A SEARCH is underway for the Dorset relatives of a missing Second World War submariner.

Leading telegraphist Hugh Phimster McDonald was lost when the Dutch submarine O13 (Onderzeeboot 13) mysteriously disappeared while on war patrol in the North Sea in 1940.

Researchers believe descendants of Mr McDonald could be living in the Weymouth area.

O13 is the last Dutch submarine lost during the war that has still to be found and protected as a war grave.

The Dutch Navy will be mounting a search operation for the wreck later this year.

It will feature in a Dutch TV documentary and the production team are keen to trace relatives of the three Royal Navy personnel who disappeared with the submarine.

Mr McDonald was the son of John and Maggie McDonald of Fareham in Hampshire and was married to Winifred in 1938.

Researcher Dr Andrew Jeffrey said: “We believe there were two sons, Brian and Graham and that descendants may still be living in the Weymouth area.

“If so, we would be delighted to hear from them.”

O13 escaped from under the noses of German troops invading the Netherlands in May 1940 and had patrolled the English Channel to protect the Dunkirk evacuation.

The submarine then moved north to join the Royal Navy’s ninth flotilla based in Dundee, Scotland, and vanished while patrolling south of occupied Norway in June 1940.

To view a trailer for the O13 documentary visit vimeo.com/57093011 Relatives or anyone with information about lost submariner Hugh Phimster McDonald should contact emma.walker@dorsetecho.co.uk