HMS Argyll (above) was sailing towards Plymouth after nine months in the Asia-Pacific region when it picked up a mayday call. The Grande America, a 28,000-tonne merchant ship was in flames, belching toxic smoke in the Bay of Biscay, 240 kilometres off the French coast. Its crew had abandoned the ship, but their lifeboat’s engine was damaged when it hit the water.

The Argyll’s Leading Seaman David Groves, went into action, battling the “worst conditions” he had ever faced. In a night-time swell of around six metres, with wall-like waves, Groves used a small sea boat to “nudge” the lifeboat half a mile towards HMS Argyll. After four exhausting hours, he had saved all 27 crew, some of them suffering from smoke inhalation. “The whole thing went by in a matter of seconds in my head, even though it ended at four in the morning,” said Groves later. He was awarded the UK’s Queen’s Gallantry Medal for his bravery.