About this title.

Gerry Wright discovered Wally, as we know him, while researching someone else and became intrigued by his story. On the outbreak of World War 2 Walter Drake DSC volunteered to join the Army. From guard duty in Wellington he joined the Navy, travelled to England, served in the Battle of the Atlantic and was promoted to officer rank before joining Coastal Forces based in Felixstowe. There, Wally joined a Fairmile Motor Launch involved in laying mines off the enemy coast. Wally later led this team. This unsung group, with strict orders to ‘make smoke and run on meeting the enemy,’ probably caused more damage to the German war effort than any other similar sized unit. This is Wally’s story.

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About this Author.

Now retired, I have spent most of my life associated with the sea. After 27 years in the Navy I spent 15 years, ashore and afloat, in the Merchant service or associated industries. I have published three books through PublishMe. A KIWI ON OUR FUNNEL - the story of two minesweepers/gunboats defending Malaysia against Indonesian agression in 1965/66 WE WERE THERE - the story of NZ's involvement in the British nuclear bomb tests at Christmas Island in 1957/58 MURUROA PROTEST - the story of the Kirk governments use of the navy to successfully protest against the testing of nuclear weapons by France over Mururoa atoll in 1973. These books are available through PublishMe. I am happy to discuss issues with other amateur writers.

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