Irish Jesuit priest Father Francis Browne was given a ticket for the Titanic by his uncle. A keen photographer, he began taking pictures the moment the ship left Southampton and became friends with an American couple who urged him to stay for the second leg of the journey.

He telegrammed his superior to ask for leave, but received a response reading: "GET OFF THAT SHIP." And so Browne disembarked at Cobh – two days before the Titanic met her end. The images he took weren't discovered until 1985, and are among the best collections of Titanic photos we have today.

Liked this? Click on the Follow button above for more great stories from loveEXPLORING

Now discover the secrets of life on board the Titanic

Remarkable stories of the people who survived the Titanic