The Fighting Captain

Captain F J Walker,RN, was a formidable figure and one of the greatest fighting captains in the history of the Royal Navy, sinking twenty U-boats and receiving a CB and four DSOs. He died on the 9 July, 1944, aged 48, after a patrol in Liverpool. His ships and the men he had trained and inspired went on to sink another nine U-boats, bringing his flotillas total up to twenty-nine, before the U-boat fleet finally surrendered.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 12 December 2022
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Captain F J Walker,RN, played a pivotal role in securing victory in the Battle of the Atlantic, a grueling and relentless conflict that Churchill deemed the overarching determinant of World War Two. He was a formidable figure and one of the most celebrated fighting captains in the annals of the Royal Navy, having sunk a remarkable twenty U-boats. In recognition of his extraordinary achievements, he was awarded a CB and four DSOs, a rare honor bestowed upon only the second man in the history of the Royal Navy to receive this distinguished accolade four times.

A mere month after the historic D-Day landings, exhausted by his relentless efforts at sea against the enemy and his successful endeavors to prevent the U-boats from entering the English Channel, ensuring the safe passage of the Allied landings, he made his way ashore in Liverpool after a patrol. At that time, his ships and the men he had trained and inspired were already back at sea, continuing their mission to safeguard the waters. Tragically, Captain Walker passed away on July 9, 1944, at the age of 48.

Even in his absence, his ships continued their relentless pursuit, sinking another nine U-boats, bringing his flotillas to a total of twenty-nine. Before the U-boat fleet ultimately capitulated, Walkers own ship, HMS Starling, contributed significantly to this tally by sinking fifteen U-boats. Captain Walkers remarkable leadership and unwavering determination played a crucial role in the Allied victory in the Battle of the Atlantic, a testament to his enduring legacy in naval history.

Weight: 402g
Dimension: 156 x 232 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399077279