Sinking of HMS Reward on 10th August 1976

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Dear Sir or Madam,
As I was the bow / fog lookout on-board HMS REWARD the night it was sunk by the German Merchant Ship PLAINSMAN on the 10th August 1976. I saw and reported the sighting of the Plainsman to the Officers on the Bridge 5 minutes before it struck us can you give me any reason that I was not called to the board of Inquiry into the loss of Her Majesties Ship HMS REWARD. The sinking has been on my mind for over 33 years, and along with my next draft to HMS FITTLETON 6 weeks later (which also sunk after a collision with HMS MERMAID on the 20th September 1976) has resulted in my being diagnosed as suffering from PTSD. I would like to know why what I saw and did during and after the collision has not been recorded or reported as part of the inquiry.

Yours faithfully,

Francis Brown

FLEET-DCS FOICELL-f (MULTIUSER),

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FLEET-DCS FOICELL-f (MULTIUSER),

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Dear FLEET-DCS FOICELL-f (MULTIUSER),

I already knew that this information was sent to the NATIONAL ARCHIVES. My question was as the fog lookout on the bow of HMS Reward the night she was sunk in thick fog why was I not asked for my statement as to what I saw and reported before the MV Plainsman struck us on our starboard side. Or why my report to the bridge was not part of the inquiry into the sinking of HMS Reward. I have never given a formal statement then or since about what I heard, saw or did, before, during or after the collision. History is being mislead if all the information is not available why?.

Yours sincerely,

Francis Brown

FLEET-DCS FOICELL-f (MULTIUSER),

Dear Mr Brown,

Thank you for your communication below. I am aware of your original
question. However, as I conveyed in my letter to you of 12 August 2009,
we do not hold any information to enable us to provide you with an
informed decision as to why you were not called as a witness to the
Board of Inquiry into the loss of HMS REWARD in 1976.

I am sorry that we cannot be of further assistance in this matter.

Regards

Anita McDonald

Ministry of Defence
Navy Command HQ
Naval Service FOI Co-ordination Cell
MP1-4, Leach Building
Whale Island
Portsmouth
PO2 8BY

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Neil 'George' Sowerby left an annotation ()

I was on duty at HMS Cochrane the night she sunk.

George Sowerby