The last surviving menu from the lunch served to guests just hours before the ill-fated Titanic's catastrophic end - is expected to fetch £100,000 at auction.

First class passengers tucked into several courses during their final lunch on board, including fillets of Brill, Egg a l'Argenteuil, Apple Meringue and the classic Scottish soup Cockie Leekie.

The luxury foods were served just after midday on April 14 - hours before the doomed passenger liner struck an iceberg and sunk, causing 1,517 deaths.

Auctioneers Henry Aldridge and Son, specialists in Titanic memorabilia, expect the menu to fetch between £60,000 to £100,000 when it goes under the hammer next month.

Chartered valuation expert Andrew Aldridge, from the company, which is based in Devizes, Wilts., said the lot was "the opportunity of a life time".

He said: "The star of the auction is one of the rarest items of Titanic memorabilia to be sold in recent years

"Any menu from the Titanic is highly prized but collectors will be offered the opportunity of a lifetime.

"A First Class Menu from the last lunch ever held on-board the Titanic gives a fascinating insight into the culinary life of Titanic's elite passengers.

"The cream of Edwardian society was aboard and it gives us a snapshot into what they ate on the last lunch served on the ship. Served over several courses the passengers had the choice of Egg A Argenteuil, Consommé Fermier, Chicken a la Maryland or Galantine of Chicken to name but a few of the 40 options on offer.

The First Class menu from the last-ever lunch on board the ship is "one of the rarest items" of Titanic memorabilia to be sold in recent years, he added.

It features the ship's name, 'R.M.S Titanic' and the important date 'April 14 1912', before the words 'LUNCHEON' and a list of 40 luxury foods to choose from.

Elite passengers could tuck into Consommé Fermier, Chicken a la Maryland, Egg a l'Argenteuil, Cockie Leekie with Corned Beef, Vegetables and Dumplings on their main menu.

Grilled Mutton Chops, Mashed, Fried and Baked Jacket Potatoes, Custard Pudding, Apple Meringue and Pastry were on the 'From the Grill' section.

And in the 'Buffet', the cream of Edwardian society had a choice of Salmon Mayonnaise, Potted Shrimps, Norwegian Anchovies, Soused Herrings and Plain & Smoked Sardines.

They could also eat Roast Beef, Round of Smoked Ham, Veal & Ham Pie, Virginia & Cumberland Pie, Bologna Sausage, Brawn, Galatine of Chicken and Corned Ox Tongue.

Health-conscious passengers could fill their plate with Lettuce, Beetroot and Tomatoes.

The 'Cheese' board boasted Cheshire, Stilton, Gorgonzola, Edam, Camembert, Roquefort, St. Ivel and Cheddar.

Smartly dressed waiters made sure the luxury diners did not go thirsty with a choice of Iced Draught Munich Beer, at a cost of 3d. or 6d. for a Tankard.

Mr Aldridge added: "The menu was the property of First Class Passenger Dr Washington Dodge who was a prominent banker from San Francisco.

"He boarded the Titanic with his wife Ruth and son Washington Junior, the family occupied cabin A-34 and held ticket number 33636 which cost £81 17s 2d."

Mrs Dodge was so in awe of the luxury on board that she slipped the 8in by 6in card into her handbag.

Hours later Mrs Dodge - still clutching her handbag - and her family were being rushed into safety boats and saved from the sinking vessel.

The menu is signed by the steward that helped rescue Dr Dodge, reading "With compliments & best wishes from Frederic Dent Ray, 56 Palmer Park, Reading, Berks."

It has been passed through generations from the Dodge family but will be now be auctioned on March 31 by Henry Aldridge and Son.

Their specialist Titanic memorabilia auction will be held exactly a century after the vessel was finished at shipbuilding firm Harland and Wolff.