A ROYAL Navy veteran is looking for information about a fellow serviceman from Malvern who died in a plane crash more than 50 years ago.

Bill Grice, of Normanton, West Yorkshire, was serving on the aircraft carrier HMS Theseus when it toured the Far East and Australasia in 1947. He was a member of the Fleet Air Arm, an air mechanic with 812 Squadron looking after the engines of the aircraft on board.

Lieutenant-Commander Nathaniel Martin Hearle, the senior pilot of 812 Squadron, was killed in a flying accident near Melbourne on July 20.

Aged only 32 at the time of his death, he was the son of Kathleen May Hearle of Church Road, Malvern Link. Mr Grice, who now runs the HMS Theseus website, wants to hear from any of Mr Hearle's relatives or friends who are still around.

"He was a lovely chap," recalls Mr Grice. "As senior pilot, he was next in command to the squadron's CO."

Lt-Cdr Hearle died when his aircraft, a Fairey Firefly, collided with another during a flying exercise. All four crew members were killed instantly, and Lt-Cdr Hearle was buried at sea.

"You could say fate wasn't very kind to him," said Mr Grice.

"He was taken as a prisoner-of war during a mission over Holland in 1940 and he was imprisoned right up until 1945."

The Gazette of July 26, 1947, reported Lt-Cdr Hearle's death and quoted an unnamed friend, who said: "He has been taken while following the daily risks of his profession and to his immediate circle the loss is an irreparable one. To the youth that follows, it may contain at once an example and a challenge."

Mr Grice can be contacted on 01924 892246 or via www.hmstheseus.co.uk.