I would like to point out the danger to a ship of stopping to pick up survivors in wartime.

In 1914, three British cruisers, the Aboukir, Hogue and Cressy, were on patrol in the North Sea.

The Aboukir was struck by a torpedo from the U-9. Thinking she had hit a mine, the Hogue stopped to pick up survivors.

She, too, was torpedoed and the Cressy, also hove-to, was struck as well.

A total of 1,459 was lost, including a large number of teenage cadets.

-R W Carden, Brighton