The Andy Holt Naval Thrillers
2 primary works
Book 1
Andy Holt, is a 20-year-old 3rd Mate in the PollyAnna carrying coal in the South Atlantic to be off-loaded, before picking up a cargo of iron ore. There are rumours of German raiders in the area which are confirmed when the seamen come across what's left of a boat and its crew, in a rapid state of decomposition. Andy's vessel is onward bound via Calcutta and her whorehouses, to Montevideo, a neutral port, all the while wary of a particular German warship, the Graf Spee, which is picking off British naval vessels. But as the PollyAnna leaves Montevideo and heads for Vitoria, who should turn up in the former but the Graf Spee herself. It transpires that a German ship in the same port is holding British prisoners, and some of the locals are reputed Nazis. The skipper is unable to get hold of the ambassador and so takes matters into his own hands. He takes the decent if rash option of ramming the German ship in the dead of night, sending Andy and others across to free the prisoners, one of whom is a charming young lady. Westbound, Warbound is Alexander Fullerton on top form - a gripping historical novel adventure of utter authenticity.
Book 2
It is the summer of 1940 and Andy Holt has signed on as 2nd mate in the SS Barranquilla, sailing in ballast from the Clyde for Nuevitas in Cuba. From there she'll be routed up the US seaboard to Halifax, Nova Scotia, assembly-point for homebound convoys. The homebound ones are the worst - U-boats preferring their victims to be deep-laden, full of cargo. Andy has joined Quilla at the last minute and not with an easy mind. He's just heard from his girlfriend Julia that she's pregnant - two months gone - and in Newcastle in 1940 this means wedding bells. Which in itself is OK - he loves her. Only he'll be away from her now for ten weeks or more, so it will be five months before they can marry. That's if he makes it back, because this is what the U-boat people are calling their Happy Time - easy targets and lots of them, convoys with hardly any escorting warships. There have been heavy losses off Norway and Dunkirk - the vital priority at this time is for destroyers to counter the invasion that seems imminent. At the moment it is odds against any individual ship getting over 'the pond' and back...