Lionel Upton from Carlisle Road in Hove was one of the unsung heroes of the Second World War.

He was captain of the Rangitane when it sailed from New Zealand to Liverpool with hundreds of passengers and crew.

The liner was also laden with millions of pounds worth of vital food supplies for Britain.

When the Germans sank the ship, Captain Upton had to deal with the captors and negotiate fair terms for their release.

He also had to keep their spirits high when they were abandoned on a remote island in the Pacific.

It's a remarkable story which ended happily with their release and the captain was praised in an inquiry at the time.

But historian Trevor Bell believes the full story should be told as a tribute to the captain and other survivors.

It sounds such a rip-roaring tale of courage that he could eventually be negotiating for the film rights too.