which we watched on the news last night.

I don’t know how many of you have read Andy McNab’s book Immediate Action, or any memoirs of SOE operatives who survived interrogation by the Gestapo, some of whom (the SOE women not the Nazis) went on to lead seminars on survival techniques during Army training.  But while I won’t quote too many chunks verbatim here I understand that the advice given is to behave quietly when captured, act unobtrusively, no gung ho heroics, husband health and strength as best one can ready for future stress and action as required. He called it “play the grey man” (although his fiction novel of that title seems to be on a different theme) I appreciate that Andy McNab has been criticised, with reason, for how much he has revealed about the SAS but I think, in this area, his opinion is sound.

I don’t read Ldg Smn Turney’s demeanour to mean that the British Navy in general, or women in the services in particular are “too soft” for the job.

Humiliated and shaking, was she forced to confess?

WEARING a black headscarf, her voice trembled as she spoke to her unseen interviewer.  Leading Seaman Faye Turney appeared on Iranian television in civilian dress to tell the world she and her colleagues had "trespassed" into Iranian waters. The broadcast triggered fears that the woman sailor had been coerced by Iran's Revolutionary Guards into speaking.

Fuelling fears there had been coercion of the hostages, the Iranian embassy released a letter, which it said was from Ldg Smn Turney to her parents. She wrote that the British crew had "apparently" strayed into Iranian territory, a less emphatic statement than her TV interview, in which she had said the crew had "obviously" transgressed the boundary in the Persian Gulf.

Mrs Beckett said: "I am very concerned about these pictures and any indication of pressure on or coercion of our personnel. I am particularly disappointed a private letter has been used in a way which can only add to the distress of the families."

Earlier, the Iranian foreign minister appeared to make assurances that Ldg Smn Turney, 26, would be released.  However, Manouchehr Mottaki last night claimed he had been "probably misquoted" over that promise but said Tehran had agreed to allow British officials to meet the 15 sailors and marines in Iranian custody. "Measures are underway (to arrange meeting). They can meet them," he said.