A fascinating archive of a World War Two seaman who helped to sink the Bismarck has come to light, revealing an unlikely friendship with one of the few German survivors.
Lieutenant Aubrey Hollick served on the heavy cruiser 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 mother four days later which included his sketch of the huge ship's final moments, along with 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 can be seen.
Between them, the British heavy cruisers fired 3,000 shells at the feared German vessel. Its sinking led to the deaths of 2,200 men. All 115 survivors were captured.
Lieutenant Hollick retrieved the life jacket 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 Lieutenant Hollick's ship.
A fascinating archive of a World War Two seaman who helped to sink the Bismarck has come to light, revealing an unlikely friendship he formed with one of the few German survivors. Lieutenant Aubrey Hollick (pictured left) served on HMS Dorsetshire, which took part in the infamous destruction of the feared German battleship on May 27, 1941
The two previous foes became pen pals and after exchanging letters they arranged for Herr Mullenheim-Rechburg to visit Lieutenant Hollick at his home in Hertfordshire.
However, Lieutenant Hollick's failing health meant this meeting never took place and he died in 1986.
One of Lieutenant 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.
On May 24, 1941, Bismarck (pictured) had sunk the battlecruiser HMS Hood - the pride of the British fleet - killing 1,415 of its crew. The devastating attack prompted Prime Minister Winston Churchill to issue his famous order to 'sink the Bismarck'
Lieutenant Hollick wrote a letter home to his mother four days after the Bismarck's sinking which included his sketch of the huge ship's final moments, along with the caption: 'Bismarck on fire before we torpedoed her'
'I hope to see you when I come to England the next time.'
Lieutenant Hollick became a pen pal of Herr Burkard von Mullenheim-Rechburg (pictured), the most highest-ranking survivor of the sinking of the Bismarck
Lieutenant Hollick was able to return the lifejacket to Germany where it went on display in a museum.
Lieutenant 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 estate.
Tim Harper, specialist at C&T Auctions, said: 'It seems to generally
