During WWII, the Brits, living on an island nation, were largely cut-off as German forces under Adolph Hitler spread into France all but surrounding the United Kingdom. Many of us are aware of the major battles and offensives. However, we often just do not consider the day-in-and-day-out combat which took place for years.
The fighting, whether by land, sea, or air creates the need for rescue. While saving combatants was always challenging, in the English Channel it was more so because of water being added to the equation.
I mean, on land you face plenty of dangers, but you were not going to potnetially drown, too.
Enter "Rescue Buoys." THink of them as emergency floating hotels.
Both sides used them, and this chap did a video about the practice and I found it to be a remarkable piece of little known history.