It was one of the most controversial incidents of the First World War. The sinking of the Lusitania passenger liner by a German U-boat on May 7, 1915, cost the lives of nearly 1,200 people and provoked outrage in Britain, and is often seen as bringing the US into the conflict.

Now the scissors which were used in the ceremony to cut the ribbon launching the Lusitania on the River Clyde in 1906 are to be auctioned in Devizes, with an estimated sale price of £2,000 to £3,000.

Following the torpedo attack off the southern Irish coast, questions were asked as to why the Lusitania did not zigzag to confuse the U-boats or why there was no Royal Navy escort.

In 1918, a New York court established the Lusitania was carrying 4,200 cases of small arms ammunition but was not either armed or carrying explosives. However there have long been rumours that the ship held other undeclared explosives cargo, which at the time the Germans used to justify the attack.

Around 130 Americans were killed in the tragedy and Britain used the disaster to entice the US into the war on the side of the Allies. But it was another two years before the US declared its official entry in 1917.

With the centenary just weeks away the 18 carat gold-handled, stainless steel-blade scissors used in the ceremony to cut the ribbon launching the ship on the River Clyde in 1906 are to be auctioned.

The liner, which was named after a Roman province that once stretched across modern Portugal and some of Spain, was renowned for its luxury.

According to newspaper reports at the time, Lady Inverclyde used the scissors to perform the ceremony.

They will be sold at Henry Aldridge & Son on Saturday, April 18.

The crossover is engraved with 'John Brown & Co Limited. Clydebank and Sheffield', while the engraving along the blade says 'J Rogers & Sons' and 'Q.S.S. Lusitania'. The other side bears the crest of the Cunard Steamship Company.

The scissors are accompanied by a black Morocco and gilt presentation box inscribed 'Souvenir of Launch of Q.S.S. Lusitania Clydebank 7th June 1906'.

Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: "The scissors were given to Lady Inverclyde as a souvenir.

"They are quite simply one of the most elaborate pairs of scissors I have ever sold, valuing them just as a piece of jewellery the gold weight alone is over £1,000.

"The story of the Lusitania is a fascinating one and these scissors are an important relic from part of the first chapter of a career that culminated in her demise at the hands of a torpedo fired by German submarine U-20 on May 7 1915 that resulted in the loss of 1,198 passengers and crew.

"The launch and christening event is described by numerous newspapers of the day.

"The Dundee Courier notes that 'Lady Inverclyde cut the cord and set the hydraulic machinery in motion' while the Yorkshire Post described the event as a christening and records 'Lady Inverclyde swings the wine bottle and presses a button'."