………After flying blind, using the inboard compass, they hoped that the rising wind speed would not be taking them off course, and were anxious about missing the first ship. Another five minutes passed, and then to their great relief they saw two star shell bursts on the port bow, 15 degrees ahead. They were off course, and so turned towards the diminishing light of the flares, and then could just faintly pick up the revolving searchlight of the first ship.

They soon came back on track and slid in behind the searchlight and overtook the ship directly from astern. The beam then turned eastward and stayed fixed allowing them to use that beam to ride to the next point of light.

Suddenly as they were leaving the ship behind, they unmistakably heard the British national anthem being played from the loudspeakers on deck. What a great feeling for two Russian Anglophiles to know that they were, in their hearts, part of the British Empire……….