Description
Book Synopsis: Of all the Australians who fought in the Second World War, none saw more action nor endured so much of its hardship and horror as the crew of the cruiser HMAS Perth. Most were young—many were still teenagers—from cities and towns, villages and farms across the nation. In three tumultuous years they did battle with the forces of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, the Vichy French, and, finally, the Imperial Japanese Navy. They were nearly lost in a hurricane in the Atlantic. In the Mediterranean in 1941 they were bombed by the Luftwaffe and the Italian Air Force for months on end until, ultimately, during the disastrous evacuation of the Australian army from Crete, their ship took a direct hit and thirteen men were killed. After the fall of Singapore in 1942, HMAS Perth was hurled into the forlorn campaign to stem the Japanese advance towards Australia. Off the coast of Java in March that year she met an overwhelming enemy naval force. Firing until her ammunition literally ran out, she was sunk with the loss of 353 of her crew, including her much-loved captain and the Royal Australian Navy’s finest fighting sailor, ‘Hardover’ Hec Waller. Another 328 men were taken into Japanese captivity, most to become slave labourers in the infinite hell of the Burma-Thai railway. Many died there, victims of unspeakable atrocity. Only 218 men, less than a third of her crew, survived to return home at war’s end. Cruiser, by journalist and broadcaster Mike Carlton, is their story. And the story of those who loved them and waited for them.
Details
Discover the heroic story of the Australian crew of HMAS Perth in the gripping book, Cruiser: The Life and Loss of HMAS Perth and Her Crew. These brave men, most of them young and inexperienced, faced unimaginable hardship and horror during the Second World War. From battling Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy to confronting the Imperial Japanese Navy, their courage knew no bounds.
Join journalist and broadcaster Mike Carlton as he takes you on a journey through three tumultuous years of war. Experience the heart-stopping moments as HMAS Perth narrowly escapes a hurricane in the Atlantic, only to be relentlessly bombarded by the Luftwaffe and Italian Air Force in the Mediterranean.
Witness the ultimate sacrifice as the ship takes a direct hit during the evacuation of the Australian army from Crete, claiming the lives of thirteen crew members. Feel the despair and determination as HMAS Perth fights alongside allied forces to halt the Japanese advance towards Australia after the fall of Singapore.
In March 1942, off the coast of Java, HMAS Perth confronts an overwhelming enemy naval force, engaging in a battle where ammunition runs out but bravery does not. Unfortunately, the ship is sunk, and 353 crew members, including Captain 'Hardover' Hec Waller, are lost. Another 328 are taken captive by the Japanese, enduring the horrors of the Burma-Thai railway as slave laborers. Many do not survive.
With captivating storytelling, Cruiser not only brings to life the heroic actions of the crew but also honors the loved ones who waited anxiously for their return. Experience the triumphs, tragedies, and untold sacrifices of these brave men, as they fight against all odds.
Immerse yourself in this inspiring tale of resilience and honor. Get your copy of Cruiser: The Life and Loss of HMAS Perth and Her Crew today and pay tribute to these extraordinary heroes who faced the darkest of days.
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