F. S. Bell Falkland Islands. The captain, eight officers and 79 members of the crew were given the Freedom of the City of Exeter on 29 February 1940, and were welcomed by a crowd of 50,000 cheering residents. The crew marched through the streets with fixed bayonets, carrying HMS "Exeter's" shell-torn White Ensign through the streets. Bell also commanded in 1945. He retired from the Navy owing to ill health on 8 January 1948. In the 1956 film "The Battle of the River Plate", Bell was played by John Gregson. During the film, Bell's nickname of 'Hookie', because of his distinctive nose, is
HMS Poulette (1799) HMS Poulette (1799) "HMS Poulette" was the French privateer "Foudroyant", built and launched at Bordeaux in 1798. The Royal Navy captured her in 1799. The British did not commission her until 1803. She was laid up in 1805 and finally sold in 1814. captured "Foudroyant" on 23 January 1799 after a 120-mile chase. She was about three months old, had sailed from Bayonne, and during her nine-week cruise had captured the English brigs "Malbridge", sailing from Martinique, and "Duncan", sailing from Halifax, both bound to London. She had also captured the American ship "Argo", which had been sailing from Sweden