals connected to Titanic. One lost his life, another survived and the third, through a twist of fate, returned to his family from the dead.

Ewart Burr was looking forward to his job as a first class steward on Titanic when he set off for the docks, leaving his young wife Ethel and his small son Cecil at their home in Victoria Road, Woolston, Southampton.

Sadly he was never to return, but the family were told he was seen giving up his chance of being saved by handing over his lifejacket to a woman passenger.

His story has been handed down through the generations and today his grandson Bob Burr from Holbury proudly researches the story of Titanic hoping to find out more find out more about his grandfather.

Bob's most precious possession is a fragile letter that Ewart wrote in pencil on board Titanic which was then taken off the ship in Ireland and posted back to his grandmother.

The letter reads:

"My Own Darling Wife, Here we are again at sea. It seems strange after so long ashore. Well, dear I have had my first day in the saloon and it has proved a success.

"I know, darling, you will glad to know this. I have a five table, one being the Countess of Rothes, nice and young and very nice to run. I think if I keep this table, I shall have a good show.

"We have just finished work and you can bet I am tired, 10.36pm. This is all the paper I could get, dear, so you must excuse shortness of letter.

"The fellows in the saloon are a jolly nice lot and I am sure we shall get on well together. It is so different from third class and second.

"Dearest Ethel I need not mention to you to take care of our little son as I know you love him as much as I do. Give him my love and kiss him each night from daddy.

"Give my love to all at home.

"Well, dearest, I shall say Au Revoir for a little while. Fondest love and kisses. Always your loving and true, Ewart.''

Later on April 19, 1912 Ethel received the official telegram that all the families had dreaded.

It simply said: "Much regret Burr not saved.''

While on board there is a chance that Ewart saw 18-year-old Elsie Doling from Albert Road, Southampton who was on a trip of a lifetime on Titanic's maiden voyage.

Her father, Jack, had connections with the White Star Line, as he ran the Atlantic Hotel, close to the docks, where many of the immigrants setting out for a new life in America stayed before joining the liners.

So together with her sister-in-law Ada Doling, the teenager walked up Titanic's gangway ready for the great adventure.

As it turned out during the crossing Elsie and Ada, together with Frederick Wheeler, valet to Alfred Vanderbilt, were photographed together strolling on the deck of the ship.

These days the photograph is one of the most enduring images of life on board and it is featured in many publications and is even a scene on a limited edition plate commemorating Titanic.

Now the photograph is in a collection belonging to Elsie's grandson, Neil Hendricks from Southampton.

"My grandmother travelled second class on Titanic and she only ever once talked about her experiences on the ship and even then she kept a lot to herself,'' said Mr Hendricks, whose grandmother died in 1972.

"She told us how she was taken off the ship in a lifeboat which was only half full and finally rescued by the liner Carpathia.

"After returning to Southampton she married my grandfather, John, who was a doctor and they went to live in India.

"They finally settled back in Southampton in the late 1940s and he became a GP in Bitterne with a surgery at the junction of Taunton Drive and Burnham Chase, where my mother was the receptionist.''

While Titanic was alongside Southampton Docks there was non-stop activity on board as the ship was made ready for her historic departure.

Among those working on the ship as a steward was George Henry Hobson, who had been transferred from another White Star Line ship to Titanic.

His story is one of those amazing incidents that literally change the rest of a person's life and is now recalled by his son, David Hobson from Dibden Purlieu.

"The day before sailing Dad had shore leave and went home by train to Gosport where he lived with my mother Kathleen and my grandmother,'' said Mr Hobson.

He was to go back to Southampton by the first train the following morning but the best laid plans go wrong.

"Mother must have been sleeping on his shirt tails as he overslept and missed the train at Gosport station. He caught the next one and arrived at dockhead to see Titanic about 500 yards down river.

"It was no good crying over spilt milk so he went to what was called the 'pool' to get another ship.

"A few days later he read the paper and saw the news about Titanic. His first thoughts were his own luck not to be on board, then the thought occurred that his wife and mother did not know that he was not on the liner.

"They would be distraught if they saw a newspaper because, to make matters worse, George could not swim.

"He caught the next train back to Gosport and when he walked in through the door they were in tears, but when they saw him they almost fainted.

"When they calmed down they set about berating him for missing the boat!''