HE'S one of the New Forest's best-known naval heroes - and a special celebration is planned to commemorate 250 years since his birth.

During the naval career of Lymington-born Admiral Sir Harry Burrard Neale he rose to become commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean Fleet, helped defeat a mutiny in the Thames Estuary, and captured or destroyed 20 enemy vessels.

After his education he went on to play a crucial role in important battles and rose to become one of the New Forest's proudest sons, but campaigners are concerned his memory is now fading into obscurity.

He was born on September 16, 1765, and the navy officer's achievements were honoured by the construction of a huge obelisk known as the Walhampton Monument.

The monument overlooks the town but has become overgrown and obscured, and the Lymington Society says this mirrors the way in which his profile has diminished since his death.

The society has now organised a series of events titled the Burrard Neale 250 project, which will include the HMS Medusa, the last surviving craft to have been at Omaha Beach during the D-Day landings.

The event will seek to revive interest in Sir Harry's achievements, which the group says have gone under appreciated as awareness of his life has faded, making him a forgotten hero.

He was educated at Christchurch Grammar School and rose to have a 'glittering' naval career and the group are keen to highlight his work.

After leaving school in 1778 he is known to have been present at the Siege of Charleston in 1780, but one of his most distinguishing achievements was at the Mutiny at the Nore in 1797.

The mutiny broke out on May 12 at an anchorage in the Thames Estuary when the crew of Sandwich seized control of the ship but Sir Harry played a huge role in quelling the uprising.

Britain was at war with revolutionary France and a blockage of the Thames was seen to be a possible precursor to a British revolution.

But Sir Harry earned thanks from George III and the City of London and was ceremonially presented with the Drum of Nore, which has become one of Lymington's most treasured possessions and is now on display at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, after he helped stymie the mutiny.

His star was set to soar even higher in the following century when he became a Lord of the Admiralty between 1804 and 1807 and was promoted to Rear Admiral on July 31, 1810.

After being engaged on HMS London in 1806 Sir Harry was invested as a Knight Commander of the Order of Bath on January 2, 1815, and advanced to a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Bath seven years later.

Within 12 months he became Commander in Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet, which in turn led to him being appointed as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George the following year.

Sir Harry was also an MP in Lymington for 25 years over a 40-year period, and personally paid for the installation of lighting in the New Forest town in 1832.

And thousands of miles away in British Columbia, Canada, a coastal fjord near the city of Vancouver was named Burrard Inlet in his honour by Captain George Vancouver.

In recognition of these successes campaigners are renovating the 173-year-old obelisk and hope to restore shine to the public perception of Sir Harry's life.

Anniversary celebrations will take place on September 16 and 17 and the Gosport-based Medusa will be moored alongside a pontoon at Lymington Town Sailing Club.

The Royal Navy is set to mark the occasion by anchoring a P2000 fast patrol boat and anchoring it at Royal Lymington Yacht Club, and members of the Lymington Players will portray Sir Harry and his wife Grace at a drama and music event in St Thomas Church.

The evening is also set to include a performance from the Portsmouth-based HMS Nelson Royal Naval Volunteer Band.

For more information visit burrard-neale250.org.uk.