Claim: In the film The Way Ahead, the battalion was forced to leave their ship after being wiped out of their route and Sergeant Fletcher, who was trapped, was rescued by Perry and Private Luke, a role played by Scottish actor John Laurie.
Evidence: After completing their training, the battalion is shipped out to North Africa to face Rommel's Afrika Korps, but their troopship is torpedoed en route, and they are forced to abandon ship. Sergeant Fletcher is trapped by a burning vehicle sliding on the deck as the boat heels to one side, but is rescued by Perry and Private Luke (John Laurie). John Paton Laurie (25 March 1897 – 23 June 1980) was a Scottish actor.