1 00:00:07,466 --> 00:00:09,196 [MISSILE ROARS] 2 00:00:09,233 --> 00:00:12,273 Narrator: FOR CENTURIES, AN EXTRAORDINARY WAR HAS RAGED 3 00:00:12,300 --> 00:00:17,030 ACROSS THE WORLD'S OCEANS, ABOVE AND BELOW THE WAVES. 4 00:00:17,066 --> 00:00:19,526 Man: YOU COULD KILL HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH ONE BROADSIDE. 5 00:00:19,566 --> 00:00:23,266 THESE WERE EXTREMELY POWERFUL WAR MACHINES. 6 00:00:23,300 --> 00:00:26,330 Narrator: SHIPBUILDERS DESIGNED BIGGER AND FASTER VESSELS 7 00:00:26,366 --> 00:00:29,196 TO OUTWIT AND CRUSH THEIR OPPONENTS. 8 00:00:29,233 --> 00:00:32,033 Man: THAT NATION THAT HAS THE MOST POWERFUL BATTLESHIP FLEET 9 00:00:32,066 --> 00:00:34,096 CAN DESTROY THE ENEMY'S BATTLESHIP FLEET 10 00:00:34,133 --> 00:00:35,633 AND THEREFORE CONTROL THE SEAS, 11 00:00:35,666 --> 00:00:39,096 AND IF YOU CONTROL THE SEAS, YOU CONTROL THE WORLD. 12 00:00:39,133 --> 00:00:41,573 Narrator: THEY CARRIED TERRIFYING WEAPONS. 13 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:42,730 Man: THIS WAS GONNA BE THE FIRST TIME 14 00:00:42,766 --> 00:00:45,266 THAT SOMEBODY HAD FIRED A TORPEDO IN ANGER 15 00:00:45,300 --> 00:00:46,770 SINCE WORLD WAR II. 16 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:49,630 THEY NEEDED TO GET IT RIGHT. 17 00:00:49,666 --> 00:00:52,026 Narrator: BUT SHIPS HAVE ALSO LIBERATED 18 00:00:52,066 --> 00:00:54,466 AND RESCUED THOUSANDS. 19 00:00:54,500 --> 00:00:56,100 Man: YOU COULD THINK OF GERDA III 20 00:00:56,133 --> 00:00:58,803 AS BASICALLY A LIFEBOAT FOR PERSONS HUNTED BY THE NAZIS. 21 00:00:58,833 --> 00:01:01,233 Narrator: AND INSPIRED MEN AND WOMEN 22 00:01:01,266 --> 00:01:03,396 TO ACTS OF INCREDIBLE BRAVERY. 23 00:01:03,433 --> 00:01:06,603 Man: I WILL TAKE YOU THERE NOW, TO YOUR CANNONS, 24 00:01:06,633 --> 00:01:10,603 TO YOUR DEATH, WE WILL SINK BEFORE SURRENDER. 25 00:01:10,633 --> 00:01:12,473 Narrator: THESE VESSELS AND THEIR CREWS 26 00:01:12,500 --> 00:01:15,030 HAVE SHAPED WORLD HISTORY. 27 00:01:15,066 --> 00:01:18,466 Man: AS THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF A MISSILE‐CARRYING SUBMARINE, 28 00:01:18,500 --> 00:01:20,670 I WAS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE 29 00:01:20,700 --> 00:01:24,270 FOR HELPING TO PREVENT WORLD WAR III. 30 00:01:24,300 --> 00:01:26,300 [MISSILE ROARS] 31 00:01:26,333 --> 00:01:27,773 Narrator: THIS TIME, WE VENTURE 32 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:32,100 INTO THE HEART OF NAVAL COMBAT ZONES, 33 00:01:32,133 --> 00:01:34,473 NOT TO FIGHT, BUT TO RESCUE. 34 00:01:34,500 --> 00:01:37,200 Man: THESE WERE HEROES SAVING LIVES, 35 00:01:37,233 --> 00:01:40,173 TAKING A STAND AGAINST EVIL. 36 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:42,600 Narrator: THIS IS A STORY OF UNIQUE VESSELS 37 00:01:42,633 --> 00:01:44,573 AND THEIR DEDICATED CREWS. 38 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:45,770 Man: THEY GO DOWN BELOW, 39 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:51,100 AND THEY FIND THE CARGO OF 705 CAPTIVE AFRICANS ON BOARD. 40 00:01:51,133 --> 00:01:52,603 Narrator: FOR TWO CENTURIES, 41 00:01:52,633 --> 00:01:55,273 THE HORRORS OF WAR HAVE BEEN REPORTED, 42 00:01:55,300 --> 00:01:59,230 BUT SO, TOO, HAVE THE STORIES OF THOSE WHO RESCUED. 43 00:01:59,266 --> 00:02:01,096 Woman: WHEN YOU'RE IN A WAR LIKE THAT, 44 00:02:01,133 --> 00:02:03,073 EVERYBODY DOES WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO. 45 00:02:03,100 --> 00:02:07,600 I WAS FORTUNATE IN BRINGING THE BOYS TO A SAFER PLACE. 46 00:02:07,633 --> 00:02:17,603 ♪ 47 00:02:17,633 --> 00:02:19,633 [EXPLOSION] 48 00:02:24,500 --> 00:02:31,200 ♪ 49 00:02:31,233 --> 00:02:33,073 Narrator: FROM THE FIRST GREAT WARSHIPS 50 00:02:33,100 --> 00:02:34,800 TO THE AGE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS... 51 00:02:34,833 --> 00:02:37,203 [MISSILE ROARS] 52 00:02:37,233 --> 00:02:39,633 ...OUR COMBAT SHIPS TELL A STORY, 53 00:02:39,666 --> 00:02:44,096 NOT JUST OF TECHNOLOGY, BUT OF HUMAN HISTORY, TOO. 54 00:02:48,300 --> 00:02:51,400 AMONG THE GLITTER OF BALTIMORE'S TRENDY INNER HARBOR, 55 00:02:51,433 --> 00:02:53,403 THERE IS A VESSEL. 56 00:02:53,433 --> 00:02:56,473 SHE REPRESENTS THE END OF A MARITIME ERA 57 00:02:56,500 --> 00:03:01,030 BUT ALSO A TIME WHEN WARSHIPS BEGAN TO SAVE LIVES‐‐ 58 00:03:01,066 --> 00:03:04,066 THE USS CONSTELLATION. 59 00:03:04,566 --> 00:03:14,526 ♪ 60 00:03:14,566 --> 00:03:16,696 AS THE CONSTELLATION UNFURLED HER SAILS 61 00:03:16,733 --> 00:03:20,133 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1854, 62 00:03:20,166 --> 00:03:23,326 THE WORLD WAS ALREADY TURNING TO ENGINE POWER. 63 00:03:23,366 --> 00:03:28,066 SHE WAS THE LAST U. S. NAVY SHIP TO RELY TOTALLY ON WIND. 64 00:03:28,100 --> 00:03:29,370 Brian Auer: IT'S AN ARMS RACE, JUST LIKE TODAY, 65 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:31,700 SO, UM, EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO MAKE SURE 66 00:03:31,733 --> 00:03:33,573 THEY HAVE THE NEWEST BEST THINGS, 67 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:38,770 AND SO THAT'S WHY THE NAVY STOPPED WITH ALL‐SAIL. 68 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:40,770 Narrator: BUT DESPITE BEING OUTCLASSED 69 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:43,300 BY ALMOST EVERY WARSHIP OF HER ERA, 70 00:03:43,333 --> 00:03:46,373 CONSTELLATION HAS GONE DOWN IN HISTORY AS A SHIP 71 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:50,030 THAT SAVED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FROM A TERRIBLE FATE. 72 00:03:50,066 --> 00:03:56,226 ♪ 73 00:03:56,266 --> 00:03:58,166 IN THE EARLY 1800s, 74 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:01,030 THE UNITED STATES WAS UNDER PRESSURE TO PUT A STOP 75 00:04:01,066 --> 00:04:05,826 TO THE VAST NUMBERS OF AFRICAN SLAVES ENTERING THE COUNTRY. 76 00:04:05,866 --> 00:04:08,226 FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF GREAT BRITAIN, 77 00:04:08,266 --> 00:04:11,596 THE U. S. AGREED TO ABOLISH THE LUCRATIVE TRADE. 78 00:04:11,633 --> 00:04:16,173 Auer: THE AMERICANS OUTLAW THE ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE IN 1808, 79 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:17,500 AND IN 1820, 80 00:04:17,533 --> 00:04:20,133 IT'S DECLARED AN ACT OF PIRACY PUNISHABLE BY DEATH, 81 00:04:20,166 --> 00:04:22,096 SO BY THE 1820s, IT'S ILLEGAL 82 00:04:22,133 --> 00:04:25,803 FOR AMERICAN SAILORS TO ENGAGE IN THE TRADE AS WELL. 83 00:04:25,833 --> 00:04:28,103 Narrator: WHILE FOUR MILLION SLAVES REMAINED CAPTIVE 84 00:04:28,133 --> 00:04:30,103 ON UNITED STATES SOIL, 85 00:04:30,133 --> 00:04:32,133 THE U. S. NAVY WAS GIVEN THE JOB 86 00:04:32,166 --> 00:04:36,126 OF ENSURING THAT NUMBER DIDN'T GROW. 87 00:04:36,166 --> 00:04:39,566 A SMALL FLEET KNOWN AS THE AFRICA SQUADRON 88 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:42,770 WAS FORMED TO HUNT DOWN SLAVE SHIPS LEAVING AFRICA 89 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,700 AND BOUND FOR CUBA AND SOUTH AMERICA. 90 00:04:45,733 --> 00:04:47,773 Auer: WHEN YOU HAVE A PROFIT MARGIN OF 1,000 PERCENT, 91 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:50,770 EVEN IF IT'S ILLEGAL, PEOPLE ARE GONNA DO IT. 92 00:04:54,566 --> 00:04:56,766 Narrator: IN SEPTEMBER 1860, 93 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:58,600 THE CONSTELLATION WAS PATROLLING 94 00:04:58,633 --> 00:05:00,633 CLOSE TO THE CONGO RIVER DELTA. 95 00:05:03,700 --> 00:05:07,530 FOR WEEKS, THERE HAD BEEN NO SIGN OF SLAVE SHIPS. 96 00:05:07,566 --> 00:05:10,066 THEN ON THE AFTERNOON OF THE 25th, 97 00:05:10,100 --> 00:05:15,030 ONE OF CONSTELLATION'S LOOKOUTS SPOTTED A SAIL ON THE HORIZON. 98 00:05:15,066 --> 00:05:16,396 Auer: SHE'S IN A SUSPICIOUS AREA 99 00:05:16,433 --> 00:05:18,473 WHERE WE KNOW THERE'S SOME TROUBLE GOING ON. 100 00:05:18,500 --> 00:05:20,470 CONSTELLATION'S A VERY FAST SHIP. 101 00:05:20,500 --> 00:05:23,300 WE FIRE A WARNING SHOT THAT SAYS, "STOP YOUR SHIP"... 102 00:05:23,333 --> 00:05:24,503 [CANNON FIRES] 103 00:05:24,533 --> 00:05:26,833 ...AND THE SHIP DOESN'T STOP, KEEPS ON GOING, 104 00:05:26,866 --> 00:05:29,066 PUTS UP MORE SAIL AND STARTS TO RUN, 105 00:05:29,100 --> 00:05:31,530 SO NOW WE KNOW SOMETHING'S UP. 106 00:05:31,566 --> 00:05:34,566 Narrator: THE CONSTELLATION GAINS ON THE FLEEING VESSEL. 107 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:39,630 AS IT DOES, IT BECOMES CLEAR WHAT CARGO THE SHIP IS CARRYING. 108 00:05:39,666 --> 00:05:41,796 Auer: SHE STARTS BY THROWING OVER JETSAM AND FLOTSAM 109 00:05:41,833 --> 00:05:43,003 INTO THE WATER, 110 00:05:43,033 --> 00:05:45,203 TRYING TO LIGHTEN THE SHIP TO MAKE IT GO A LITTLE FASTER. 111 00:05:45,233 --> 00:05:47,673 THEN THEY EMPLOY A TACTIC WHERE THEY START TO UNLOAD 112 00:05:47,700 --> 00:05:49,630 SOME OF THEIR MORE IMPORTANT CARGO, 113 00:05:49,666 --> 00:05:51,526 THE HUMAN CARGO. 114 00:05:51,566 --> 00:05:53,426 THE HOPE IS THAT THE CONSTELLATION, 115 00:05:53,466 --> 00:05:55,396 GIVEN THAT ITS MISSION IS TO SAVE THOSE PEOPLE, 116 00:05:55,433 --> 00:05:59,103 WILL STOP TO RESCUE PEOPLE OUT OF THE WATER. 117 00:05:59,133 --> 00:06:01,233 Narrator: FACED WITH A HORRENDOUS DECISION, 118 00:06:01,266 --> 00:06:05,166 THE CONSTELLATION PURSUES THE SLAVE SHIP. 119 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:09,370 IT FIRES SHOTS THROUGH ITS RIGGING TO FORCE A SURRENDER. 120 00:06:12,533 --> 00:06:17,103 THE SHIP IS IDENTIFIED AS AN AMERICAN VESSEL NAMED THE CORA. 121 00:06:17,133 --> 00:06:21,303 A BOARDING PARTY FROM THE CONSTELLATION IS SENT ACROSS. 122 00:06:21,333 --> 00:06:24,073 Auer: THEY GO DOWN BELOW, AND YOU OPEN THE HATCH, 123 00:06:24,100 --> 00:06:25,130 AND YOU'RE IMMEDIATELY HIT 124 00:06:25,166 --> 00:06:28,066 WITH THE STENCH AND THE MISERY OF HUMAN SQUALOR, 125 00:06:28,100 --> 00:06:32,500 AND THEY FIND THE CARGO OF 705 CAPTIVE AFRICANS ON BOARD. 126 00:06:32,533 --> 00:06:34,573 [RIGGING CREAKING] 127 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:36,530 Narrator: CREW MEMBERS OF THE CONSTELLATION 128 00:06:36,566 --> 00:06:39,126 WERE HORRIFIED BY WHAT THEY SAW. 129 00:06:39,166 --> 00:06:41,166 ONE MAN WROTE: 130 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:55,570 THE CAPTAIN AND CREW OF THE CORA WERE ARRESTED, 131 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:57,600 TRANSFERRED TO THE CONSTELLATION, 132 00:06:57,633 --> 00:07:02,173 AND TAKEN BACK TO THE UNITED STATES TO BE TRIED, 133 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:05,100 BUT JUSTICE WAS NOT DONE. 134 00:07:05,133 --> 00:07:06,373 Auer: ALL OF THEM ARE ACQUITTED. 135 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:11,030 NO CONSEQUENCES ARE EVER, AS FAR AS WE KNOW, GIVEN TO THAT CREW. 136 00:07:11,066 --> 00:07:12,366 THEY ALL GOT OFF. 137 00:07:15,500 --> 00:07:18,200 Narrator: NO LONGER DESTINED FOR A LIFE OF SLAVERY, 138 00:07:18,233 --> 00:07:23,233 705 AFRICANS WERE TAKEN TO THE U. S. PROTECTORATE OF LIBERIA 139 00:07:23,266 --> 00:07:25,196 AND WERE SET FREE. 140 00:07:25,233 --> 00:07:33,273 ♪ 141 00:07:33,300 --> 00:07:37,400 CONSTELLATION'S SLAVE RESCUE EARNED HER A MOMENT OF GLORY, 142 00:07:37,433 --> 00:07:38,833 AND WITHIN A FEW YEARS, 143 00:07:38,866 --> 00:07:42,426 THE BARBARIC TRADE OF THE SLAVE SHIPS ENDED. 144 00:07:45,866 --> 00:07:50,096 BUT THE ROLE OF RESCUE SHIPS BECAME INCREASINGLY VITAL. 145 00:07:53,366 --> 00:07:55,496 THE IDEA WAS NOTHING NEW. 146 00:07:55,533 --> 00:07:57,533 HMS VICTORY'S GUN DECKS 147 00:07:57,566 --> 00:08:01,826 HAD BEEN USED TO CARE FOR THE SICK AND WOUNDED. 148 00:08:01,866 --> 00:08:04,026 BUT AS BATTLES BECAME BLOODIER 149 00:08:04,066 --> 00:08:06,596 AND WEAPONS EVEN MORE TERRIFYING, 150 00:08:06,633 --> 00:08:09,573 THERE WAS A NEED FOR DEDICATED VESSELS TO RESCUE, 151 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:12,700 CARE FOR, AND TRANSPORT THE INJURED. 152 00:08:15,833 --> 00:08:21,103 THE 20th CENTURY WAS THE AGE OF THE HOSPITAL SHIP. 153 00:08:21,133 --> 00:08:25,503 [ARTILLERY FIRE] 154 00:08:25,533 --> 00:08:28,403 WITH THOUSANDS OF TROOPS FIGHTING ON THE WESTERN FRONT 155 00:08:28,433 --> 00:08:30,333 DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR, 156 00:08:30,366 --> 00:08:34,496 IT WAS THE BRITISH WHO DEVELOPED A NEW CATEGORY OF COMBAT SHIP. 157 00:08:37,833 --> 00:08:40,203 THE WOUNDED WOULD BE RUSHED AWAY FROM THE TRENCHES 158 00:08:40,233 --> 00:08:42,603 BY LIGHT RAILWAY, 159 00:08:42,633 --> 00:08:44,573 THEN BY AMBULANCE TRAIN, 160 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,530 AND FINALLY, FERRIED ACROSS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL 161 00:08:47,566 --> 00:08:50,696 ABOARD DEDICATED HOSPITAL SHIPS. 162 00:08:50,733 --> 00:08:52,733 Emily Mayhew: WE'RE CROSSING HERE TO SOUTHAMPTON, 163 00:08:52,766 --> 00:08:55,166 AND OF COURSE THIS WAS THE BUSIEST ROUTE FOR HOSPITAL SHIPS 164 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:56,400 FROM THE WESTERN FRONT. 165 00:08:56,433 --> 00:08:58,373 IT WASN'T A PARTICULARLY LONG JOURNEY, 166 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:01,030 BUT IT COULD BE ROUGH, AND IT COULD BE DANGEROUS. 167 00:09:01,066 --> 00:09:03,026 WE KNOW THAT 1.2 MILLION PATIENTS 168 00:09:03,066 --> 00:09:04,566 WERE RECEIVED AT SOUTHAMPTON. 169 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:06,470 THAT'S 1.2 MILLION PATIENTS 170 00:09:06,500 --> 00:09:08,230 IN WARDS THAT NEEDED TO BE KEPT CLEAN, 171 00:09:08,266 --> 00:09:09,566 THAT NEEDED TO BE OFFLOADED 172 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:12,030 AS EASILY AND AS PAINLESSLY AS POSSIBLE 173 00:09:12,066 --> 00:09:15,496 AND THEN SENT ON TO THE RIGHT HOSPITALS. 174 00:09:15,533 --> 00:09:16,833 Narrator: THE BRITISH PUBLIC, 175 00:09:16,866 --> 00:09:19,596 WEARY FROM DEFEATS ON THE WESTERN FRONT, 176 00:09:19,633 --> 00:09:23,073 PREFERRED TO HEAR ABOUT THOSE WHO HAD SAVED SOLDIERS 177 00:09:23,100 --> 00:09:26,530 AND BROUGHT THEM HOME SAFELY. 178 00:09:26,566 --> 00:09:31,496 IN 1917, KING GEORGE V PAID TRIBUTE TO THE MEDICAL STAFF 179 00:09:31,533 --> 00:09:34,503 ON THE FORMER PandO LINER PLASSIG. 180 00:09:34,533 --> 00:09:36,733 Mayhew: LIKE ALL THE MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS IN FRANCE 181 00:09:36,766 --> 00:09:38,096 AND COMING BACK TO BRITAIN, 182 00:09:38,133 --> 00:09:39,033 NONE OF IT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE 183 00:09:39,066 --> 00:09:41,366 WITHOUT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF NURSES 184 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:43,670 WHO VOLUNTEERED TO GO OUT AND SERVE. 185 00:09:43,700 --> 00:09:44,900 NURSES PREPARED REALLY WELL 186 00:09:44,933 --> 00:09:47,603 AND PARTICULARLY NURSES WHO WERE GONNA BE ON HOSPITAL SHIPS. 187 00:09:47,633 --> 00:09:50,033 THEY TOOK EXTENSIVE LIFESAVING COURSES, 188 00:09:50,066 --> 00:09:51,826 AND MOST OF THEM LEARNED HOW TO ROW, 189 00:09:51,866 --> 00:09:54,326 PARTICULARLY ROW A VERY LARGE, HEAVY BOAT 190 00:09:54,366 --> 00:09:57,696 THAT WOULD BE FULL OF THEIR PATIENTS. 191 00:09:57,733 --> 00:10:00,673 Narrator: IN THEORY, THE NURSES AND THEIR PATIENTS 192 00:10:00,700 --> 00:10:04,630 WERE PROTECTED BY INTERNATIONAL LAW. 193 00:10:04,666 --> 00:10:06,626 THE GENEVA CONVENTION STIPULATED 194 00:10:06,666 --> 00:10:09,396 THAT HOSPITAL SHIPS WOULD BE IMMUNE FROM ATTACK 195 00:10:09,433 --> 00:10:11,803 IF THEY FOLLOWED CERTAIN RULES. 196 00:10:11,833 --> 00:10:13,573 Andrew Gordon: ONE WAS THAT THEY SHOULD NOT 197 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:15,300 BE CARRYING MUNITIONS. 198 00:10:15,333 --> 00:10:21,403 THEY SHOULD NOT BE OBSTRUCTING THE ACTIONS OF AN ENEMY AT ALL, 199 00:10:21,433 --> 00:10:24,273 AND THEY SHOULD BE CLEARLY MARKED, 200 00:10:24,300 --> 00:10:28,400 AND THE CLEAR MARKING INVOLVED BEING PAINTED WHITE, 201 00:10:28,433 --> 00:10:32,403 HAVING A BROAD GREEN STRIPE ALONG THE HULL 202 00:10:32,433 --> 00:10:36,773 AND HAVING CLEAR RED CROSSES MARKED ON THEM 203 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:38,630 AND BEING LIT AT NIGHT. 204 00:10:38,666 --> 00:10:42,296 AND IF HOSPITAL SHIPS CONFORMED TO THOSE RULES, 205 00:10:42,333 --> 00:10:48,033 THEY WERE MEANT TO BE IMMUNE FROM ATTACK. 206 00:10:48,066 --> 00:10:51,426 Narrator: BUT GERMAN U‐BOAT CAPTAINS HAD OTHER IDEAS. 207 00:10:51,466 --> 00:10:53,496 Gordon: ABOUT 24 HOSPITAL SHIPS 208 00:10:53,533 --> 00:10:56,103 WERE SUNK IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR. 209 00:10:56,133 --> 00:10:59,373 QUITE A LOT OF THEM WERE SUNK BY HITTING MINES, 210 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:02,770 WHICH ISN'T PROOF OF DELIBERATE TARGET SELECTION, 211 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:06,470 BUT ALSO QUITE A LOT OF THEM, ABOUT HALF, WERE TORPEDOED, 212 00:11:06,500 --> 00:11:10,830 AND ONE CAN ONLY ASSUME IT TO BE DELIBERATE. 213 00:11:10,866 --> 00:11:13,396 THE GERMANS GOT IT INTO THEIR HEADS 214 00:11:13,433 --> 00:11:16,373 THAT THE BRITISH WERE USING HOSPITAL SHIPS 215 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:18,370 FOR WARLIKE PURPOSES. 216 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:21,570 THEY ALLEGED THE BRITISH WERE USING THEM AS TROOPSHIPS, 217 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:22,730 WHICH THEY WEREN'T, 218 00:11:22,766 --> 00:11:26,366 AND SO THEY CONDUCTED A U‐BOAT CAMPAIGN. 219 00:11:30,666 --> 00:11:32,426 Narrator: NURSES ON BOARD THE SHIPS 220 00:11:32,466 --> 00:11:34,366 MAKING THE RUN ACROSS THE CHANNEL, 221 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:36,530 ADAPTED TO THE U‐BOAT THREAT. 222 00:11:36,566 --> 00:11:38,166 Mayhew: IT WAS EASIER TO KEEP YOUR LIFE JACKET ON 223 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:39,100 ALL THE TIME, 224 00:11:39,133 --> 00:11:40,533 SO ON TOP OF THEIR PROPER NURSES UNIFORM, 225 00:11:40,566 --> 00:11:42,066 STARCHED NURSES UNIFORM‐‐ 226 00:11:42,100 --> 00:11:43,800 THE LONG SKIRT AND THE BOOTS AND THE APRON‐‐ 227 00:11:43,833 --> 00:11:44,733 THEY PUT A LIFE JACKET 228 00:11:44,766 --> 00:11:46,796 AND PROBABLY A COAT BECAUSE IT WAS COLD. 229 00:11:46,833 --> 00:11:50,103 THEY DID ALL THEIR NURSING, AND THEY DID IT IN LIFE JACKETS. 230 00:11:53,733 --> 00:11:55,303 Narrator: ONE NURSE IN PARTICULAR 231 00:11:55,333 --> 00:11:58,803 KNEW ALL ABOUT THE DANGERS AT SEA. 232 00:11:58,833 --> 00:12:00,733 SHE'D SURVIVED THE MOST NOTORIOUS 233 00:12:00,766 --> 00:12:03,166 OF ALL MARITIME DISASTERS. 234 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:05,430 NOW HISTORY WAS REPEATING ITSELF 235 00:12:05,466 --> 00:12:08,426 ON THE LARGEST HOSPITAL SHIP OF THE GREAT WAR. 236 00:12:08,466 --> 00:12:10,326 Actor as Violet Jessop: I TURNED AROUND 237 00:12:10,366 --> 00:12:13,696 AND, TO MY HORROR, SAW BRITANNIC'S HUGE PROPELLERS 238 00:12:13,733 --> 00:12:16,133 CHURNING AND MINCING EVERYTHING NEAR THEM. 239 00:12:16,166 --> 00:12:20,466 MEN, BOATS, EVERYTHING WERE JUST ONE GHASTLY WHIRL. 240 00:12:24,100 --> 00:12:26,830 Narrator: APRIL 15, 1912, IS A DATE 241 00:12:26,866 --> 00:12:31,596 THAT STANDS ALONE IN MARITIME HISTORY. 242 00:12:31,633 --> 00:12:33,503 JUST FIVE DAYS EARLIER, 243 00:12:33,533 --> 00:12:38,833 THE MIGHTY RMS TITANIC HAD SET SAIL ON HER MAIDEN VOYAGE, 244 00:12:38,866 --> 00:12:43,026 A VOYAGE SHE WOULD NEVER COMPLETE. 245 00:12:43,066 --> 00:12:45,426 AT TITANIC'S SHIPYARD IN BELFAST, 246 00:12:45,466 --> 00:12:50,366 CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SHIP STOPPED ABRUPTLY. 247 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:54,230 THIS WAS TO BE TITANIC'S SISTER SHIP‐‐THE BRITANNIC. 248 00:12:56,333 --> 00:13:06,333 ♪ 249 00:13:08,833 --> 00:13:10,503 Philip Cauley: WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING DOWN AT 250 00:13:10,533 --> 00:13:13,603 IS THE SLIPWAYS OF TITANIC AND BRITANNIC. 251 00:13:13,633 --> 00:13:16,803 BRITANNIC WAS BUILT OVER ON THE LEFT‐HAND SIDE. 252 00:13:16,833 --> 00:13:20,073 Narrator: BRITANNIC'S OWNERS, THE WHITE STAR LINE, 253 00:13:20,100 --> 00:13:21,700 BELIEVED THEIR SHIP TO BE 254 00:13:21,733 --> 00:13:24,803 "AS PERFECT A SPECIMEN OF MAN'S CREATIVE POWER 255 00:13:24,833 --> 00:13:27,173 AS IT IS POSSIBLE TO CONCEIVE." 256 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:28,670 Cauley: THE HEIGHT OF THIS BUILDING IS THE SAME HEIGHT 257 00:13:28,700 --> 00:13:32,070 AS BRITANNIC FROM KEEL TO BOAT DECK. 258 00:13:32,100 --> 00:13:33,830 HOW DID BRITANNIC GET INTO BELFAST LOUGH? 259 00:13:33,866 --> 00:13:36,766 THEY USED 23 TONS OF OIL, GREASE AND SOAP, 260 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:37,670 AND THEY SHOVED THEM IN. 261 00:13:37,700 --> 00:13:41,400 EMPTY SHELLS WEIGHING OVER 23,000 TONS. 262 00:13:41,433 --> 00:13:43,103 AS THE SHIPYARD WORKERS USED TO CALL IT, 263 00:13:43,133 --> 00:13:46,333 "WE BUILD THEM UP AND SHOVE THEM OUT." 264 00:13:46,366 --> 00:13:52,096 ♪ 265 00:13:52,133 --> 00:13:54,703 Narrator: BUT FIVE MONTHS AFTER BRITANNIC'S LAUNCH, 266 00:13:54,733 --> 00:13:58,673 THE FIRST WORLD WAR BROKE OUT. 267 00:13:58,700 --> 00:14:04,070 THE LUXURY WORLD OF OCEAN LINERS WAS QUICKLY FORGOTTEN. 268 00:14:04,100 --> 00:14:05,730 BRITANNIC WAS ABANDONED 269 00:14:05,766 --> 00:14:11,096 AND LEFT UNFINISHED AT HARLAND AND WOLFF SHIPYARD. 270 00:14:11,133 --> 00:14:14,103 BUT THEN, IN APRIL 1915, 271 00:14:14,133 --> 00:14:18,303 THE ALLIES ATTACKED TURKEY'S GALLIPOLI PENINSULA. 272 00:14:18,333 --> 00:14:21,603 THEY HOPED IT WOULD FORCE THE TURKS OUT OF THE WAR, 273 00:14:21,633 --> 00:14:25,073 BUT THEY'D UNDERESTIMATED THE VAST AMOUNT OF MEN AND SUPPLIES 274 00:14:25,100 --> 00:14:28,100 THAT WOULD BE NEEDED. 275 00:14:28,133 --> 00:14:32,233 THE SOLUTION WAS TO CONVERT PREWAR OCEAN LINERS. 276 00:14:32,266 --> 00:14:36,266 CUNARD'S MAURETANIA AND THE WHITE STAR LINE'S OLYMPIC 277 00:14:36,300 --> 00:14:38,670 BECAME TROOPSHIPS. 278 00:14:38,700 --> 00:14:40,630 BUT TO BRING THE CASUALTIES HOME, 279 00:14:40,666 --> 00:14:44,326 THEY WOULD NEED A MASSIVE HOSPITAL SHIP. 280 00:14:44,366 --> 00:14:47,596 ONE VESSEL SEEMED TO FIT THE BILL‐‐ 281 00:14:47,633 --> 00:14:50,103 THE HALF‐FINISHED BRITANNIC. 282 00:14:50,133 --> 00:14:54,473 ♪ 283 00:14:54,500 --> 00:14:56,400 Simon Mills: MUCH OF THE SHIP WAS COMPLETE. 284 00:14:56,433 --> 00:14:58,133 THERE IS DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE OF A LOT OF NICE CABINS, 285 00:14:58,166 --> 00:15:01,026 A LOT OF, UM, VERY, VERY PLUSH DINING ROOMS 286 00:15:01,066 --> 00:15:03,166 ALL COMPLETED AND READY FOR SERVICE. 287 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:05,200 BECAUSE SOME OF THESE CABINS HADN'T BEEN PUT IN, 288 00:15:05,233 --> 00:15:06,803 THERE WERE LARGE OPEN SPACES ON THE SHIP, 289 00:15:06,833 --> 00:15:07,833 WHICH ODDLY ENOUGH, 290 00:15:07,866 --> 00:15:09,566 MADE HER IDEAL AS A HOSPITAL SHIP 291 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:11,270 BECAUSE THEY GAVE HER MUCH LARGER WARDS, 292 00:15:11,300 --> 00:15:15,100 MUCH EASIER TO OVERSEE. 293 00:15:15,133 --> 00:15:18,303 Narrator: ON DECEMBER 22, 1915, 294 00:15:18,333 --> 00:15:22,373 HIS MAJESTY'S HOSPITAL SHIP BRITANNIC, NOW PAINTED WHITE, 295 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:24,330 SAILED FROM LIVERPOOL. 296 00:15:24,366 --> 00:15:26,196 IT WAS THE FIRST OF MANY TRIPS 297 00:15:26,233 --> 00:15:31,333 TO RESCUE THE SICK AND WOUNDED OF THE GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN. 298 00:15:31,366 --> 00:15:34,126 THE NEW SHIP HAD TWICE AS MANY LIFEBOATS 299 00:15:34,166 --> 00:15:36,396 AS THE ILL‐FATED TITANIC. 300 00:15:36,433 --> 00:15:38,333 Mills: INTERNALLY THEY WERE QUITE DIFFERENT. 301 00:15:38,366 --> 00:15:39,696 BRITANNIC HAD A DOUBLE SKIN 302 00:15:39,733 --> 00:15:42,103 ALONGSIDE THE BOILER ROOMS AND THE ENGINE ROOM. 303 00:15:42,133 --> 00:15:44,533 THEY HAD HIGHER AND STRONGER BULKHEADS. 304 00:15:44,566 --> 00:15:45,826 THE WHOLE IDEA WAS THAT HAD BRITANNIC 305 00:15:45,866 --> 00:15:48,326 HIT THE ICEBERG WHICH SANK THE TITANIC, 306 00:15:48,366 --> 00:15:50,226 SHE WOULD HAVE SURVIVED THE DISASTER. 307 00:15:53,100 --> 00:15:55,830 Narrator: ON NOVEMBER 21, 1916, 308 00:15:55,866 --> 00:15:58,296 NINE MONTHS AFTER HER FIRST VOYAGE, 309 00:15:58,333 --> 00:16:03,273 BRITANNIC WAS SAILING EASTWARD OFF THE COAST OF GREECE. 310 00:16:03,300 --> 00:16:07,200 NEARLY 400 MEDICAL STAFF WERE ON BOARD. 311 00:16:07,233 --> 00:16:10,173 BRITANNIC ENTERED THE KEA CHANNEL, 312 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:11,730 BUT THREE WEEKS EARLIER, 313 00:16:11,766 --> 00:16:17,096 GERMAN U‐BOAT U‐73 HAD MADE THE SAME JOURNEY. 314 00:16:17,133 --> 00:16:19,603 THE U‐BOAT'S COMMANDER, GUSTAV SIESS, 315 00:16:19,633 --> 00:16:22,573 HAD LEFT BEHIND A TRAIL OF DEADLY MINES. 316 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:23,730 Mills: KAPITANLEUTNANT SIESS 317 00:16:23,766 --> 00:16:27,196 HAD A VERY SORT OF WILY PLOY OF LAYING HIS MINES DEEP. 318 00:16:27,233 --> 00:16:29,073 THAT WAY HE GOT A LARGER VESSEL. 319 00:16:29,100 --> 00:16:30,400 HE DIDN'T GO FOR SMALL DESTROYERS 320 00:16:30,433 --> 00:16:31,773 OR SMALL LITTLE FISHING BOATS. 321 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:33,300 HE WANTED TO GET A BIG SHIP. 322 00:16:33,333 --> 00:16:34,633 THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A BATTLESHIP. 323 00:16:34,666 --> 00:16:35,766 IT COULD HAVE BEEN A TROOPER. 324 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:38,330 IT COULD HAVE BEEN A HOSPITAL SHIP. 325 00:16:38,366 --> 00:16:39,996 HE GOT A HOSPITAL SHIP. 326 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:44,600 Narrator: NOVEMBER 21st WAS A TYPICAL SUNDAY MORNING 327 00:16:44,633 --> 00:16:46,603 ON BOARD THE BRITANNIC. 328 00:16:46,633 --> 00:16:47,873 Mills: UP IN THE LOUNGE, 329 00:16:47,900 --> 00:16:50,200 THE MEDICAL STAFF ARE SITTING DOWN, HAVING THEIR BREAKFAST. 330 00:16:50,233 --> 00:16:53,203 DOWN BELOW, THE FIREMEN AND THE STOKERS, THE TRIMMERS, 331 00:16:53,233 --> 00:16:55,073 THEY WERE ALL CHANGING THEIR POSTS. 332 00:16:55,100 --> 00:16:58,030 EVERYTHING WAS COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY NORMAL. 333 00:16:58,066 --> 00:17:00,526 THEN SUDDENLY, 12 MINUTES PAST 8:00, 334 00:17:00,566 --> 00:17:04,096 A HUGE BANG ON THE STARBOARD SIDE, 335 00:17:04,133 --> 00:17:08,203 FOLLOWED BY A VIOLENT SHUDDER. 336 00:17:08,233 --> 00:17:11,073 Narrator: ON BOARD WAS A 28‐YEAR‐OLD NURSE 337 00:17:11,100 --> 00:17:13,030 NAMED VIOLET JESSOP. 338 00:17:13,066 --> 00:17:16,326 FOR HER, THE SCENARIO WAS PAINFULLY FAMILIAR. 339 00:17:16,366 --> 00:17:20,126 FOUR YEARS EARLIER, SHE HAD BEEN A STEWARDESS ON THE TITANIC 340 00:17:20,166 --> 00:17:22,496 WHEN IT STRUCK THE INFAMOUS ICEBERG. 341 00:17:22,533 --> 00:17:25,803 Jessop: AS ONE MAN, THE WHOLE SALOON ROSE FROM THEIR SEATS. 342 00:17:25,833 --> 00:17:29,403 DOCTORS AND NURSES VANISHED TO THEIR POSTS IN A TRICE. 343 00:17:29,433 --> 00:17:31,503 THE PANTRY, WHERE I STOOD, 344 00:17:31,533 --> 00:17:33,073 HOLDING A TEAPOT IN ONE HAND 345 00:17:33,100 --> 00:17:34,530 AND A PAT OF BUTTER IN THE OTHER, 346 00:17:34,566 --> 00:17:38,026 WAS CLEARED, TOO, AS MEN DROPPED WHAT THEY WERE DOING. 347 00:17:38,066 --> 00:17:41,066 IN SECONDS, NOT A SOUL WAS TO BE SEEN. 348 00:17:41,100 --> 00:17:42,470 Mills: DOWN BELOW IN THE BOILER ROOMS, 349 00:17:42,500 --> 00:17:44,600 PARTICULARLY FIVE AND SIX, WHERE THE WATER WAS RUSHING IN, 350 00:17:44,633 --> 00:17:45,673 THE STOKERS AND THE TRIMMERS 351 00:17:45,700 --> 00:17:47,630 WERE FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES ALREADY, 352 00:17:47,666 --> 00:17:48,796 TRYING TO GET UP THE STAIRWAYS 353 00:17:48,833 --> 00:17:51,503 BEFORE THEY WERE COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED BY THE WATER. 354 00:17:51,533 --> 00:17:54,803 Narrator: THE MINE RIPPED INTO TWO WATERTIGHT COMPARTMENTS. 355 00:17:54,833 --> 00:17:57,203 THE BRITANNIC SHOULD HAVE CONTAINED IT, 356 00:17:57,233 --> 00:18:00,103 BUT SOME OF THE WATERTIGHT DOORS FAILED. 357 00:18:00,133 --> 00:18:02,673 SEAWATER WAS NOW FLOODING THROUGH THE SHIP. 358 00:18:06,100 --> 00:18:10,330 THE BRITANNIC WAS SINKING FASTER THAN THE TITANIC. 359 00:18:10,366 --> 00:18:15,226 NURSES, MEDICS, AND CREW ALIKE SCRAMBLED INTO THE LIFEBOATS. 360 00:18:15,266 --> 00:18:17,796 BUT AS VIOLET JESSOP'S BOAT REACHED THE SEA, 361 00:18:17,833 --> 00:18:22,303 HER COMPANIONS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY JUMPED OVERBOARD. 362 00:18:22,333 --> 00:18:24,403 SHE SOON FOUND OUT WHY. 363 00:18:24,433 --> 00:18:27,103 Jessop: I TURNED AROUND TO SEE THE REASON FOR THIS EXODUS, 364 00:18:27,133 --> 00:18:31,273 AND, TO MY HORROR, SAW BRITANNIC'S HUGE PROPELLERS 365 00:18:31,300 --> 00:18:34,070 CHURNING AND MINCING EVERYTHING NEAR THEM. 366 00:18:34,100 --> 00:18:39,130 MEN, BOATS, EVERYTHING WERE JUST ONE GHASTLY WHIRL. 367 00:18:39,166 --> 00:18:40,326 Mills: AS THE LIFEBOAT HIT THE WATER, 368 00:18:40,366 --> 00:18:41,466 IT COULDN'T GET AWAY 369 00:18:41,500 --> 00:18:43,070 FROM THE SIDE OF THE SHIP MOVING THROUGH THE WATER. 370 00:18:43,100 --> 00:18:45,070 IT BUMPED ALONG THE SIDE OF THE SHIP, 371 00:18:45,100 --> 00:18:46,770 PRACTICALLY TWO‐THIRDS OF THE LENGTH OF THE SHIP 372 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:49,270 AND WAS DRAGGED INTO THIS HUGE TURNING PROPELLER, 373 00:18:49,300 --> 00:18:50,770 23‐FOOT DIAMETER. 374 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:51,770 Jessop: IN ANOTHER MOMENT, 375 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:53,230 I WOULD BE UNDER THOSE GLITTERING, 376 00:18:53,266 --> 00:18:55,596 RELENTLESS BLADES, UNLESS... 377 00:18:55,633 --> 00:18:57,673 I LOOKED AT THE EQUALLY INEXORABLE SEA, 378 00:18:57,700 --> 00:19:01,030 AND, FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND, HESITATED, 379 00:19:01,066 --> 00:19:03,396 FOR I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AFRAID OF WATER. 380 00:19:03,433 --> 00:19:05,573 Mills: SHE JUMPED. SHE DIDN'T MANAGE TO GET CLEAR. 381 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:08,730 SHE WAS PULLED DOWN BY THE FORCE OF THE PROPELLER. 382 00:19:08,766 --> 00:19:10,696 Jessop: I FELT MYSELF RISING, 383 00:19:10,733 --> 00:19:13,773 AND MY HEAD CAME INTO VIOLENT CONTACT WITH SOMETHING SOLID, 384 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:17,030 SOMETHING THAT PREVENTED ME FROM REACHING THE SURFACE. 385 00:19:17,066 --> 00:19:20,096 THEN AGAIN, THERE WAS ANOTHER TERRIFIC CRASH ABOVE ME, 386 00:19:20,133 --> 00:19:23,273 AND SOMETHING VERY SOLID STRUCK THE BACK OF MY HEAD, 387 00:19:23,300 --> 00:19:25,270 A RESOUNDING BLOW, 388 00:19:25,300 --> 00:19:30,030 BUT HAPPILY ON THAT PART WHERE MY PLENTIFUL HAIR WAS THICKEST. 389 00:19:30,066 --> 00:19:32,166 Narrator: VIOLET FOUGHT HER WAY TO THE SURFACE 390 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:34,700 ONLY TO FACE A HORRIFIC SCENE. 391 00:19:34,733 --> 00:19:38,073 30 PEOPLE HAD BEEN KILLED BY THE PROPELLERS. 392 00:19:44,633 --> 00:19:46,433 JUST AFTER 9:00 A. M., 393 00:19:46,466 --> 00:19:49,366 THE BRITANNIC ROLLED ONTO ITS STARBOARD SIDE, 394 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:52,800 BEFORE PLUNGING BOW‐FIRST TO THE SEABED. 395 00:19:52,833 --> 00:19:55,803 THE LARGEST SHIP LOST IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR 396 00:19:55,833 --> 00:19:59,703 HAD SUNK IN JUST 55 MINUTES. 397 00:19:59,733 --> 00:20:05,233 VIOLET AND THE OTHER SURVIVORS WERE RESCUED BY THE ROYAL NAVY. 398 00:20:05,266 --> 00:20:08,496 THE WRECK OF BRITANNIC LIES 400 FEET DOWN, 399 00:20:08,533 --> 00:20:10,833 AT THE BOTTOM OF THE KEA CHANNEL, 400 00:20:10,866 --> 00:20:15,626 AND WHILE THE TITANIC CRUMBLES ON THE ATLANTIC SEABED, 401 00:20:15,666 --> 00:20:19,066 HER SISTER SHIP IS STILL IN GOOD CONDITION. 402 00:20:19,100 --> 00:20:20,770 Mills: IF YOU COMPARE THE WRECK OF THE TITANIC 403 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:21,770 WITH THE WRECK OF THE BRITANNIC, 404 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:24,230 THEY ARE JUST COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY DIFFERENT. 405 00:20:24,266 --> 00:20:26,096 THE TITANIC IS IN TWO MAIN SECTIONS, 406 00:20:26,133 --> 00:20:28,303 WITH THE WHOLE MIDDLE THIRD OF THE SHIP JUST GONE 407 00:20:28,333 --> 00:20:30,033 IN FRAGMENTS ON THE SEABED. 408 00:20:30,066 --> 00:20:32,826 BRITANNIC IS ALMOST COMPLETELY INTACT. 409 00:20:32,866 --> 00:20:35,326 Narrator: THE MASSIVE PROPELLERS THAT CAUSED THE CARNAGE 410 00:20:35,366 --> 00:20:37,596 ARE STILL IN PLACE. 411 00:20:37,633 --> 00:20:41,733 EVEN THE CAPTAIN'S BATH, WITH ITS FOUR TAPS, IS VISIBLE. 412 00:20:41,766 --> 00:20:42,796 Mills: I'VE BEEN WATCHING THAT WRECK NOW 413 00:20:42,833 --> 00:20:43,803 FOR SOMETHING LIKE 20 YEARS. 414 00:20:43,833 --> 00:20:45,633 I DON'T THINK IT'S CHANGED IN ALL THAT TIME. 415 00:20:45,666 --> 00:20:46,696 SHE'S INCREDIBLY STABLE, 416 00:20:46,733 --> 00:20:49,273 AND I THINK WILL BE AROUND FOR A GOOD WHILE YET. 417 00:20:49,300 --> 00:20:56,730 ♪ 418 00:20:56,766 --> 00:20:58,826 Narrator: DESPITE THE LOSS OF MANY HOSPITAL SHIPS 419 00:20:58,866 --> 00:21:00,726 DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR, 420 00:21:00,766 --> 00:21:05,466 THESE VESSELS BECAME A VITAL PART OF THE EFFORT. 421 00:21:05,500 --> 00:21:10,770 BY ITS END, THERE WERE 77 IN SERVICE. 422 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:15,500 BUT IN 1939, THE WORLD WAS AT WAR AGAIN. 423 00:21:15,533 --> 00:21:16,733 Mayhew: I THINK IF YOU TOOK A CREW 424 00:21:16,766 --> 00:21:18,526 FROM A FIRST WORLD WAR HOSPITAL SHIP 425 00:21:18,566 --> 00:21:21,096 AND PUT THEM ON A SECOND WORLD WAR HOSPITAL SHIP, 426 00:21:21,133 --> 00:21:22,503 THEY'D REALLY RECOGNIZE EVERYTHING 427 00:21:22,533 --> 00:21:23,703 THAT THEY FOUND THERE. 428 00:21:23,733 --> 00:21:25,503 THEY'D BE JEALOUS OF THE SPEED. 429 00:21:25,533 --> 00:21:27,403 BUT THE SPACES ARE THE SAME. 430 00:21:27,433 --> 00:21:29,333 AND WHAT BOTH OF THEM WOULD RECOGNIZE 431 00:21:29,366 --> 00:21:32,326 IS THIS UNSEEN THREAT FROM SUBMARINES. 432 00:21:32,366 --> 00:21:34,026 LIVING WITH THAT FEAR 433 00:21:34,066 --> 00:21:38,066 IS SOMETHING THAT ONLY HOSPITAL SHIP CREWS REALLY UNDERSTOOD. 434 00:21:38,100 --> 00:21:41,370 HOW YOU DID THAT DAY AFTER DAY AND VOYAGE AFTER VOYAGE 435 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:44,030 IS SOMETHING THAT WE MUST NEVER UNDERESTIMATE. 436 00:21:44,066 --> 00:21:48,826 IT'S A TRULY REMARKABLE PART OF THEIR SERVICE. 437 00:21:48,866 --> 00:21:53,066 Narrator: IN 1945, LOIS LANGHANS WAS JUST 21 438 00:21:53,100 --> 00:21:57,770 WHEN SHE SERVED AS A NURSE ON AN AMERICAN HOSPITAL SHIP. 439 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:00,600 SHE AND HER COLLEAGUES ROUNDED UP INJURED SOLDIERS 440 00:22:00,633 --> 00:22:03,203 FROM THE PORTS OF CHERBOURG AND LIVERPOOL 441 00:22:03,233 --> 00:22:04,533 AND ATTENDED TO THEM 442 00:22:04,566 --> 00:22:08,766 WHILE CROSSING THE ATLANTIC TO THE UNITED STATES. 443 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:11,030 Lois Langhans: IT WAS TOWARD THE END OF THE WAR, 444 00:22:11,066 --> 00:22:14,296 SO THEY WERE ALL THROUGH GOING BACK INTO BATTLE, 445 00:22:14,333 --> 00:22:16,833 AND WHEN THEY FINALLY GOT ON BOARD A HOSPITAL SHIP, 446 00:22:16,866 --> 00:22:19,726 IT WAS LIKE A REAL... [EXHALES] 447 00:22:19,766 --> 00:22:21,096 TAKE A BIG BREATH. 448 00:22:21,133 --> 00:22:24,603 I'M OFF THE LAND. I'M HEADED HOME. 449 00:22:24,633 --> 00:22:27,333 Narrator: 20 YEARS AFTER THE FIRST WORLD WAR, 450 00:22:27,366 --> 00:22:30,026 THERE WAS NOW GREATER AWARENESS OF INJURIES, 451 00:22:30,066 --> 00:22:33,196 BOTH SEEN AND UNSEEN. 452 00:22:33,233 --> 00:22:35,073 Langhans: FOR US NURSES, 453 00:22:35,100 --> 00:22:37,830 PART OF IT WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND 454 00:22:37,866 --> 00:22:41,096 SOME OF THE BOYS DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING. 455 00:22:41,133 --> 00:22:44,033 SOME WANTED TO TALK AND GET IT OFF THEIR MIND, 456 00:22:44,066 --> 00:22:50,266 AND OUR AIM WAS TO DO THE BEST WE COULD TO KEEP THEM MOBILE, 457 00:22:50,300 --> 00:22:52,030 INTERESTED IN GOING HOME, 458 00:22:52,066 --> 00:22:57,266 AND NOT GOING BACK OVER ALL OF THE BAD EXPERIENCES. 459 00:22:57,300 --> 00:22:59,300 IT REALLY MADE YOU FEEL LIKE 460 00:22:59,333 --> 00:23:01,573 YOU NEEDED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THESE KIDS, 461 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:03,230 AND THEY NEEDED HELP. 462 00:23:07,066 --> 00:23:13,026 IT WAS A TIME, A PERIOD IN MY LIFE, THAT'S VERY SPECIAL. 463 00:23:13,066 --> 00:23:14,826 WHEN YOU'RE IN A WAR LIKE THAT, 464 00:23:14,866 --> 00:23:16,826 EVERYBODY DOES WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO. 465 00:23:16,866 --> 00:23:19,566 YOU DON'T SIT HOME AND WONDER. YOU DO IT. 466 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:24,230 I WAS FORTUNATE IN BRINGING THE BOYS TO A SAFER PLACE. 467 00:23:31,733 --> 00:23:33,273 Narrator: ALONG WITH THE COUNTLESS ACTS 468 00:23:33,300 --> 00:23:37,530 OF BARBARISM AND INHUMANITY DURING WORLD WAR II, 469 00:23:37,566 --> 00:23:40,466 THERE WERE FEATS OF BRAVERY AND HEROISM. 470 00:23:40,500 --> 00:23:44,430 ONE IS KNOWN AS THE MIRACLE OF DUNKIRK. 471 00:23:44,466 --> 00:23:48,496 IT INVOLVED THE MASS EVACUATION OF BRITISH AND FRENCH TROOPS 472 00:23:48,533 --> 00:23:53,073 WHILE UNDER ATTACK FROM THE GERMANS IN 1940. 473 00:23:53,100 --> 00:23:55,230 BY CONTRAST, A FEW WEEKS LATER, 474 00:23:55,266 --> 00:23:59,826 ANOTHER EVACUATION TOOK PLACE OFF THE FRENCH COAST. 475 00:23:59,866 --> 00:24:01,826 AND THOUGH IT'S RARELY DISCUSSED, 476 00:24:01,866 --> 00:24:04,526 IT LED TO THE GREATEST MARITIME LOSS OF LIFE 477 00:24:04,566 --> 00:24:06,796 THE WORLD HAD EVER KNOWN. 478 00:24:06,833 --> 00:24:11,633 ♪ 479 00:24:11,666 --> 00:24:16,626 AFTER DUNKIRK, 150,000 BRITISH TROOPS AND CIVILIANS 480 00:24:16,666 --> 00:24:20,026 WERE STILL TRAPPED IN FRANCE. 481 00:24:20,066 --> 00:24:22,566 THEY WERE TOLD TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO A STRING OF PORTS 482 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:27,530 FROM CHERBOURG IN THE NORTH, TO ST. JEAN DE LUZ IN THE SOUTH. 483 00:24:27,566 --> 00:24:31,626 MEANWHILE, THE BRITISH ASSEMBLED ANOTHER ARMADA OF RESCUE SHIPS, 484 00:24:31,666 --> 00:24:35,626 CODE‐NAMED OPERATION AERIAL. 485 00:24:35,666 --> 00:24:37,426 AMONG THOSE STRANDED WAS 486 00:24:37,466 --> 00:24:41,026 26‐YEAR‐OLD ROYAL ENGINEER WALTER HIRST. 487 00:24:41,066 --> 00:24:44,366 HIS UNIT HAD BEEN BUILDING AN AIRFIELD NEAR NANTES. 488 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:45,600 Mark Hirst: MY GRANDFATHER VOLUNTEERED 489 00:24:45,633 --> 00:24:47,203 BECAUSE HE WANTED TO GO BACK TO FRANCE 490 00:24:47,233 --> 00:24:49,373 TO FINISH THE JOB THAT HIS FATHER HAD BEGUN 491 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:50,600 IN WORLD WAR I. 492 00:24:50,633 --> 00:24:51,833 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, 493 00:24:51,866 --> 00:24:56,066 HE'S NOW BEING BASICALLY CHASED OUT OF FRANCE. 494 00:24:56,100 --> 00:24:59,800 IN JUNE, THEY STARTED TO REALIZE THERE WAS SOMETHING GOING ON. 495 00:24:59,833 --> 00:25:02,833 THE RAF GROUND CREW SUDDENLY DISAPPEARED. 496 00:25:02,866 --> 00:25:04,266 THEY, THEY'D LEFT BY TRUCKS. 497 00:25:04,300 --> 00:25:05,770 THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION 498 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:09,030 BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF THE BRITISH FORCES, 499 00:25:09,066 --> 00:25:10,826 AND IT WAS A REAL SHOCK. 500 00:25:10,866 --> 00:25:13,066 Narrator: WALTER AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER TROOPS 501 00:25:13,100 --> 00:25:17,130 MADE THEIR WAY BY TRUCK TO THE PORT OF SAINT NAZAIRE. 502 00:25:17,166 --> 00:25:21,126 THEY ARRIVED ON JUNE 16, 1940. 503 00:25:21,166 --> 00:25:23,026 Hirst: WHEN THE COMPANY, MY GRANDFATHER'S COMPANY, 504 00:25:23,066 --> 00:25:24,826 ARRIVED IN SAINT NAZAIRE, THEY DISCOVERED 505 00:25:24,866 --> 00:25:27,066 THAT THERE WAS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TROOPS 506 00:25:27,100 --> 00:25:28,600 WAITING FOR EMBARKATION, 507 00:25:28,633 --> 00:25:31,073 SO THEY WAITED OVERNIGHT IN GANGWAYS. 508 00:25:31,100 --> 00:25:32,830 THERE WASN'T ANY ACCOMMODATION, THEY JUST SLEPT ROUGH, 509 00:25:32,866 --> 00:25:34,496 AND THERE WAS A VERY HEAVY AIR RAID 510 00:25:34,533 --> 00:25:36,173 THAT NIGHT BY THE GERMANS, 511 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:38,130 AND THAT WAS THEIR FIRST SENSE OF PANIC, 512 00:25:38,166 --> 00:25:40,166 FIRST SENSE THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING GOING WRONG 513 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:42,130 WITH THE ENTIRE OPERATION. 514 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:48,730 Narrator: ABOUT 30 RESCUE SHIPS WAITED OFFSHORE. 515 00:25:48,766 --> 00:25:50,796 ONE OF THEM WAS A FORMER LUXURY LINER 516 00:25:50,833 --> 00:25:54,073 WHICH HAD BEEN CONVERTED INTO A TROOPSHIP‐‐ 517 00:25:54,100 --> 00:25:57,670 THE HMT LANCASTRIA. 518 00:25:57,700 --> 00:26:07,700 ♪ 519 00:26:09,066 --> 00:26:11,566 Hirst: THE LANCASTRIA WAS A CUNARD SHIP, 520 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:14,830 AND HER MAIN TRADE WAS WITH AMERICAN TOURISTS. 521 00:26:14,866 --> 00:26:17,396 INITIALLY, THE LANCASTRIA WAS NAMED THE TYRRHENIA, 522 00:26:17,433 --> 00:26:19,803 BUT IN 1924, THE COMPANY DECIDED TO CHANGE THE NAME 523 00:26:19,833 --> 00:26:21,703 BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PASSENGERS 524 00:26:21,733 --> 00:26:23,833 HAD DIFFICULTY PRONOUNCING THE NAME TYRRHENIA. 525 00:26:23,866 --> 00:26:25,696 AND IT'S ALWAYS SAID BY MARINERS 526 00:26:25,733 --> 00:26:28,603 THAT CHANGING THE NAME OF A SHIP BRINGS BAD LUCK, 527 00:26:28,633 --> 00:26:31,673 AND SO IT WAS TO PROVE FOR, FOR THE LANCASTRIA. 528 00:26:31,700 --> 00:26:36,530 Gordon: LANCASTRIA WAS REALLY ORDERED BY THE ADMIRALTY 529 00:26:36,566 --> 00:26:39,666 TO EVACUATE FROM SAINT NAZAIRE 530 00:26:39,700 --> 00:26:42,770 AS MANY BRITISH PEOPLE AS SHE COULD, 531 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:47,070 WITHOUT REGARD TO HER FORMAL PASSENGER‐CARRYING CAPACITY. 532 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:55,030 Narrator: THE GERMAN ARMY WAS TOO FAR AWAY TO ATTACK BY LAND. 533 00:26:55,066 --> 00:26:58,096 INSTEAD, THE STRIKE ON SAINT NAZAIRE 534 00:26:58,133 --> 00:27:00,473 CAME FROM THE SKIES. 535 00:27:00,500 --> 00:27:02,270 ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 17th, 536 00:27:02,300 --> 00:27:05,800 HUNDREDS OF SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS BROKE THEIR COVER 537 00:27:05,833 --> 00:27:07,473 AND BOARDED THE SMALL BOATS 538 00:27:07,500 --> 00:27:11,070 THAT FERRIED THEM TO THE RESCUE SHIPS. 539 00:27:11,100 --> 00:27:15,200 WALTER HIRST AND HIS UNIT WERE TAKEN TO THE MIGHTY LANCASTRIA, 540 00:27:15,233 --> 00:27:18,033 COMMANDED BY CAPTAIN RUDOLPH SHARP. 541 00:27:18,066 --> 00:27:19,826 Hirst: AND WHEN SHE ARRIVED, THE FRENCH PILOT CAME OUT 542 00:27:19,866 --> 00:27:22,826 AND ADDRESSED THE CAPTAIN, CAPTAIN SHARP, 543 00:27:22,866 --> 00:27:24,666 AND SAID, "DO YOU REALIZE, SIR, 544 00:27:24,700 --> 00:27:28,630 YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR NECK IN THE NOOSE BY BEING HERE?" 545 00:27:28,666 --> 00:27:31,826 BUT THEY HAD NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE. 546 00:27:31,866 --> 00:27:33,166 Narrator: WALTER HIRST WAS SHOCKED 547 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:36,330 BY THE MOB ALREADY ON BOARD THE LINER. 548 00:27:36,366 --> 00:27:37,826 Hirst: MY GRANDFATHER'S BEST FRIEND 549 00:27:37,866 --> 00:27:40,526 HAPPENED TO SEE THE CHIEF PURSER, AND HE STOPPED HIM. 550 00:27:40,566 --> 00:27:42,196 HE SAID, "YOU'RE LOOKING REALLY WORRIED," 551 00:27:42,233 --> 00:27:43,633 AND HE SAYS, "WELL, YOU WOULD BE REALLY WORRIED 552 00:27:43,666 --> 00:27:47,826 WITH UPWARDS OF 6,000, PROBABLY 7 OR 8,000 ABOARD, 553 00:27:47,866 --> 00:27:49,826 AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT FOR THEM 554 00:27:49,866 --> 00:27:52,026 IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG. 555 00:27:54,366 --> 00:27:57,526 Narrator: THE EXHAUSTED TROOPS MADE THEMSELVES AT HOME. 556 00:27:57,566 --> 00:28:00,796 THEY ATE BREAKFAST SERVED BY WHITE‐JACKETED STEWARDS 557 00:28:00,833 --> 00:28:05,133 IN THE LANCASTRIA'S DINING SALOON. 558 00:28:05,166 --> 00:28:07,696 THERE WAS A CHANCE TO TAKE A BATH OR A NAP 559 00:28:07,733 --> 00:28:10,203 IN ONE OF THE CABINS. 560 00:28:10,233 --> 00:28:14,303 800 RAF MEN WERE LED DOWN INTO A LARGE HOLD, 561 00:28:14,333 --> 00:28:16,603 WHERE MATTRESSES HAD BEEN LAID OUT FOR THEM. 562 00:28:16,633 --> 00:28:20,103 [AIRPLANE APPROACHING] 563 00:28:20,133 --> 00:28:23,073 BUT THE QUIET WAS SOON INTERRUPTED. 564 00:28:23,100 --> 00:28:24,530 [ROARING] 565 00:28:24,566 --> 00:28:26,466 Hirst: THE KLAXONS ON THE LANCASTRIA SOUNDED. 566 00:28:26,500 --> 00:28:28,700 GERMAN AIRCRAFT BEGAN AN ATTACK 567 00:28:28,733 --> 00:28:31,173 AND INITIALLY CONCENTRATED THEIR ATTACK 568 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:33,100 ON THE SS ORONSAY, WHICH WAS LYING 569 00:28:33,133 --> 00:28:36,803 ROUGHLY A MILE FROM THE LANCASTRIA'S POSITION. 570 00:28:36,833 --> 00:28:40,803 Narrator: THE ORONSAY'S BRIDGE TOOK A DIRECT HIT. 571 00:28:40,833 --> 00:28:45,833 SEVERAL MEN WERE KILLED, BUT SHE REMAINED AFLOAT. 572 00:28:45,866 --> 00:28:49,596 BUT THE GERMAN PLANES WEREN'T FINISHED. 573 00:28:49,633 --> 00:28:52,173 Hirst: THE SIRENS ON THE LANCASTRIA SOUNDED AGAIN, 574 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:57,270 SIGNALING A SECOND ATTACK, AND QUICKLY AFTER THAT, 575 00:28:57,300 --> 00:29:01,070 A GERMAN BOMBER, A JUNKERS 88, APPEARED LOW, 576 00:29:01,100 --> 00:29:05,130 AND HEADING FROM BOW TO STERN ACROSS THE LANCASTRIA 577 00:29:05,166 --> 00:29:08,066 AND DROPPED FOUR 500‐KILOGRAM BOMBS, 578 00:29:08,100 --> 00:29:10,700 WHICH STRUCK THE SHIP IN RAPID SUCCESSION. 579 00:29:10,733 --> 00:29:12,833 [EXPLOSIONS] 580 00:29:12,866 --> 00:29:18,326 Narrator: THE 800 RAF MEN IN THE HOLD WERE KILLED INSTANTLY. 581 00:29:18,366 --> 00:29:20,826 THE LANCASTRIA STARTED TO SHUDDER, 582 00:29:20,866 --> 00:29:23,766 MAKING A NOISE THAT SOUNDED TO CAPTAIN SHARP 583 00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:26,230 "LIKE A WOUNDED ANIMAL." 584 00:29:26,266 --> 00:29:29,126 Gordon: IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN INDESCRIBABLE HORROR 585 00:29:29,166 --> 00:29:31,096 BEING INSIDE THAT SHIP. 586 00:29:31,133 --> 00:29:34,333 THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN FIRES. THERE WOULD BE SMOKE. 587 00:29:34,366 --> 00:29:38,026 VERY FEW PEOPLE WOULD HAVE KNOWN THE WAY OUT. 588 00:29:38,066 --> 00:29:40,666 IT REALLY DOESN'T BEAR THINKING ABOUT 589 00:29:40,700 --> 00:29:42,630 THE SHEER PANIC AND CHAOS 590 00:29:42,666 --> 00:29:45,566 OF WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED INSIDE THAT SHIP. 591 00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:48,070 Hirst: ONE OF THE SURVIVORS WHO I SPOKE TO 592 00:29:48,100 --> 00:29:50,030 SAID THAT WHEN HE WAS IN THE WATER, 593 00:29:50,066 --> 00:29:52,626 HE COULD SEE MEN DESPERATELY, WHO WERE TRAPPED BELOW DECKS, 594 00:29:52,666 --> 00:29:55,426 DESPERATELY TRYING TO GET OUT THROUGH THE PORTHOLE WINDOWS, 595 00:29:55,466 --> 00:29:56,766 AND HE SAID IT WAS JUST, 596 00:29:56,800 --> 00:29:59,500 YOU COULD SEE TWO OR THREE MEN IN FRONT OF EACH OTHER, 597 00:29:59,533 --> 00:30:01,473 AND THEN BEHIND THEM, FIRE, 598 00:30:01,500 --> 00:30:03,800 AND THAT IMAGE STAYED WITH HIM, AND THEY WEREN'T GETTING OUT. 599 00:30:03,833 --> 00:30:07,533 THESE MEN WERE TRAPPED. THEY WERE GOING TO THE BOTTOM. 600 00:30:07,566 --> 00:30:10,266 Narrator: AS THE LANCASTRIA BEGAN TO CAPSIZE, 601 00:30:10,300 --> 00:30:15,200 MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN SCRAMBLED ONTO THE ROLLING HULL. 602 00:30:15,233 --> 00:30:17,803 SOME BEGAN SINGING "ROLL OUT THE BARREL" 603 00:30:17,833 --> 00:30:20,673 AND "THERE'LL ALWAYS BE AN ENGLAND." 604 00:30:20,700 --> 00:30:23,070 BUT THEIR SONGS WERE SOON DROWNED OUT 605 00:30:23,100 --> 00:30:25,700 AS THE PLANES RETURNED. 606 00:30:25,733 --> 00:30:27,633 Hirst: NOT CONTENT WITH SINKING 607 00:30:27,666 --> 00:30:30,496 WHAT WAS OBVIOUSLY A VERY LARGE BRITISH TROOPSHIP, 608 00:30:30,533 --> 00:30:32,073 THE LUFTWAFFE CAME BACK 609 00:30:32,100 --> 00:30:34,500 AND BEGAN STRAFING THE MEN IN THE WATER 610 00:30:34,533 --> 00:30:37,633 AND ALSO TRYING TO DROP INCENDIARY FLARES 611 00:30:37,666 --> 00:30:41,526 TO LIGHT THE OIL WHICH WAS ESCAPING FROM THE LANCASTRIA, 612 00:30:41,566 --> 00:30:43,526 AND IT WAS A KIND OF MACABRE SPECTACLE, 613 00:30:43,566 --> 00:30:44,726 THESE MEN SINKING, 614 00:30:44,766 --> 00:30:48,166 AND ALL THE TIME THE GERMANS WERE CONTINUING THE ATTACK. 615 00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:51,830 ALL AROUND THERE WAS MEN STRUGGLING, DROWNING. 616 00:30:51,866 --> 00:30:53,096 Narrator: BY THAT POINT, 617 00:30:53,133 --> 00:30:55,433 WALTER HIRST WAS IN THE WATER, TOO. 618 00:30:55,466 --> 00:31:00,226 HE WAS APPROACHED BY ANOTHER MAN IN A STATE OF TOTAL PANIC. 619 00:31:00,266 --> 00:31:03,396 Hirst: PERHAPS HE THOUGHT MY GRANDDAD WAS DEAD 620 00:31:03,433 --> 00:31:05,103 BECAUSE HE WAS TRYING TO STAY AS STILL AS POSSIBLE. 621 00:31:05,133 --> 00:31:06,573 HE WAS COVERED IN OIL, 622 00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:09,770 AND HE WAS TRYING TO WRESTLE THE LIFE JACKET FROM HIM, 623 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:13,370 AND A BATTLE BROKE OUT BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM, 624 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:16,830 AND EVENTUALLY THE MADMAN‐‐ 'CAUSE THAT'S ALL HE COULD, 625 00:31:16,866 --> 00:31:18,666 HE WAS OUT OF HIS MIND, AS YOU WOULD BE‐‐ 626 00:31:18,700 --> 00:31:20,830 DISAPPEARED BELOW MY GRANDFATHER, 627 00:31:20,866 --> 00:31:24,126 AND I THINK THAT AFFECTED HIM DEEPLY. 628 00:31:26,433 --> 00:31:31,333 Narrator: THE LANCASTRIA SANK IN JUST 20 MINUTES. 629 00:31:31,366 --> 00:31:33,566 DUE TO THE CHAOS OF THE EVACUATION, 630 00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:37,500 THE TRUE DEATH TOLL HAS NEVER BEEN CONFIRMED, 631 00:31:37,533 --> 00:31:40,333 BUT AT LEAST 3,000 LOST THEIR LIVES. 632 00:31:40,366 --> 00:31:44,526 IT MAY HAVE BEEN ALMOST TWICE AS MANY. 633 00:31:44,566 --> 00:31:48,666 BUT ALMOST TWO AND A HALF THOUSAND DID SURVIVE. 634 00:31:48,700 --> 00:31:51,830 WALTER HIRST WAS PICKED UP BY A FRENCH FISHING BOAT 635 00:31:51,866 --> 00:31:53,826 AND WAS EVENTUALLY RETURNED TO PLYMOUTH 636 00:31:53,866 --> 00:31:56,566 FOR A TRAUMATIC HOMECOMING. 637 00:31:56,600 --> 00:31:58,370 Hirst: AND AS THEY WALKED OFF THE GANGPLANK, 638 00:31:58,400 --> 00:32:00,500 THERE WAS A ROYAL MARINES BAND PLAYING 639 00:32:00,533 --> 00:32:02,173 TO WELCOME THE MEN BACK, 640 00:32:02,200 --> 00:32:04,500 AND THEY WERE PLAYING "ROLL OUT THE BARREL," 641 00:32:04,533 --> 00:32:07,033 AND FOR MY GRANDDAD, FOR MANY OF THE OTHER SURVIVORS, 642 00:32:07,066 --> 00:32:08,266 THEY COULDN'T STAND, 643 00:32:08,300 --> 00:32:09,830 THEY COULDN'T TOLERATE THAT SONG AFTER IT 644 00:32:09,866 --> 00:32:11,466 BECAUSE THEY ASSOCIATED IT WITH, 645 00:32:11,500 --> 00:32:14,030 WITH THIS HORROR ABOARD THE LANCASTRIA. 646 00:32:14,066 --> 00:32:19,596 ♪ 647 00:32:19,633 --> 00:32:21,503 Narrator: THE LINER THAT STARTED AS A VESSEL 648 00:32:21,533 --> 00:32:23,703 FOR RICH AMERICAN VACATIONERS 649 00:32:23,733 --> 00:32:27,033 ENDED WITH A HEART‐BREAKING RECORD‐‐ 650 00:32:27,066 --> 00:32:32,326 THE LARGEST SINGLE LOSS OF LIFE IN BRITISH MARITIME HISTORY. 651 00:32:32,366 --> 00:32:35,226 BACK HOME, PRIME MINISTER WINSTON CHURCHILL 652 00:32:35,266 --> 00:32:37,196 TURNED TO DAMAGE CONTROL. 653 00:32:37,233 --> 00:32:39,273 HE KNEW NEWS OF THE DISASTER 654 00:32:39,300 --> 00:32:42,570 WOULD HAVE A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON THE BRITISH PUBLIC. 655 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:44,770 WALTER HIRST AND HIS FELLOW SURVIVORS 656 00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:47,300 WERE FORBIDDEN TO SPEAK OF IT. 657 00:32:47,333 --> 00:32:51,203 Gordon: THE COUNTRY WAS ON A KIND OF STRANGE SORT OF HIGH 658 00:32:51,233 --> 00:32:53,273 AFTER DUNKIRK, 659 00:32:53,300 --> 00:32:57,430 AFTER WE'D GOT THE MAIN BRITISH ARMY BACK, 660 00:32:57,466 --> 00:33:01,066 AND IT WAS FELT THAT THIS TERRIBLE TRAGEDY 661 00:33:01,100 --> 00:33:04,730 WOULD HAVE SUCH AN EFFECT ON NATIONAL MORALE 662 00:33:04,766 --> 00:33:09,096 THAT IT NEEDED TO BE KEPT SECRET, AND SO IT WAS. 663 00:33:11,500 --> 00:33:14,300 Narrator: THE SINKING OF THE RESCUE SHIP LANCASTRIA 664 00:33:14,333 --> 00:33:16,803 IS STILL RARELY DISCUSSED IN BRITAIN. 665 00:33:16,833 --> 00:33:21,773 BUT IN SAINT NAZAIRE, THERE IS A SIMPLE BEACHFRONT MEMORIAL. 666 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:23,530 Hirst: FOR THE SURVIVORS, ONE OF THE HARDEST ASPECTS 667 00:33:23,566 --> 00:33:25,396 WAS EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT THE TITANIC, 668 00:33:25,433 --> 00:33:27,433 EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT THE LUSITANIA, 669 00:33:27,466 --> 00:33:30,666 YET THE LANCASTRIA CLAIMED MORE LIVES 670 00:33:30,700 --> 00:33:33,070 THAN THOSE TWO DISASTERS COMBINED. 671 00:33:33,100 --> 00:33:34,800 AND THAT'S, THAT'S HURTFUL. 672 00:33:34,833 --> 00:33:36,703 I MEAN, THEY FELT THAT THE SACRIFICE 673 00:33:36,733 --> 00:33:39,673 THAT THEIR COLLEAGUES HAD MADE WAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED, 674 00:33:39,700 --> 00:33:40,730 IT WAS FORGOTTEN, 675 00:33:40,766 --> 00:33:44,266 AND IT WAS ALMOST LIKE AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THEM. 676 00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:52,730 Narrator: 1940 WAS A TUMULTUOUS YEAR IN EUROPE. 677 00:33:52,766 --> 00:33:55,026 IN JUST THREE MONTHS, THE GERMAN ARMY 678 00:33:55,066 --> 00:33:59,026 SWEPT THROUGH HOLLAND, BELGIUM, LUXEMBOURG, AND FRANCE. 679 00:34:00,700 --> 00:34:05,570 ON APRIL 9th, HITLER TARGETED DENMARK. 680 00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:08,770 THE COUNTRY SURRENDERED IN JUST SIX HOURS. 681 00:34:11,100 --> 00:34:13,670 AND ALTHOUGH RESISTING THE GERMAN ARMY WAS FUTILE, 682 00:34:13,700 --> 00:34:18,430 DENMARK STOOD FIRM AGAINST ONE OF HITLER'S KEY OPERATIONS. 683 00:34:18,466 --> 00:34:19,426 Howard Veisz: THEY INSISTED, 684 00:34:19,466 --> 00:34:21,366 WE'RE GONNA KEEP YOUR RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION OUT. 685 00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:23,730 WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE YOUR WAR AGAINST THE JEWS 686 00:34:23,766 --> 00:34:26,426 ENTER DANISH SOIL. 687 00:34:26,466 --> 00:34:27,566 Narrator: THE COUNTRY WAS OPERATING 688 00:34:27,600 --> 00:34:30,630 AS A GERMAN PROTECTORATE, 689 00:34:30,666 --> 00:34:33,096 BUT IT WAS STILL ABLE TO DEFEND AND PROTECT 690 00:34:33,133 --> 00:34:36,403 ITS 8,000 JEWISH CITIZENS. 691 00:34:36,433 --> 00:34:38,603 Veisz: AND SO FOR A PERIOD OF YEARS, 692 00:34:38,633 --> 00:34:41,073 THEY'RE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR JEWISH POPULATION SAFE 693 00:34:41,100 --> 00:34:42,500 WHILE JEWS IN EVERY OTHER OCCUPIED COUNTRY 694 00:34:42,533 --> 00:34:44,173 WERE BEING ROUNDED UP. 695 00:34:49,100 --> 00:34:52,030 Narrator: BUT AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER 1943, 696 00:34:52,066 --> 00:34:55,266 WORD GOT OUT THAT A MASS DEPORTATION OF JEWS 697 00:34:55,300 --> 00:34:58,270 WOULD OCCUR IN JUST THREE DAYS. 698 00:34:58,300 --> 00:35:00,530 THE RESPONSE WAS REMARKABLE. 699 00:35:00,566 --> 00:35:04,026 THE DANISH PEOPLE SPRANG INTO ACTION. 700 00:35:04,066 --> 00:35:06,166 Veisz: WITHIN THAT 72‐HOUR PERIOD, 701 00:35:06,200 --> 00:35:09,800 PRETTY MUCH THE ENTIRE JEWISH POPULATION OF DENMARK 702 00:35:09,833 --> 00:35:12,633 WAS NOT JUST WARNED, BUT SHELTERED, 703 00:35:12,666 --> 00:35:15,266 GIVEN TEMPORARY HIDING. 704 00:35:15,300 --> 00:35:17,770 Narrator: HITLER WAS FURIOUS. 705 00:35:17,800 --> 00:35:19,500 HE SENT ADOLF EICHMANN, 706 00:35:19,533 --> 00:35:21,633 CHIEF ORGANIZER OF THE HOLOCAUST, 707 00:35:21,666 --> 00:35:26,026 TO HUNT DOWN DENMARK'S JEWS AND END THE NAZI HUMILIATION. 708 00:35:29,400 --> 00:35:32,430 IN A COUNTRY AS SMALL AND AS ISOLATED AS DENMARK, 709 00:35:32,466 --> 00:35:34,096 IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN EASY, 710 00:35:34,133 --> 00:35:35,573 BUT THERE WAS ONE PLACE 711 00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:39,470 WHERE DENMARK'S JEWS MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND A SAFE HAVEN‐‐ 712 00:35:39,500 --> 00:35:41,030 NEUTRAL SWEDEN. 713 00:35:41,066 --> 00:35:43,396 Veisz: IT WAS THE ONLY UNOCCUPIED LAND 714 00:35:43,433 --> 00:35:45,433 WITHIN ABOUT 400 OR SO MILES, 715 00:35:45,466 --> 00:35:49,766 AND IT WAS SO TANTALIZINGLY CLOSE, YOU COULD SEE IT. 716 00:35:49,800 --> 00:35:52,730 Narrator: BUT THE ONLY WAY TO REACH SWEDEN WAS BY BOAT. 717 00:35:52,766 --> 00:35:56,296 ONCE AGAIN, THE DANISH PEOPLE RESPONDED. 718 00:35:56,333 --> 00:35:58,733 Veisz: WITHIN A MATTER OF A DAY OR TWO, 719 00:35:58,766 --> 00:36:02,096 A RESCUE FLEET BEGAN TO TAKE FORM, 720 00:36:02,133 --> 00:36:06,473 AND ULTIMATELY ABOUT 300 BOATS PARTICIPATED. 721 00:36:06,500 --> 00:36:09,170 Narrator: THE FIRST ATTEMPTS TO SMUGGLE JEWS OUT OF DENMARK 722 00:36:09,200 --> 00:36:10,830 WERE A DISASTER. 723 00:36:10,866 --> 00:36:13,696 BOATS WERE INTERCEPTED BY THE GESTAPO. 724 00:36:13,733 --> 00:36:16,503 THEIR PASSENGERS AND CREW WERE IMPRISONED. 725 00:36:22,300 --> 00:36:26,770 BUT ONE YOUNG WOMAN BELIEVED SHE COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. 726 00:36:26,800 --> 00:36:31,370 IN 1943, HENNY SINDING WAS JUST 19. 727 00:36:31,400 --> 00:36:34,830 THERE ARE NO KNOWN PHOTOS OF HER. 728 00:36:34,866 --> 00:36:36,696 BUT IN JUST A FEW MONTHS, 729 00:36:36,733 --> 00:36:41,503 SHE HELPED DOZENS AND DOZENS OF DANISH JEWS ESCAPE. 730 00:36:41,533 --> 00:36:45,273 BASED IN COPENHAGEN, SHE TURNED HER FATHER'S SMALL WORK BOAT 731 00:36:45,300 --> 00:36:50,070 INTO THE MOST UNLIKELY RESCUE SHIP OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR. 732 00:36:50,100 --> 00:36:55,400 ITS UNASSUMING NAME WAS GERDA III. 733 00:36:55,433 --> 00:37:05,433 ♪ 734 00:37:07,233 --> 00:37:10,033 HENNY SINDING'S FATHER USED GERDA III 735 00:37:10,066 --> 00:37:12,796 TO CARRY SUPPLIES TO A LIGHTHOUSE, 736 00:37:12,833 --> 00:37:15,603 BUT FOR THREE YEARS, SHE'D ALSO BEEN USED 737 00:37:15,633 --> 00:37:19,373 TO SMUGGLE RESISTANCE FIGHTERS IN AND OUT OF DENMARK. 738 00:37:19,400 --> 00:37:22,100 Veisz: HENNY COULD NOT ABIDE THE NOTION 739 00:37:22,133 --> 00:37:24,173 THAT THE NAZIS WOULD INTERFERE WITH PEOPLE 740 00:37:24,200 --> 00:37:26,530 SHE CONSIDERED SIMPLY FELLOW DANES, 741 00:37:26,566 --> 00:37:30,526 WHICH IS HOW THE COUNTRY REGARDED THE JEWISH POPULATION. 742 00:37:30,566 --> 00:37:32,366 AN ATTACK ON THEM WAS AN ATTACK ON THE DANES, 743 00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:34,430 AND THEY FELT THEY NEEDED TO DO ANYTHING. 744 00:37:37,133 --> 00:37:39,403 Narrator: HENNY'S SYSTEM WAS STRAIGHTFORWARD‐‐ 745 00:37:39,433 --> 00:37:42,533 USE GERDA III's REGULAR RUNS OUT TO THE LIGHTHOUSE 746 00:37:42,566 --> 00:37:47,266 AS COVER FOR TRANSPORTING JEWS TO SWEDEN. 747 00:37:47,300 --> 00:37:52,300 THE CHALLENGE WAS GETTING THE PEOPLE ON BOARD. 748 00:37:52,333 --> 00:37:53,703 Veisz: HENNY WOULD START EACH DAY 749 00:37:53,733 --> 00:37:56,073 BEING GIVEN A LIST OF NAMES OF PEOPLE TO MEET, 750 00:37:56,100 --> 00:37:57,100 PLACES TO MEET THEM, 751 00:37:57,133 --> 00:37:58,403 ALL OF WHICH HAD TO BE MEMORIZED. 752 00:37:58,433 --> 00:38:00,373 YOU COULDN'T HAVE ANY OF THIS IN WRITING. 753 00:38:00,400 --> 00:38:05,070 AND THEN AT 1:00 A. M. EACH DAY, BEFORE THE BOAT'S NEXT SAILING, 754 00:38:05,100 --> 00:38:06,530 SHE WOULD GO TO THE SAFE HOUSES, 755 00:38:06,566 --> 00:38:09,096 ESCORT PEOPLE ALONG THE STREET TO THE WAREHOUSE, 756 00:38:09,133 --> 00:38:12,203 WHERE NAZI SENTRIES WOULD MARCH BACK AND FORTH 757 00:38:12,233 --> 00:38:14,733 AND WAIT FOR GAPS IN THEIR CROSSINGS, 758 00:38:14,766 --> 00:38:17,166 DURING WHICH THEY COULD RUN PEOPLE ONE AT A TIME, 759 00:38:17,200 --> 00:38:21,670 ACROSS THE QUAY, ONTO GERDA, AND DOWN INTO THE CARGO HOLD. 760 00:38:21,700 --> 00:38:22,800 YOU COULD THINK OF GERDA III 761 00:38:22,833 --> 00:38:27,003 AS BASICALLY A LIFEBOAT FOR PERSONS HUNTED BY THE NAZIS. 762 00:38:29,366 --> 00:38:33,396 Narrator: ABOUT 20 PEOPLE WOULD BE SQUEEZED IN WITH THE CARGO. 763 00:38:33,433 --> 00:38:34,773 Veisz: A SMALL SPACE, AS YOU CAN SEE, 764 00:38:34,800 --> 00:38:37,330 ABOUT 10 BY 12 FEET, 765 00:38:37,366 --> 00:38:41,296 NEVER MORE THAN 4 1/2 FEET HIGH TO THESE, THESE BEAMS. 766 00:38:41,333 --> 00:38:44,373 THE MOST THAT THEY EVER ATTEMPTED TO FIT IN 767 00:38:44,400 --> 00:38:46,730 WAS ABOUT 15 PEOPLE, 768 00:38:46,766 --> 00:38:50,626 AND YOU COULD ENVISION THEM PRETTY MUCH 769 00:38:50,666 --> 00:38:52,826 AS FAR OUT AS THEY COULD GET, 770 00:38:52,866 --> 00:38:58,426 PROBABLY PRESSED PRETTY MUCH AGAINST THE HULL PLANKS. 771 00:38:58,466 --> 00:39:01,126 Narrator: BUT BEFORE GERDA III COULD LEAVE COPENHAGEN, 772 00:39:01,166 --> 00:39:04,396 SHE HAD TO BE INSPECTED BY ARMED SOLDIERS. 773 00:39:04,433 --> 00:39:07,603 IT WAS A TENSE MOMENT FOR THOSE HIDING BELOW. 774 00:39:07,633 --> 00:39:09,173 Veisz: RIGHT ABOVE THIS FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME, 775 00:39:09,200 --> 00:39:11,170 YOU'D HAVE THOSE NAZI SENTRIES, 776 00:39:11,200 --> 00:39:14,170 THEIR BOOTS HOW MANY INCHES ABOVE THE HEADS OF THE REFUGEES? 777 00:39:14,200 --> 00:39:15,270 NOT MANY. 778 00:39:15,300 --> 00:39:17,570 AND THEY'D BE CHATTING WITH THE CREW, 779 00:39:17,600 --> 00:39:21,070 TALKING ABOUT THE WEATHER, EXCHANGING PLEASANTRIES. 780 00:39:21,100 --> 00:39:28,830 ♪ 781 00:39:28,866 --> 00:39:30,426 IT MUST HAVE BEEN A TREMENDOUS RELIEF 782 00:39:30,466 --> 00:39:32,466 WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED ON. 783 00:39:32,500 --> 00:39:35,030 IF YOU'RE SITTING NEXT TO IT OR NEAR IT AS WE ARE NOW, 784 00:39:35,066 --> 00:39:36,826 YOU'D HEAR KIND OF A POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, 785 00:39:36,866 --> 00:39:38,766 ALMOST MORE LIKE A, A RAPID HEARTBEAT 786 00:39:38,800 --> 00:39:40,600 THAN THE DRONE OF A DIESEL. 787 00:39:40,633 --> 00:39:43,533 AND YOU CAN JUST IMAGINE HOW EVERY ONE OF THOSE POPS, 788 00:39:43,566 --> 00:39:45,226 YOU KNOW, TO THEM WOULD BE, 789 00:39:45,266 --> 00:39:50,026 JUST SIGNIFY ANOTHER FOOT OR TWO FEET PERHAPS 790 00:39:50,066 --> 00:39:51,196 FURTHER FROM THE NAZIS, 791 00:39:51,233 --> 00:39:54,833 CLOSER TO SALVATION ON THE SWEDISH SHORE. 792 00:39:54,866 --> 00:39:57,166 Narrator: THE AUTUMN SEAS WERE OFTEN ROUGH. 793 00:39:57,200 --> 00:39:59,330 CONDITIONS WERE STARK. 794 00:39:59,366 --> 00:40:00,466 Veisz: IF YOU THINK OF THE PEOPLE 795 00:40:00,500 --> 00:40:02,770 OVER THE COURSE OF THE WAR WHO WERE SITTING 796 00:40:02,800 --> 00:40:05,130 IN, IN THIS SPACE OR ALONG THIS PLANK 797 00:40:05,166 --> 00:40:06,426 OR THE PLANKS OVER THERE 798 00:40:06,466 --> 00:40:09,096 BRACED AGAINST THE MOVEMENT OF THE BOAT, 799 00:40:09,133 --> 00:40:12,073 AND HERE THEY WOULD BE IN THE, THE DARKNESS. 800 00:40:12,100 --> 00:40:15,300 NO PORTS. NO OVERHEAD LIGHTS. 801 00:40:15,333 --> 00:40:16,473 THIS WAS NEVER ENVISIONED 802 00:40:16,500 --> 00:40:21,100 TO BE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WOULD TRAVEL. 803 00:40:21,133 --> 00:40:24,033 Narrator: DESPITE GERMAN PATROLS AND HOSTILE WEATHER, 804 00:40:24,066 --> 00:40:27,766 IT'S BELIEVED THAT IN THE LAST MONTHS OF 1943, 805 00:40:27,800 --> 00:40:32,570 HENNY SINDING AND HER CREW CARRIED 300 JEWS TO SAFETY. 806 00:40:32,600 --> 00:40:34,270 Veisz: AND THEY WERE INCREDIBLY BRAVE PEOPLE, 807 00:40:34,300 --> 00:40:36,700 AND THEY HAD THIS, THIS GREAT MORAL COMPASS. 808 00:40:36,733 --> 00:40:39,103 AND AS A WHOLE, IT WAS PHENOMENALLY SUCCESSFUL. 809 00:40:39,133 --> 00:40:42,703 ABOUT 94 PERCENT OF DENMARK'S JEWISH POPULATION 810 00:40:42,733 --> 00:40:44,473 WAS BROUGHT TO SAFETY, 811 00:40:44,500 --> 00:40:48,330 BY LATEST BEST COUNT, 7,742 JEWS, 812 00:40:48,366 --> 00:40:52,226 ANOTHER 686 LOVED ONES OF OTHER RELIGIONS. 813 00:40:52,266 --> 00:40:54,196 THERE WAS JUST NO PARALLEL TO THAT 814 00:40:54,233 --> 00:40:58,103 ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE OCCUPIED WORLD. 815 00:40:58,133 --> 00:41:01,273 Narrator: TODAY, GERDA III RESIDES IN NEW YORK CITY, 816 00:41:01,300 --> 00:41:05,100 OWNED BY THE NEW YORK MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE. 817 00:41:05,133 --> 00:41:08,033 IT'S A TRIBUTE TO THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN 818 00:41:08,066 --> 00:41:12,096 WHO HELPED SO MANY DANISH JEWS ESCAPE THE NAZI TERROR. 819 00:41:12,133 --> 00:41:14,303 Veisz: THESE WERE HEROES SAVING LIVES, 820 00:41:14,333 --> 00:41:16,203 TAKING A STAND AGAINST EVIL. 821 00:41:16,233 --> 00:41:17,803 AND YOU LOOK AROUND HERE, AND, YOU KNOW, 822 00:41:17,833 --> 00:41:20,203 YOU CAN FEEL THE PRESENCE OF THE REFUGEES 823 00:41:20,233 --> 00:41:21,673 AND THE PEOPLE WHO WERE BEING RESCUED, 824 00:41:21,700 --> 00:41:24,070 BUT AS YOU SIT HERE, AND YOU GO IN THE PILOT HOUSE, 825 00:41:24,100 --> 00:41:26,100 AND YOU LOOK AROUND THE ENGINE ROOM, 826 00:41:26,133 --> 00:41:29,503 THERE IS ALSO THE PRESENCE OF THE, THE FOUR‐MAN CREW, 827 00:41:29,533 --> 00:41:31,503 OF HENNY SINDING. 828 00:41:31,533 --> 00:41:34,173 UM, THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN, 829 00:41:34,200 --> 00:41:38,700 AND IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO PRESERVE THIS VESSEL, 830 00:41:38,733 --> 00:41:41,403 TO PRESERVE THEIR STORIES. 831 00:41:41,433 --> 00:41:45,033 ♪ 832 00:41:46,733 --> 00:41:48,773 Narrator: OVER THE PAST 200 YEARS, 833 00:41:48,800 --> 00:41:52,730 SHIPS HAVE RESCUED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. 834 00:41:52,766 --> 00:41:55,166 NOT ALL MISSIONS WERE SUCCESSFUL, 835 00:41:55,200 --> 00:41:59,400 BUT EACH HAS LEFT A LEGACY THAT INSPIRES FUTURE GENERATIONS 836 00:41:59,433 --> 00:42:03,103 TO SIMILAR ACTS OF SELFLESS BRAVERY.