A BRIDESTOWE man has for the first time met up with a fellow second world war veteran from Tavistock, who helped rescue him from the sea after a bomber attack 60 years ago.

George Heathman is one of the few surviving members of the Pedestal Convoy, which saved Malta from invasion in 1942.

Mr Heathman was attending the annual commemoration event in August, which this year was held at Torquay.

And coincidentally, Peter Mathews, his war time rescuer who emigrated from Tavistock to Australia 55 years ago, happened to be on holiday in the area at the time.

Mr Heathman said Mr Mathews had 'no idea' who he was when they met at the service in Wolborough Church, presided over by the Rev Russell Chamberlain, the previous vicar of Okehampton.

'It was a shock,' said Mr Heathman. 'He was lucky to have been around here at the time.'

Mr Mathews said meeting the veterans was the 'highlight' of his holiday — his first return to England since 1947.

He said the service had been 'very moving and emotional'.

He recalled the incident which brought the two men together during the end of the siege on Malta, when he was serving on a Royal Navy mine sweeper in the Mediterranean.

He said: 'We witnessed a bomber being attacked by two Italian fighters, then the crew bailed out.

'We found two members and hauled them aboard, after a while we found two more clinging to some floating wreckage, wounded and in a very bad state.

'One was George, the other was Colin McCloud from Scotland. Sadly Colin died a few hours later.'

Mr Mathews said he has kept in contact with Tavistock since moving to Australia and was glad to have found a new friend in Mr Heathman.

'I know of nine lives lost from Okehampton, Tavistock and district, Seth Alan, George Maddaford, Ernest Morley among them and like all of us, in our late teen years — we were spared,' said Mr Mathews.

The Pedestal Convoy of 14 merchantmen and the American tanker Ohio entered the Mediterranean on August 10, 1942. Malta, out of food, ammunition, guns and petrol, was within a fortnight of surrender. The islanders had been under siege since June 10, 1940, enduring 154 continuous days and nights of bombing.

The Pedestal Convoy was protected by the largest escort ever assembled, including three aircraft carriers, two battleships and 32 destroyers. Casualties in the ensuing battles were horrific, but four merchantmen and the Ohio eventually made it to the island, providing a turning point in the war.

The George Cross Island Association, of which Mr Heathman is a member, now meets every year in commemoration of the historic war time events.

'All of us now are in our 80s and 90s, so numbers are getting less each year,' said Mr Heathman.