Just leaving for the lan of stars and stripes...

Titanic passenger's cheery postcard

- TOM BEVAN

A PASSENGER on the doomed ship Titanic sent a postcard full of hope just days before he died.

Tea broker Richard William Smith wrote to a Mrs Olive Dakin, of Norwich.

Postmarked April 11, 1912, the card reads: "Have had a fine run around to Queenstown. Just leaving for the land of stars and stripes." It ends: "Hope you are all quite well at home. Kindest regards, R.W.S." The Titanic stopped at the Irish port of Queenstown before heading across the Atlantic for America. It sank on April 15.