On 5 November 1940 the San Demetrio was shelled by the German heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer in convoy HX-84 and the crew immediately abandoned her after the highly inflammable cargo caught fire. The lifeboat in charge of the Second Officer Arthur G. Hawkins with two engineers and 14 crewmen sighted the still burning tanker two days later, boarded the ship and got the fire under control. They brought the badly damaged tanker under own power into the Clyde on 16 November, despite having no charts, radio or navigating instrument - the Second Officer was awarded the OBE for his skill and gallantry.
On 5 November 1940 the San Demetrio was shelled by the German heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer in convoy HX-84 and the crew immediately abandoned her after the highly inflammable cargo caught fire. The lifeboat in charge of the Second Officer Arthur G. Hawkins with two engineers and 14 crewmen sighted the still burning tanker two days later, boarded the ship and got the fire under control. They brought the badly damaged tanker under own power into the Clyde on 16 November, despite having no charts, radio or navigating instrument - the Second Officer was awarded the OBE for his skill and gallantry.
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