A COLLECTOR inspired by the discovery of a war time letter describing a harrowing rescue is hoping to find out more about his fascinating find.

Robert Parker, of The Heath, Alresford, said his memory was jogged when he read a remarkable account describing the moment the destroyer HMS Gypsy was hit by a mine just 100 yards off Harwich harbour in 1939.

The four-page handwritten letter was hidden for almost 80 years at Sompting Abbotts Preparatory School in Sussex, until it was found by workman doing repairs.

It reminded Mr Parker of an even older postcard and picture he discovered tucked away in his loft.

Penned in 1913, just a year before the outbreak of the First World War, it is addressed to a man named Herbert Haywood.

Mr Parker is hoping to trace any living relatives of the recipient. Alongside the postcard is a picture showing the destroyer HMS Itchen at Harwich Harbour.

He said: “The postcard was posted to number 38, Maldon Road, on February 2, 1913.”

“I had kept the postcard and the picture in a drawer for a while along with some other bits I found.

“I thought I’d keep them just out of curiosity more than anything.

“But after reading this article in the Gazette, my mind turned to the postcard and the picture and made me wonder.

“I remembered I had this picture of the HMS Itchen at Harwich Harbour.

“After a bit of research I discovered the ship’s fate.

“This is likely a rare picture of a destroyer which was sunk only a few years later.”

Gazette:

The HMS Itchen

The HMS Itchen was ordered by the Royal Navy in the early 1900s and launched in March 1903.

She was assigned to the East Coast Destroyer Flotilla of the 1st Fleet and based at Harwich.

On July 6, 1917, the Itchen was torpedoed in the North Sea by a German submarine, with the loss of eight crewmen.

Mr Parker added: “It clearly had a connection to Harwich and I was so shocked to read of its terrible fate.

“How awful it must have been for those eight poor souls.

“I feel the person who wrote the postcard might be related to this Herbert Haywood, who lived in Maldon Road all those years ago. It is remarkable to hold something like that, it is a piece of history.

“Hopefully there is family still around to this day who recognise the name and come forward.”

Gazette:

The postcard is more than 100 years old

The letter reads: “Dear Herbert, I managed to get back all right on Monday morning.

“I hope you felt better as the day wore on.”

Anyone with information can contact the Gazette on 01206 508288.