I have just returned from visiting George Male who was a sick berth attendant on HECLA when it sank and is in good health. He will be 91 next month and lives with his son in Borehamwood about ten miles from where I live in St Albans.

George and 500 other survivors of HMS HECLA was rescued by HMS VENOMOUS, an elderly V & W Class destroyer on which my father served later in the war, and I have, at long last, published:

A HARD FOUGHT SHIP: THE STORY OF HMS VENOMOUS
Robert J Moore and John A Rodgaard

which has 34 page long account of the loss of HECLA and the rescue of 500 survivors with a large number of photographs and paintings as well as the first hand accounts of survivors including George.

My web site will be used to publish new information & photographs as it comes to hand & will be launched next week at: [www.holywellhousepublishing.co.uk]

Do contact me if you have information or photographs so that I can publish them on the site.

If anybody wants to get hold of a copy of the book it costs £18.99 in the shop but at present I am selling copies by mail order from my home at £12 plus £3 postage - details on request.

Bill Forster
Holywell House Publishing