A Boatload of Mail

Clerks onboard the Titanic, Oscar Woody's keys and facing slips, bags of mail being loaded on the ship.
 

On board the S. S. Titanic on April 15th, 1912, was a state of the art Sea Post Office where mail was being sorted and canceled in route to the ship's destination. There were 3000 bags of mail on the ship.

Five clerks onboard included Americans Oscar Woody, John March, and William Gwinn who worked alongside British clerks John Smith and James Williamson. They refused to abandon their posts, working diligently to get 200 registered mailbags on deck in the hopes of saving it.

It happened to be Oscar Woody's 44th birthday. His body was recovered, and in his pockets were a chain of mailroom keys, some postal facing slips, and his assignment to service on the Titanic - the only mail artifacts found. No mail has been recovered from salvaging operations.

It is estimated that between six and nine million pieces of mail, and between 700 and 800 parcel post items were lost. Along with five steadfast men who were honored by both countries.

http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/titanic/titanic.html