At 17.25 hours on 11 Feb 1945 the Persier (Master Emile S. Mathieu), the ship of convoy commodore in convoy BTC-65, was torpedoed by U-1017 four miles 340° from the Eddystone Lighthouse. A first torpedo prematurely exploded about 200 yards off the port beam, another was seen to pass her stem but the third struck on the port side in #2 hold and caused a heavy list. While she settled by the bow the crew abandoned ship in the lifeboats with some difficulties due to bad weather, the very rough sea and high swell swamped the first boat and another was smashed in the still turning propeller. 20 men were lost and eleven wounded from the complement of 48 Belgian crew members, four naval staff members, seven gunners (the ship was armed with one 4in and five 20mm guns) and four stowaways. 20 respectively seven survivors were rescued from Carley floats by the British coasters Gem and Birker Force which stood by the drifting ship. 16 more were found in two lifeboats awash by HMS Cornelian (T 15) (LtCdr S. Gorrell, RNR) and landed at Plymouth at midnight, they were all suffering from exposure and one of them was seriously injured. The Persier was taken in tow by HMS Allegiance (W 50), but sank during the night in the Bigbury Bay in position 50°17N/03°58W.