A silver pocket watch found with the frozen body of a man who was the last victim of the Titanic to be recovered has gone on sale.

The watch was discovered with Thomas Mullin’s corpse 12 days after the liner hit an iceberg on April 14, 1912, and sank. The 20-year-old was a third-class steward and had signed on four days before the ship’s ill-fated maiden voyage.

The watch has lost both hands and is damaged beyond repair. It comes with a certificate of authenticity, insurance valuing it at double the final sale price and documents detailing Mr Mullin’s life. It is being sold on eBay by Paul Thorpe, 48, from East Grinstead, who runs an online collectibles shop.

Mr Thorpe said: “It’s a unique watch. From an investment point of view its value is sure to rocket in 2012, which marks the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking.”

Mr Mullin, from Dumfries, was one of more than 1,500 people who died. He joined the crew on April 6 and was the 45th person to sign on to the third-class steward register, earning a monthly wage of £3/15s. He would have been responsible for looking after third-class passengers, most of whom were emigrating to find a new life in America.

Mr Mullin was buried at Halifax, Nova Scotia.

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