A "DEVASTATED" Second World War Royal Navy veteran has paraded down a York high street in full uniform in an effort to recover precious pictures of his war years.

Daniel Hawman, 73, of Chantry Close, Woodthorpe, lost the photographs when walking opposite Gale Lane post office in Acomb at about 2pm last Saturday, and is offering a reward for their return.

They include two portraits of Mr Hawman when he first joined the Navy aged 17 and a picture of him on the upper deck of his ship, the HMS Anson, in Malta on VE-day.

Another picture is of Mr Hawman with his old comrades who he was reunited with at the Far Eastern and British Pacific Fleet reunion at Portsmouth in 1995.

He said: "I'm devastated. They are my life and totally irreplaceable. I feel as though I've lost an arm. I've had them 50 years and would very much love to get them back. I've been quite prepared to stand in Gale Lane in my uniform asking people if they've seen them."

The 11 pictures and two magazine cuttings were contained in an unmarked envelope inside his pocket diary, which was later found and handed in by a passing pedestrian.

The cuttings are from the Peoples' Friend publication which carried a picture of Mr Hawman and his comrades on board the HMS Anson some years ago.

Mr Hawman served as an engine room stoker in the Pacific during the war and is chairman of the York White Ensign Association.

He added: "My diary is only one year but the pictures are fifty years of personal history when I first joined the navy. I would very much like to get them back. I've been very upset about it."

If you find the missing pictures telephone 01904 706699.

PICTURE: PICTURE POST: Daniel Hawman marches along Gale Lane with a placard giving for information about the photographs Picture: Garry Atkinson