Escape from British WWII submarine

CCIP · 12-02-11, 02:05 AM

Featured on the BBC today: the story of the sole survivor from HMS Perseus, sunk on Dec 6th 1941 in the Mediterranean:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15959067

A fascinating read - the escape and the later controversy surrounding it somehow finish off with a very heartwarming ending to this story

Quote:

John Capes died in 1985 but it was not until 1997 that his story was finally verified.

In a series of dives to the wreck of Perseus, Kostas Thoctarides discovered Capes's empty torpedo tube bunk, the hatch and compartment exactly as he had described it, and finally, his blitz bottle from which he had taken that last fortifying swig of rum.

I can't explain it, but I personally find something touching about the story of an old sailor and a miraculous escape (that some, perhaps, didn't believe) being proven true in the end.

Of course, it's important to not forget the tragedy that befell all the other men on this boat, but such is war.

Jimbuna · 12-02-11, 09:00 AM

My apologies, I responded to this post:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=190163

Yours was well earlier

Herr-Berbunch · 12-02-11, 09:55 AM

My fault, sorry CCIP.

'Tis a good read, and a shame he wasn't proven right earlier.

CCIP · 12-02-11, 10:09 AM

Haha, it's not like a race with these threads (although I had to check pretty carefully if Vendor or Jim already posted it

)

I don't think anyone could be blamed for wanting to post this story here as soon as they saw it

12-02-11, 09:00 AM	#2
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,461 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	My apologies, I responded to this post: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=190163 Yours was well earlier __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

12-02-11, 09:55 AM	#3
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	My fault, sorry CCIP. 'Tis a good read, and a shame he wasn't proven right earlier. __________________

12-02-11, 10:09 AM	#4
CCIP Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 8,700 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 2	Haha, it's not like a race with these threads (although I had to check pretty carefully if Vendor or Jim already posted it ) I don't think anyone could be blamed for wanting to post this story here as soon as they saw it __________________ There are only forty people in the world and five of them are hamburgers. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart)