A love letter by the Titanic passenger who is referred to as the real Jack Dawson — played by Leonardo DiCaprio in the eponymous movie — will be offered at an auction for the first time, according to the New York Post.
Ernest Tomlin, 21, a third-class passenger who departed on the liner to the U.S. in 1912, confessed in a letter to his love, a woman called Rose — just like in the movie.
The letter became real evidence of Tomlin’s heartache, in which he complained to his mother about a broken heart and confessed that he wanted to be with Rose.
«Dearest Mother and all. Do not tell anybody, but I showed up to have a good cry 24 hours ago, which would give me back my Rose, but crying will not do that, will it?» the letter read.
Several days later, Ernest met his death in the icy Atlantic waters, becoming one of the 1,500 victims of the sinking.
Along with the letter, Tomlin’s diary with a red leather cover will be offered, which was found in his pocket after the accident. The last note reads simply «Titanic.»
The auction will be held by the Henry Aldridge & Son auction house, based in Devizes, England, on Nov. 22, 2025. The expected price of the two lots is $66,000.
According to auctioneer Andrew Aldridge, Tomlin’s diary is one of the fullest Titanic archives to hit the market in the past 30 years. Tomlin’s story strikingly resembles the fate of Jack Dawson from the famous James Cameron movie, with many coincidences — third class, gambling and a love for someone named Rose.
Before the tragedy, Tomlin was raised in Notting Hill, London, with his parents and six siblings. In 1907, he moved to Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., where he enrolled at the Bible College of Drake University. He later returned to England but decided to finish his education in the U.S., purchasing a ticket aboard the Titanic — the journey that turned out to be fatal.
Previously, Kursiv.media reported that Kurt Cobain’s guitar will be offered at an auction.
