Arthur West scrambled down the rope of a rescue boat to give his wife and two daughters a flask of hot milk before returning to the deck, and his fate.

The 36-year-old's act of bravery was revealed in an account written by his wife, Ada, which is being auctioned next month with the flask and letters.

The items could fetch up to £60,000 at the sale in Devizes, Wiltshire.

The luxury liner struck an iceberg and sank on 15 April 1912, killing 1,517 people.