Rawalpindi's final patrol included the usual boredom, so the crew organized a concert and Kennedy surprised them by singing "Tom Bowling." A second performance was planned for 23 November. When a Swedish ship was sighted that day, Sub-Lieutenant Anderson was ordered to take it into a British port with an armed guard. Anderson and Lieutenant Pickersgill were both due to appear in the concert, so they tossed a coin to decide who would leave. Anderson lost and departed before Rawalpindi's decisive sighting, a small chance event that changed who remained aboard for the battle.
Notable Point · 42:12-42:56
A coin toss on Rawalpindi's final patrol
Routine control of a Swedish merchant ship sent one boarding officer away before the German contact, with a coin toss deciding who left.