Mr McCrow (87), was born in the cottage at the junction of Lochty Street and Maule Street and his grandfather was stationmaster in Carnoustie until 1921. He served his time as an engineer with Anderson Grice, crane manufacturers.

At the onset of the Second World War he joined the Royal Navy and was posted to HMS Ark Royal. The sinking was on November 12, 1941, and Mr McCrow was among those in the engine room who were desperately trying to save their ship.

During the TV programme surviving members of the crew told of Mr McCrow's bravery as one of the engineers. They told of ventilation at a minimum and of the engineers' "immense bravery".

Mr McCrow recalled hearing thuds and bangs and getting a strong smell of cordite, but he and colleagues battled to save the ship as she started listing, settling lower in the water, which began pouring through the bilges. After a 14-hour struggle, the ship finally sank and was lost.

He returned to the UK and saw further service with midget submarines, based at Rothesay; and he also served at Scapa Flow.

He said that even in the face of danger, normal life goes on, and so it was that when Mr McCrow celebrated his 21st birthday on board ship, a birthday cake arrived from his mother.

It was in a sealed tin, was baked by Nicoll's, the bakers at Carnoustie's Cross, and had icing and candles on it. "It was quite something," said Mr McCrow. "The only thing was that as there were 40 of us, there wasn't too much to go round!"

After demobilisation he worked for Dundee Corporation's gas department, then worked as a foreman for the Gas Board in Forfar.

With a complete change of scenery, he went to Uganda in 1955 as a member of the Overseas Civil Service and became a plant engineer. In 1963, when independence came he was presented with an independence medal for services to the country. He came back to the UK and worked for Peter Small, agricultural engineers, Forfar; and then Dayco Rubber, Dundee. His final job was with jute company McGregor Balfour.

He remained an active member of the North-East Scotland Submariners' Association, the Carnoustie branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland, and Carnoustie Probus Club, of which he was a past president.

He became a widower in 1993 when his wife, Jane Hutton, died; but five years later he re-married, to Elizabeth Ramsay, who survives him. He has a son, Malcolm.