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Publisher:
Pen &
Sword Books |
In his book David Yates recalls his experiences in the Royal
Navy as a Leading Catering Accountant aboard HMS Antrim
despatched to the South Georgia at the start of the
Falklands War. David conveys the humour, spirit and
traditions of life in the Royal Navy, vividly describing the
daily routines of life aboard ship and what matelots expect
when in port.
The author successfully conveys to the reader how the normality
of his peacetime navy was thrown into turmoil on Friday
April 2nd 1982, as Antrim prepared for war. In particular the
description of the traditional ‘crossing the line’ ceremony
is well described. You can almost taste the pill that is
thrust down each initiates throat, and imagine the terror at
being roughly, and repeatedly dunked by the ‘bears’.
The book is easy to read and. while well researched, is not
top heavy with facts and figures, this semi-autobiographical
work makes for fascinating reading offering a peek at life
below decks and off duty as well as in the uncertain days
that were the Falklands conflict. The book is well
illustrated with a 38 images and has two comprehensive
glossaries, one of naval terms and a second devoted to terms
specific to naval ‘cooks’, a must for those not familiar
with the naval catering branches. |