2 June 2007

Another link to Titanic boarded SS Nomadic on Monday 28th May 2007.  Many visitors came especially to see 'The Love Of The Sea' necklace, which has become a feature attraction on display. Henry Samuel Morley gave the necklace to Kate Florence Phillips on board Titanic as they planned to build a new life together in America. The necklace and its romantic story was the inspiration of James Cameron's 1997 movie 'TITANIC'.

"THE LOVE OF THE SEA" Henry Samuel Morley owned four tobacco & confectionary shops in Birmingham, Worcester & Malvern in England. Although a married man of 39, he fell in love with one of his shop assistants, Kate Florence Phillips, 19. Having made provision for his wife and child, he left with Kate to start a new life in the US and they boarded TITANIC at Southampton as 2nd class passengers under the pseudonyms Mr. & Mrs. Marshall. He gave Kate this pendant necklace as a token of his love for her and when he put her into lifeboat 11, this was all she possessed along with her purse and trunk keys. Miss Phillips stayed in New York for 4 months, but returned to England after discovering she was pregnant with Mr Morley's child; conceived onboard the ill-fated liner. She gave birth to Ellen Mary in January 1913, but saw little of her daughter for most of her childhood, as she was brought up by her grandparents, whilst Kate made a new life for herself in London. Just before her death in 1964, Kate gave Ellen Mary her necklace, purse and keys. Ellen Mary Walker died in November 2005 and her ashes were scattered at the wreck site of TITANIC, achieving her lifelong ambition of being in some way reunited with the father she never met.

Also on display is the purse and trunk keys that belonged to Kate, one of the only possessions to arrive in America with her following the disaster at sea. Another addition to the exhibits is a  pocket watch belonging to 1st class passenger Austin Partner.

GOLD HUNTER WATCH This pocket watch belonged to 1st class TITANIC passenger, Austin Partner, from Tolworth, Surrey in England. A stockbroker known on both sides of the Atlantic, 40 year old Mr. Partner had started a new job just ten days before he sailed and was on his way to Canada; first Toronto then Winnipeg. Married with two sons, 9 and 12, he boarded TITANIC at Southampton with ticket number 113043 costing £28 10s and occupied cabin C-142. Wearing a blue suit, his body (#166) was recovered by the MACKAY BENNETT and returned to England aboard the SS MINNEHAHA, which sailed on 11th May 1912. He is buried at St. Mary's Churchyard in Long Ditton, Surrey. Personal effects recovered included a cigar case, silver cigarette case marked "A.P.", this gold watch, keys, gold cufflinks and collar studs, 9 s & 3 1/2d,  $50 in gold, £3 in gold, a £5 note, a pocket book and $71-00.

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