WITH reference to your Wyre Forest at War supplement, I thought you might find the following interesting.
During Warship Week in March 1942 the Borough of Bewdley and District adopted a trawler minesweeper named HMS Horatio.
This was a 50ft A/S Trawler of 545 tons. She was built in 1940 and in August 1941 was escorting convoys.
In May, 1942 she was attacked by four Messerschmitt 109s off Littlehampton and suffered damage from a bomb which fortunately did not explode.
The first lieutenant was injured by shrapnel but the crew shot down one of the attackers and damaged another. The captain was mentioned in dispatches for this action.
In September, 1942 she was again on escort duties, this time assisting the landing forces for the forthcoming operation in North Africa.
On January 7, 1943 she was sunk with all hands after being torpedoed by an Italian MTB while taking part in Operation Torch in the Western Mediterranean. Her captain is listed as Temp Lt C A Lemkey RNR.
In the Mayor's Parlour in Bewdley there is a magnificent shield which was presented to the borough by the Lords Commisioners of the Admiralty to commemorate the adoption.
PAUL GITINS
Lyttleton Road
Bewdley
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