In real life Knight had actually served on the Prince of Wales and had been blinded by a salvo from the Bismarck.
More here:
http://www.esmondknight.org.uk/
For Esmond it was accuracy to an almost bizarre degree, for he was invited to play none other than his own commanding officer, Captain John Leach of the Prince of Wales, and he found himself on a set at Pinewood Studios re-enacting moments from his own life. As Leach he broadcast a message to the crew warning that they would soon be moving to action stations, a message he himself had received as a crew member. As Leach he watched Hood blow up and sank before his eyes, as indeed Esmond had in reality. Then as Leach he staggered on the wreck of the bridge immediately after the impact of the shell from Bismarck which had blinded him, surrounded by bodies and barking orders to the engine room to alter course and make smoke.
http://www.esmondknight.org.uk/Sink%20t ... ropped.gif