HMS Glowworm, commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Gerard Broadmead Roope, encounters Admiral Hipper in the Baltic Sea along with its detachment of destroyers. Glowworm is struck by salvo after salvo of Hipper’s 8-in guns, but remains afloat long enough for the out of control destroyer to ram Hipper. Glowworm then drifts clear of Hipper before exploding, taking 109 of her crew with her. Sixty of Glowworm’s sailors are recovered by Hipper, but Roope drowns after he slips off the debris he was holding. He would receive the Victoria Cross for his actions, albeit after the war when Hipper’s logs detailing the action are recovered. This makes Roope the first VC recipient of the war.
