Shortly after completing Builders, Dal called me into his office. He was a shy man: words didn't flow freely. He looked up from his desk and tapped the bridge of his glasses with his cigarette holder, which usually indicated a pronouncement. He said that he had just had a visit from Owen Rutter, the naval historian and friend of Admiral Sir Percy Noble, Commander-in-Chief of Western Approaches, and hence responsible for fighting what Churchill referred to as ‘The Battle of the Atlantic’. Sir Percy had recently seen Harry Watt's Target for Tonight. Not only was he very impressed by it but also rather jealous. The R.A.F. seemed to be getting all the attention and all the glory. It was time for the ‘Silent Service’ to speak up for itself. He wanted a film made but had no idea how to go about it. He called on Owen Rutter, the only person he knew who was connected with the media. He was able to tell Sir Percy that there was an official government film unit who might be persuaded to take it on. Sir Percy then asked him if, as a personal favour, he would visit this film unit and see what he could do. Hence Owen Rutter's visit to Dal and my being called in to see him as soon as Owen had left. Dal tapped the rim of his glasses again and said: ‘You a good sailor Pat?’

‘Yes, stomach like a horse. I discovered that quite recently on the cable ship, Monarch.’

‘Good. Might be very important, that. Would you like to tackle this for the Admiral?’

‘Crikey … Well. Yes, you bet, and thanks very much, Dal.’

‘It's not going to be a picnic, obviously.’

‘No, I don't imagine it will. Has the Admiral any idea what he wants?’

‘Something better than Target.’

‘Oh, I see, just like that … A feature-length, then?’

‘Could be … depends on what you're able to cook up. Owen has left a rough outline which the Admiral seemed to like, but Owen said he knew nothing about writing for the screen and that we were to look on it as something simply to get the ball rolling. He also said that whoever is going to make the film should go with him, up to Liverpool, to meet the Admiral and take it from there. O.K.?’