 The British steam freighter SS Manaar was sunk on 6 September 1939 . U @-@ 38 opened fire on the freighter and she returned fire . This was the first time that a merchantman fired at a U @-@ boat . U @-@ 38 sank Manaar with torpedoes . As Manaar had fired at him , Liebe did not assist the survivors . Radio Officer James Turner remained at his post until the last moment . As he was leaving he found two <unk> , one badly injured . Turner rescued both men while under continuous fire from U @-@ 38 , for this he was awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal . 
