A WRITER is hoping to restore a North-East war hero to his rightful place in history.

Max Adams, 41, of Gateshead, has spent three months travelling to the countries visited by Newcastle-born Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, who was second in command to Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Mr Adams, former head of Durham University's archaeological unit, secured a £7,500 Wintson Churchill Memorial Trust fellowship for his research and plans to write a biography of Collingwood. He has a commission for a Tyne Tees TV programme.

Mr Adams visited Boston in the US, Antigua, Corsica, Sicily and Minorca, all key places in Collingwood's life, to get a better understanding of the man who has only merited two previous biographies.

Mr Adams said Collingwood, who took over command of the British fleet after Nelson's death, was ahead of his time.

"He was an exemplar of modern management and for the time he was revolutionary.

"He didn't flog his men, which was very unusual, and when his men were sick he would send them a chicken or a bottle of wine.

"He took the view that if his men were healthy and happy they would fight better.

"He trained his gun crews to be the fastest gunners in the Navy.

"He was a brilliant strategist and he out-guessed Napoleon frequently.''

Collingwood, who was great friends with Nelson, spent all but 17 of his 61 years at sea and was Viceroy of the Mediterranean for five years.

"The mystery is why he has been forgotten. I think it's partly because he wasn't Nelson.

"There is no room for two heroes.''

The book, for Newcastle Central Library, will coincide with the bicentenary of Trafalgar in 2005.