The Saga of San Demetrio

Descripton: This short book recounts the story of the British tanker San Demetrio. In early November, 1940, with a full load of petrol, she was sailing from Aruba to Britain when her convoy was attacked by Admiral Scheer. Although the escort HMS Jervis Bay nobly sacrificed herself to save the convoy by drawing off the Scheer, other convoy vessels were hit, including San Demetrio. The crew abandoned their burning tanker, but by chance some hours later crossed paths with it again, still afloat and still aflame. Preferring the danger of the tanker to the danger of stormy weather in their lifeboat, they reboarded their vessel, quenched the fires, made repairs, and limped homeward. San Demetrio arrived safely at the Clyde and was to make many future voyages. First published in Britain in 1942.