The fascinating archive of a World War Two seaman who helped sink the Bismarck has come to light - to reveal an unlikely friendship he formed with one of the few German survivors.
Lieutenant Aubrey Hollick served on HMS Dorsetshire which took part in the infamous destruction of the feared German battleship on May 27, 1941.
He wrote a letter home to his mum four days later which included his sketch of the huge ship’s final moments and the caption ‘Bismarck on fire before we torpedoed her’.
The drawing shows smoke coming from the beleaguered vessel and, in the distance, the Royal Navy ships HMS Rodney and HMS King George V.
Between them, the British heavy cruisers fired 3,000 shells at the feared German vessel, which sank for the loss of over 2,200 men.
Only 115 survived and were captured.
Lt Hollick retrieved the lifejacket of one of the survivors and kept hold of it for decades as a souvenir.
Thirty years later he decided to try and return the poignant memento to Germany and contacted the German Embassy in London for help.
They put him in touch with Herr Burkard von Mullenheim-Rechburg, the most highest-ranking survivor of the sinking after he was rescued by Lt Hollick’s ship.
The two previous foes became pen pals and after exchanging letters they arranged for Herr Mullenheim-Rechburg to visit Lt Hollick at his home in Hertfordshire.
However, Lt Hollick’s failing health meant this meeting never took place and he died soon after.
One of Lt Hollick’s letters, penned in 1971, reads: “As I was serving in the cruiser Dorsetshire at that time, I would have welcomed the opportunity of meeting you.
“We picked up about 100 survivors so I expect you must have been one of them. I was a seaman of 19 at the time and I kept one of the Bismarck lifejackets to remind me of the event.”
His German counterpart responded: “I was delighted to receive your very kind letter.
“Unfortunately I never got round to answering you immediately or to come and see you at your home, which I would have liked to do. I hope to see you when I come to England the next time.”
Lt Hollick was able to return the lifejacket to Germany where it went on display in a museum.
Lt Hollick’s archive, which also contains photos of his time commanding Motor Launch 837 against the Japanese in the Far East, has emerged for sale for £600 with C&T Auctions, of Ashford, Kent.
It was discovered during a clear-out at a military collector’s deceased estate.
Lt Horlick, a talented artist who did watercolour drawings at sea, also served on HMS Daedulus, Pembroke and Mauritious.
After being rescued Herr Mullenheim-Rechburg remained a prisoner of war in Ontario, Canada, until after the war.
He became a German diplomat and in the 1960s served as West Germany’s ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
He died in Bavaria in 2003 aged 92.
The sale takes place tomorrow.
