TAMWORTH shoppers had an opportunity to learn more about WW2 hero Colin Grazier and to get a signed copy of the book telling his extraordinary story in time for Christmas.

Herald deputy editor, and author Phil Shanahan, manned a display on Colin Grazier's story and the newspaper's five-year fight to honour him.

Earlier this year Phil's book, The Real Enigma Heroes, was launched at Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire (Churchill's secret war time intelligence HQ ) and has since been featured in the national/international press and on BBC TV.

The book brings international recognition to an ordinary Tamworth man who lost his life in an act which shortened WWII.

Grazier, from Two Gates, Tamworth, drowned retrieving vital German codebooks from a sinking German U-boat. But the documents he died for enabled the British to crack the German Navy Enigma code and identify the positions of lethal enemy submarines. This helped to turn the tide of the Battle of the Atlantic, a battle Churchill described as vital to the outcome of WW2.

Lt Tony Fasson from Scotland died alongside Grazier and their bodies were never recovered.

Sixteen-year-old Tommy Brown survived the incident, but died tragically just two years later in his native North Shields.

The mission was shrouded in secrecy for decades denying Colin and his colleagues recognition for their part in bringing the war to an early close.

Phil Shanahan led the Herald's long-running campaign to honour the unsung heroes which won the three biggest awards for campaigning regional journalism in the UK.

He recently presented the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall with a copy of his book after showing them around a new exhibition on the story at Bletchley Park.

"This is the most powerful story I have come across during more than twenty years as a journalist," said Phil.

"This town can take great pride in the fact that one of its sons played a key role in winning the freedom that millions enjoy today."