Son's quest recalls last days of warship

David Griffiths has spent more than 20 years making good the dying wish of his father to reunite the families of the 121 men who died on the minesweeper, HMS Bramble.

But he still has not managed to make contact with the family of Captain Henry Rust, whose father was rector in the village of Redmarshall, near Stockton.

Mr Griffiths, 67, of Stoke Gifford, near Bristol, is also trying to find the family of leading seaman John Courthard, whose father used to run the Cleveland Hotel, thought to have been in Middlesbrough.

The amateur historian is already in touch with the family of another Teesside man who died on the Bramble, Able Seaman John Spark, who joined up at the same time as Mr Courthard. Mr Spark was from Long Newton, near Stockton.

Mr Griffiths' father, Morgan Griffiths, was a chef on the Bramble, but was moved to another ship only days before the minesweeper went down in heavy German fire, in November 1942.

"My father spoke about those men very often," said Mr Griffiths. "He never, ever let us forget the men of that ship.

"I am now in touch with dozens of families but would dearly love to talk to the family of the Captain Rust, who had only recently joined the ship, and the family of Seaman Courthard."

Mr Griffiths said the Bramble had been part of a convoy bringing aid to Russia when it was sunk in stormy waters in the Barents Sea.

Although Mr Griffiths has never managed to find the family of Captain Rust, he believes he had two daughters who may have gone to Australia.

He has also found a photograph of the captain's wife, who originally came from Wimbledon, receiving a medal on her husband's behalf at the Russian Embassy in London.

He was told by the family of John Spark that John Courthard's family ran the Cleveland Hotel.

Anyone with information about either John Courthard or Henry Rust is asked to call reporter Chris Webber at The Northern Echo, on (01642) 675678.