Channel to Freedom , livre ebook

Thorogood Publishing - Mike Williams

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138 pages

English

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Description

The third part of a fictional trilogy, describing the role and operations of a naval Special Forces unit, based on Tresco in the Isles of Scilly.It describes the part played in the Second World War, by this ultra-secret unit, from D-Day until the end of the war in Europe. So secret was the real-life flotilla, that news of it was not released, under the Official Secrets Act, until 1995. As the war moves to its climax, the Germans become ever more desperate to regain lost ground.

Sujets

Historical fiction

Informations

Publié par	Thorogood Publishing
Date de parution	01 décembre 2013
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781854188472
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	2 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0250€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

First published in eBook format 2013 Thorogood Publishing Ltd 10-12 Rivington Street London EC2A 3DU Telephone: 020 7749 4748 Email: info@thorogoodpublishing.co.uk Web: www.thorogoodpublishing.co.uk
© Michael Williams 2011
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed upon the subsequent purchaser.
No responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any material in this publication can be accepted by the author or publisher.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 978-185418689-8
Dedication
This book is dedicated to all those servicemen and women who, with such selfless courage and professional commitment, keep open the many channels to freedom in today’s world…
Author’s note
This is the third volume of the fictional trilogy about a naval Special Forces flotilla, which did exist on Tresco in the Isles of Scilly during the Second World War. So secret was this unit that it only became known publicly in 1995, after the fifty-year veil of the Official Secrets Act was lifted.
Volumes 1 and 2 – The Secret Channel and The Channel of Invasion take the fictional story of this covert unit up to just after D-Day in June 1944.
This book – The Channel to Freedom – concludes the saga, from the Allies’ Normandy breakout of July/August 1944 to the end of the war in Europe in May 1945 – and the disbandment of the flotilla.
The flotilla base – HMS Godolphin – is a figment of my imagination, included to provide the unit with a focal point and context for its shore-based activities in the UK. To preserve Tresco’s strong links to the Royal Navy during both world wars, I have located HMS Godolphin on the site of the First World War Royal Naval Air Service base, of which, even today, some vestiges remain.
Similarly, the characters and events are figments of my imagination, coloured by the influence of personal recall, drawn from my experiences in the Cold War and the impact upon the mainland of the old IRA border campaign. Any similarity between the characters and persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
Other novels by Mike Williams:
The Secret Channel
The Channel of Invasion
Loyalty – or Liberty? (coming soon)
Principal Characters
In order of seniority of rank.
Royal Navy and Royal Marines Character: Referred to as: Rear Admiral Hembury Admiral, The Director of RN Coastal Forces Admiral Operations Captain MacPherson The Commanding Officer Officer commanding HMS Godolphin, Tresco, Isles of Scilly Commander John Enever Commander Senior Naval Intelligence Officer, SNIO/SIO HMS Godolphin Lieutenant Commander Richard Tremayne The central figure in this story – an RNVR officer transferred to Coastal Special Forces who commands the Tresco flotilla of MTBs and clandestine fishing vessels Flotilla commander/ boat captain Lieutenant David Willoughby-Brown Tremayne’s First Lieutenant (second-in- command) – like Tremayne, an RNVR officer Number One, First Lieutenant, WB Lieutenant Hermann Fischer, RNVR Tremayne’s leading boat captain Sub-Lieutenant Pierre Quilghini Sub Former French naval officer, now with RNVR commission, whose ideas and initiative were fundamental to the setting-up of the secret channels between Tresco and Brittany Emma Tremayne Tremayne’s wife and formerly Wren Intelligence Officer on Enever’s staff at HMS Godolphin, Tresco Intelligence Officer (Navy) SIS, ‘Giselle Trenet’ Petty Officer Bill Irvine Cox’n, ’Swain Tremayne’s boat coxswain Able Seaman Watkins Pablo A key long-term member of Tremayne’s boat crew Sergeant Geoff Kane Royal A key Royal Marine Commando NCO, who has worked closely with the Tresco flotilla A key long-term member of Tremayne’s boat crew
The Army, SIS and covert Jedburgh team
Character: Colonel John Farrell The Rifle Brigade – senior SOE officer Lieutenant Colonel Tim Galway ‘Jed’ team leader Major Mike Black SAS Sergeant Paddy Nugent SAS Colonel Mark Timmins US Army local regional CO
US Army of Occupation, Brittany Character: Colonel Mark Timmins US Army local regional CO
French Resistance Character: Referred to as: Capitaine de Vaisseau, Philippe Duvalier ‘Lionel’ Head of a Breton Resistance Confrèrie Philippe Communist Maquis leader in Lorient Marc Local Resistance commander on the Crozon peninsula Simone French Resistance courier in Lorient

Chapter One - Paths To Victory

The island of Tresco was bathed in bright early August sunlight under a cloudless blue sky. The turquoise and azure coastal waters shimmered and sparkled, as the white-capped Atlantic waves slowly rolled in and broke upon the shore.
The assembled ship’s company stood at ease, in three ranks, lined up on the hard standing that served as HMS Godolphin’s small parade ground – typical of a Royal Navy ‘stone frigate’. Facing them – and stood on a small dais – was Admiral Hembury DSO, Director of RN Coastal Forces. Either side of him were, respectively, a commodore, RN and a Royal Marine major general. Captain MacPherson, Godolphin’s commanding officer, stood behind the Admiral, ready to take over as master of ceremonies when called upon to do so.
Seated on two rows of wooden benches to the right of the dais were a number of VIP guests and visitors. A Royal Marines band added to the relaxed, summery occasion, playing traditional British airs and marches.
In front and to the left of the dais, three officers, one rating and one Royal Marine from HMS Godolphin – immaculately turned out in their best uniforms – stood waiting for the awards investiture to begin. Standing with them was a smartly dressed young woman.
One of the three officers present was Lieutenant Commander Richard Tremayne, RNVR, commander of the Tresco flotilla. Flanking the group were two naval flag lieutenants wearing gold ceremonial aiguillettes on their shoulders.
Immediately to Tremayne’s right stood Lieutenant David Willoughby-Brown, his first lieutenant and close friend. To his left stood Commander John Enever, HMS Godolphin’s donnish and highly talented Senior Naval Intelligence Officer. Next to them, in order of seniority, stood Royal Marines Sergeant Geoff Kane and then Leading Seaman ‘Pablo’ Watkins.
Alongside the five, her hands clasped in front of her, proudly stood Sarah McDonald, the widow of Tremayne’s engineer – Petty Officer Alistair McDonald – who was so brutally executed when he andTremayne were taken prisoner in Brittany some eight months previously. Though pale and drawn, she projected an air of great dignity and quiet composure. On the lapel of her new navy blue suit she wore a silver brooch in the shape of a naval Tudor crown.
Today was their day and the formal recognition of their courage and professionalism. It was to be a celebration with enough fitting pomp and ceremony to create a memorable sense of occasion for them and those of their loved ones who were present. Acknowledging their own was something that the Royal Navy did well – and today was to be no exception.
Already, Tremayne had found the day to be an intensely moving one, where outstanding service – and sacrifice – were being publicly acknowledged with justifiable pride.
As the strains of the old air Where Ere You Walk died away, the substantial figure of Captain MacPherson stepped forward to the front of the dais and, taking command, called the parade to attention. As one, sailors and Marines smartly brought heels together and snapped arms to their sides, as their rifles, with bayonets fixed, were swung into position.
The Royal Marines band, resplendent in white pith helmets and blue parade uniforms, struck up Rule Britannia . From the stirring opening bars, Tremayne was delighted that it was the original version they were playing. Mercifully, he thought, it was devoid of any pretentious conductor’s tedious, so-called ‘arrangements’, which too often dilute Arne’s inspiring composition.
‘Hmmm, patriotism might be the last refuge of the scoundrel,’ he mused as his spine tingled, ‘but right now, some unashamedly raw jingoism feels pretty good to me!’
Accompanied by his two flag lieutenants, Admiral Hembury moved towards the group of six to begin the investiture and present medals. Starting with the most senior present, he began with Commander John Enever who had earned an OBE for his tireless and crucial contribution to Naval Intelligence. Second was Tremayne, awarded the DSO for his outstanding leadership and gallantry in action on Sword Beach, immediately following the D-Day Normandy landings.
Lieutenant Willoughby-Brown, RNVR, was next in line, also to receive the DSO for his coolness and the example he set, under fire, in rescuing Tremayne off the Brittany coast, following the latter’s escape from a German PoW camp.
After Willoughby-Brown, it was Sarah McDonald’s turn to receive the posthumous DCM for her husband’s courage and devotion to duty in captivity and his persistent refusal to divulge information to his interrogators. To spare Mrs McDonald further distress, no mention was made in the citation of the appalling, brutal treatment that her husband – and Tremayne – had suffered at the hands of the Gestapo before his indefensible execution.
Admiral Hembury spoke to each recipient in turn. A sincere and kindly man, his comments went way beyond trite platitudes and clichéd conversation. It was obvious that he had given considerable thought to what was particularly important and relevant to say to each of those being awarded medals. He spen