[ Post a Response | The SteelNavy.Com Message Board ]
Posted by James N on February 15, 2026, 5:43:15, in reply to "Re: Other ships and actors"
He was a young officer on HMS POW's bridge when a shell passed through without exploding during the Battle of the Denmark Straight which, as it did so, killed or wounded everyone on the bridge except Capt. Leech.
Knight was struck in the face by debris and suffered serious eye injuries which resulted in several years of rehab and a number of ops before his sight was able to be restored.
He went on to act successfully in a lot of features, plays etc. Notably, he played his POW captain in 1960's 'Sink the Bismarck'. 
Previous Message
The actor who played the Captain of the Achilles (Capt Parry) had served in the RN, rising to the rank of Commander. He also played the Capt of HMS King George V in Sink the Bismarck Previous Message
Don't forget HMS Cumberland playing herself, but highly modified as a gunnery trial ship without her 8in turrets.
HMS Ajax played by HMS Sheffield
HMS Exeter played by HMS Jamaica
HMNZS Achilles played by herself (then INS Delhi)
USS Salem as DKM Graf Spee: as the US Navy wouldn't allow a nazi flag on an american cruiser, all shots displaying it were filmed aboard a british ship.
Note also two, then, "almost unknown" actors:
- Christopher Lee as Manolo the bar tender. This was his 38th movie but the first with consistant role (i.e. with more than a few word of text). A comical role, very far from Dracula, the year after.
- Patrick "John Steed" McNee as Lieutenant Commander Medley aboard HMS Ajax : his 14th movie, another one of the numerous small roles in his early career. During WW2 he had served in the RN on MTB in the Channel.
Responses