December 1941 was a black period in World War II. The December attacks on Pearl Harbour, and the loss of HM ships Prince of Wales and Repulse are all well-documented.

But efforts are under way that the story of HMS Neptune should not be forgotten.

Historian Nixie Taverner is the daughter of Neptune's commanding officer, Captain Rory O'Conor.

She has already written a history of her father's previous command, HMS Hood, and is now working on a history of the Neptune.

The loss of the Neptune was one of the worst naval disasters in World War II. A total of 764 men lost their lives when the cruiser strayed into a minefield in the Mediterranean off Tripoli.

HMS Neptune was part of a cruiser raiding squadron whose task was to intercept and destroy German and Italian convoy ships.

The three cruisers of Force K - Neptune, Aurora, and Penelope - set out from Malta protected by the destroyers Kandahar, Lance, Lively and Havock.

In the early hours of December 19, Neptune was rocked by an underwater explosion, and as Aurora turned, she too hit a mine. The convoy had encountered an uncharted minefield.

Aurora managed to escape the minefield without further damage, but Neptune drifted into two more mines in rapid succession.

The decision was then taken to send in the Kandahar to help. She too became a victim of the mines, still afloat but taking in water.

The escorting ships attempted to reach the Neptune, but the mines proved too dangerous.

Neptune continued to drift, before being fatally struck by a fourth explosion at just after 4am. It proved the final blow for the Neptune; the ship slowly keeled over and sank.

As the dawn broke, and the increasing visibility endangered the remainder of the group, it reluctantly had to return to Malta, leaving the crippled Kandahar and any survivors from the Neptune.

Only one man survived the loss of the Neptune - AB John Walton, who was one of a group clustered around a raft. Gradually, one by one, the others slipped to their deaths, until only AB Walton and one other remained.

They were rescued by an Italian torpedo boat, but only AB Walton survived. He spent the next 18 months in various prisoner-of-war camps before returning to the UK.

If anyone is able to help with this project, they should contact Mrs Taverner on 020 8949 3031.