These photos depict the rescue of the crew of U 39 in September 1939:

DOOMED U-BOAT'S CREW RESCUED BY THEIR FOES This dramatic series of photographs shows that British sailors still wage war in their traditional chivalrous manner.  Their duty was to sink the German submarine whose conning tower can be seen above, but, that task performed, rescue boats picked up the survivors, as seen below.  In the circle, one of the U-boat's crew is being helped aboard the British destroyer. Photos, Keystone; G.P.U.; Associated Press ["History of the Second Great War"; courtesy of Brian Harrison]

 

WHEN A U-BOAT IS SUNK: BOATS FROM BRITISH WARSHIPS BUSY RESCUING SURVIVORS, WITH SOME MEN STILL IN THE WATER ON THE RIGHT. THE PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN FROM A DESTROYER STANDING BY. (A.P.) [Illustrated London News, 23 Dec 1939]

 

A U-BOAT SUNK BY DESTROYERS: A UNIQUE PHOTOGRAPH, SHOWING A MAN ON THE CONNING-TOWER, WHICH IS BARELY AWASH, AND TWO MORE IN THE WATER. This photograph is claimed to be the first taken of the actual destruction of a U-boat since the war began. A description of the action runs: "Sound detectors gave the destroyers their clue. Depth-charges were dropped and found their mark. Desperately the U-boat dived deeper and deeper, but at last was forced to the surface, where it was immediately fired upon by the destroyers' guns. Two of the U-boat's crew are swimming to a destroyer. Another is on the conning-tower. [Illustrated London News, 16 Dec 1939]