If you have not read the extended entry of this mornings On This Day, could I commend you to do so because it tells, in very short form, the story of HMS Glowworm & her despite action against the German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper. Of all of the tales of heroism that I publish on a daily basis – this is my favourite. I still have the book on the Narvik campaign in which I read of Lieutenant-Commander Roope’s blind heroism & even as a callow youth, I recall to this day, being completely gripped.

We bulldogs are a seafaring nation but there is just something about the story –a small group on Tars, out gunned & on fire, facing a far superior adversary. An act of glorious defiance & then continuing the fight on with all but one gun shot away

After ramming the Hipper, Glowworm drew clear. Although her decks were swept by a storm of fire from Hipper's 4.1 inch and close range weapons, she still managed to get off another salvo hitting Hipper at a range of 400 yards. The salvo came from the only gun on Glowworm still firing, commanded by Petty Officer Walter Scott. She was by then starting to sink.

It could be simply that we understand that naval traditions are not built upon how you keep your ships, it is often how they are lost that really counts. As for her captain, Lieutenant-Commander Roope VC...

Her bows wrecked, a major fire raging amidships and all steam pressure lost, Roope gave the order to abandon ship. He was seen on her keel talking to Petty Officer,Townsend, about the fact that they wouldn't play cricket for a while. He then went to open the sea cocks to sink her.

He was never seen again. Tell me that there isn’t a lump in your throat.