THE EPIC tale of the most famous naval battle of the Second World War will be retold tonight by a sailor who lived through it.

George Osborne, from Dorchester, will be joined by naval historian Graham Rhys-Jones to relive the sinking of the Bismarck at a talk in Dorchester 70 years on from the event.

Mr Osborne was 19 and serving on the HMS Sheffield when his vessel was involved in the battle to destroy the giant German warship.

He said his ship was in Gibraltar when it was mobilised to join in the hunt for the Bismarck and he was plunged straight into the forefront of the battle as the Sheffield guarded the Bismarck.

He said: “I can still recall the shells going across the stern, it was just like a bullet train.”

Mr Rhys-Jones said: “You can really say the Sheffield was in the thick of it as it was jolly nearly sunk by both sides and George was actually an eyewitness to the attacks made on it.

“He saw the Bismarck fire on his ship and if the trajectory was a bit different he would have been a goner.”

Mr Rhys-Jones, who has written a book about the battle, will also be looking at the overall story of the battle, including the Bismarck sinking HMS Hood and the moment when the British Navy lost all trace of the ship.

He said: “There was another sudden change of fortune when the Bismarck disappeared and nobody knew where it was but because of mistakes by the Bismarck it revealed its position and it was found again.”

Mr Rhys-Jones will then look at the final battle, in which Mr Osborne was involved, when the Bismarck was tracked down in the Bay of Biscay and destroyed.

He will conclude by looking at the significance of the events that unfolded and the way they have come to be remembered.

He said: “It has become a legend because it was such a good story.

“Most naval warfare is a war of attrition that goes on for years and years.

“This one was over in seven days and you have got all the drama of triumph, tragedy, changes of fortunes, moments of farce and one or two brilliant strategic decisions.”

The talk will be held tonight, – 70 years to the day since the Bismarck was sunk – at the Town Hall in Dorchester’s Corn Exchange at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £3, with proceeds going to the Royal British Legion, and are available from the Dorchester Tourist Information Centre in Antelope Walk or by calling 01305 267992.