BRAVE Annie Caton could not have picked a worse time to start working on ocean liners.

For the 50-year-old took her first cruise ship job on the Titanic - which famously embarked on its maiden voyage from Southampton - as a Turkish bath attendant.

But the lucky stewardess, who narrowly escaped death in lifeboat 11, was undeterred by what must have been a terrifying first impression.

London-born Annie continued her new career until she retired, aged 60, before settling in Australia.

She kept her certificate of discharge, which details her ocean-going career.

It shows how White Star paid her to the exact minute the Titanic sank in April 1912, claiming 1,503 victims, 549 from the Southampton area.

They even quoted the exact latitude and longitude that marked the termination of her employment.

Annie continued to work for the company, once on the Adriatic and four times on the Majestic.

Now Christies of London is auctioning the document in its Maritime and Naval Battles Auction in South Kensington tomorrow.

It is expected to raise between £1,500 and £1,800.

Charles Miller, maritime specialist of the auctioneers, said: "Annie had quite a strange career. It would be interesting to find out what became of her."

Titanic memorabilia has fetched considerable sums over the years.

In February this year the Daily Echo reported the sale for £25,000 of a watch which stopped at the exact moment the boat sank.

And last year Sotheby's of London sold an 89-year-old biscuit commemorating the ill-fated ship's launch for £3,525.