LAST July I submitted an article in support of the Wyre Forest at War feature in the Shuttle/Times & News.

It involved a trawler minesweeper named Horatio which was adopted by the Borough of Bewdley and District in March 1942.

I had written that Horatio was torpedoed and sunk with all hands on January 7, 1943 while taking part in Operation TORCH in the Western Mediterranean.

Since the article was published I have been in correspondence with Theresa Welburn, the granddaughter of the chief engineer of the Horatio, who was one of those lost.

It now appears that Horatio was an anti-submarine and mine sweeper when, while on patrol outside the port of Bone (now Annaba), was attacked by one of two German MTBs laying mines.

In the darkness they mistook Horatio for a destroyer and the MTB S58 fired two torpedoes at a range of 800 metres and both hit and sunk Horatio.

The S58 picked up two survivors Stephen Hooper and George Venables and then retired at speed fearing a counter attract.

The two survivors were handed over to the authorities in Bizarta and became prisoners of war.

This new information comes from Admiral Kemnade of the Bundersmarine. In 1943 he was a Lieutenant-Commander of the Kriegsmarine (Hitler's Navy ) and was on the S58 on that fateful night.

The information was passed to Theresa by a Donald Savage who is in correspondence with the coxswain of the S58 who looked after the two survivors.

Theresa has asked me to find out more about the adoption of Horatio and I would be very pleased if anyone can give me any information which I will pass on to her.

I am also trying to locate a photo of Horatio to go alongside the two plaques that Bewdley Town Council have regarding her adoption.

PAUL GITTINS

Lyttleton Road

Bewdley