Running the Gauntlet: Cargo Liners Under Fire 1939-1945 written by
Bernard Edwards and published by Pen & Sword Books - £20 - Hardback - Pages 224
The British Merchant Navy dominated the world trade routes in the years leading up
to the Second World War. The star players of the fleet were the cargo liners, faster
and larger than the tramps and offering limited passenger accommodation. At the
outbreak of war, these cargo liners became crucial to the nation’s survival using
their speed and expertise to evade Nazi warships, raiders and U-boats.
Initially operating alone, but increasingly relying on Royal Navy-protected convoys, these key elements of the Merchant Navy plied the oceans and seas despite mounting losses, throughout the war years.
This superbly researched book describes numerous dramatic incidents. Some ended in disaster such as the New Zealand Shipping Company’s Turakina which was sunk after a running battle with the German raider Orion. Others were triumphs for example Operation Substance when six fast cargo liners succeeded against all the odds in reaching besieged Malta with vital supplies.
The common denominations in all these historic voyages were the courage and skilled seamanship of the Merchant Navy crews. As Running The Gauntlet vividly illustrates, their contribution to victory, too long overlooked, cannot be overstated.
You could say that the merchant navy who transported cargo around the seas and oceans are the unsung heroes of the war. This book is all about the various triumphs and disasters faced by the merchant navy who were responsible for feeding and supplying a nation such as the UK but also transporting cargo to smaller destinations. Without Royal Naval protection these ships were sitting targets for the enemy, whether it be from u-boats to aircraft, as these cargo ships had little or no defence. Even with the Royal Navy protection wasn’t an assurance for safe passage to the destination. The merchant navy was a lifeline for Britain bringing in food supplies to keep the nation going, and the bravery of these men was very high and gutsy.
The research in this book is great and the book was an easy compelling read, most one to recommend. In a way, these guys were just as brave as those fighting on the battlefields of WWII.
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