THE memory of a Nottingham sailor who perished in a tragic D-Day accident is to be honoured.
Twenty-year-old Sub Lieutenant Frank Freeman was on board landing craft LCT 427 when it was hit by HMS Rodney, a 34,000-ton battle cruiser, in the early morning of June 7, 1944.
The collision, which saw the tiny craft sink to the bottom of the Solent, came just hours after it had delivered a fighting cargo of tanks to Gold beach in Normandy and when it was only four miles from the safety of Portsmouth harbour.
All 13 on board, including Sub Lieutenant Freeman, died.
More than 65 years later, the wreck of the craft has been found on the sea bed just off the south coast and now a search has been launched to find the families of those brave, young war heroes.
The Southsea branch of the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC), which identified the wreck of the landing craft, are hoping to organise a memorial service at sea to remember Frank, son of Emmanuel and Jean Freeman, and his comrades who lost their lives that night.
They are keen to trace relatives or former comrades of the men who died so they can invite them to the service.
Alison Mayor, project leader, said: "It is such a tragic and sad story."
If you are related Frank Freeman, or any of the other lost seamen, contact Andy Smart on 0115 948 2000 or email andy.smart@nnmg.co.uk.
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