A SURVIVOR of a cruiser which sank off the coast of Ireland during World War II is searching for the family of his old shipmate.
William James Houston, thought to be from Bellevue, was known as Paddy. He was one of 338 crew who lost their lives when HMS Curacoa collided with the Queen Mary liner in October 1942. She became one of the major accidental losses of the Royal Navy d
uring World War II.
The story of the Curacoa is set to be shown as part of the Deep Wreck Mysteries production for Ulster Television.
One of the survivors Dennis Hearn, 86, of Crawley, Sussex, wants to get in touch with the family of his friend ‘Paddy’ Houston. He visited Belfast last Thursday (July 10) to see the HMS Caroline - a sister ship of the Curacoa.
“Now that I’m having the opportunity to visit Belfast to film for the UTV documentary, it would be great if I could finally meet up with any relatives of my long lost friend. At the time HMS Curacoa sank, we would have been around 20 years of age. ‘Paddy’ was a cook on board and he was from Belfast,” said Dennis.
The two friends used to spend their runs ashore having a few beers and visiting the local dance halls when the ship was based in Belfast in the weeks leading up to the disaster. Dennis added: “I recall meeting ‘Paddy’s’ mother at the family home - in the Bellevue or Cave Hill area of the city. I can last remember seeing him at the rail of the Curacoa as the ship started to sink beneath the waves.”
Crispin Sadler of Mallinson Sadler Productions, who is producing the series for UTV, said: “This will be a fascinating documentary series for UTV viewers and I am hopeful that there will be a resolution for Dennis and that he will actually get to meet some of ‘Paddy’s’ family. They will also meet, for the first time, one of the American GIs who witnessed the whole event from the Queen Mary itself. Their testimony, all these years later, should be the highlight of the series.”
Can you help Dennis make contact with any members of the Houston family? Or do you know of any one else who was associated with the sinking of HMS Curacoa? If so, please contact Crispin Sadler at Mallinson Sadler Productions by email crispin_sadler@blueyonder.co.uk or write to Mallinson Sadler Productions, 18 Mortimer Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4EY.
Deep Wreck Mysteries will be shown on UTV in the New Year.
The full article contains 442 words and appears in Newtownabbey Times newspaper.
