Photographs of HMS Maori

I am searching for a photo of HMS Maori, sunk in the harbour of Valletta at St Elmo on the night of February 12, 1942.

I recently saw a copy of that picture at Simon Cusens of Gzira, which was published in The Times a day or two after this bombing. The published picture shows the destroyer's bow sticking out of the water, with the two front 4'7" cannons showing.

From what I know, a parachute-flare hung up in the destroyer's mast and lit it up. This illumination made the Maori easy prey for a Ju-88 night bomber, one of four German attackers that night.

I am interested in a copy for use in a short article about the war in Malta, also in relation to the fact that the Tribal class destroyers were used in Norway too.

HMS Cossack freed English prisoners from the German Altmark in Jøssingfjord when Norway was neutral. On April 13, 1940 Tribals were also used in the Norwegian campaign in an operation against 10 German destroyers in the Narvik area. All the destroyers were sunk. HMS Eskimo was hit in the bows by a German torpedo from the Georg Thiele and had to go all the way back to England for repair but was back at the Lofoten raid on March 3-4, 1941 in which HMS Somali and Bedouin took part.

My intention is to use the picture for my article in connection with pictures taken underwater at St Elmo, where remains of the wreck can still be found. I have dived on aircraft wrecks of a Beaufighter and a Blenheim bomber and have pictures also for use in my articles. My address is: Milnvein 28b, 6512, Kristiansund N, Norway.

e-mail: fotona@nktv.no