A portrait of Captain Philip Louis Vian, published at the time of his command of H.M.S. Cossack. The Royal Navy destroyer had, in February 1940, entered neutral Norwegian waters in order to recapture about 300 British merchant seamen who were being held on the German supply ship Altmark. The seamen had been captured by the pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee. Born in 1864, Captain Vian had served on several Royal Navy ships during World War I, and served with distinction throughout World War II. Continuing his naval career following the war, he was ultimately made Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet and promoted to Admiral of the Fleet. He retired from the Royal Navy in 1952 and died in 1968.