On a PedestalLeaving the shipyard where he learnt his trade, a young marine engineer joins his first merchant ship at the outset of the Second World War. No sooner has David Watson adjusted to the difficulties of life at sea than fate intervenes. He eventually finds himself embroiled in the famous and bloody Pedestal convoy to re-supply the strategically important island of Malta. A strong narrative pays homage to the fortitude and heroism of those men of the sea who risked so much to provide the wherewithal for survival of the beleaguered islanders and servicemen. It is based on actual incidents, particularly in the career of the author's father, although the main characters are fictitious. |
Contents
CHAPTER 1 | 1 |
CHAPTER 2 | 7 |
CHAPTER 3 | 11 |
CHAPTER 4 | 16 |
CHAPTER 5 | 23 |
CHAPTER 6 | 30 |
CHAPTER 7 | 37 |
CHAPTER 8 | 43 |
CHAPTER 14 | 84 |
CHAPTER 15 | 94 |
CHAPTER 16 | 99 |
CHAPTER 17 | 107 |
CHAPTER 18 | 111 |
CHAPTER 19 | 118 |
CHAPTER 20 | 124 |
CHAPTER 21 | 131 |
CHAPTER 9 | 48 |
CHAPTER 10 | 56 |
CHAPTER 11 | 64 |
CHAPTER 12 | 71 |
CHAPTER 13 | 75 |
CHAPTER 22 | 138 |
CHAPTER 23 | 148 |
CHAPTER 24 | 153 |
Back Cover | 157 |
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Common terms and phrases
aboard aircraft alongside Arthurian Castle attack Baxendell began boiler boiler-room bomb bombers Bosun bridge briefly bulkhead cabin Captain Ellis cargo Chief Engineer confident conning tower convoy craft Crawshaw crew damage David Watson door engineroom explosion eyes face felt figure filled finally find fine finished fire fireman firing firmly first flames flashed flat fleet flesh float flooding flour flying Fraser McKay Fred Gates fuel German Gibraltar going Grand-Bassam greaser gunners head huge inflatable knew LeBrun lifeboat looked Luftwaffe Malta man’s Mate Megan moved night No.2 hold nodded office Orme Petrain Castle Pilgrim port Rafferty realised replied Royal Navy sail sailors satisfied seemed ship ship’s ship’s side shouted slightly smiled soon sound space speed stared steam steel steering stern stood stopped submarine survivors There’s Third Officer thought Tommy torpedo turned U-boat vessel Vichy French voice watch wave we’ll what’s whilst wind