Deadly Secrets (Paperback)

Lynette Ramsay Silver

ISBN 10: 1863514104 / ISBN 13: 9781863514101

Editore: Sally Milner Publishing Pty Ltd, Binda, 2010

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Paperback. In February 1942, when Australian Bill Reynolds escaped from beleagured Singapore in a battered Japanese fishing boat, he had no idea that his nondescript vessel would be the catalyst for Operation Jaywick, one of the most daring missions undertaken behind enemy lines in World War II. Using Reynold's boat, now renamed Krait, a small band of intrepid men attacked enemy shipping in Singapore Harbour an action that would have far reaching and tragic repercussions on the people of Singapore. The following year, members of the same team embarked upon a second and far more ambitious raid, Operation Rimau. Although this mission was partially successful, every member of the party was killed. In telling the story of both these raids, author Lynette Silver reveals a number of deadly secrets, and gives an insight into the world of covert operations, partly through the eyes of Denis Emerson-Elliott, a British secret service agent closely associated with both missions. She also lays to rest a number of myths which have arisen in the sixty-five years since the Singapore raids took place. Some are the result of assumptions, based on too little knowledge, others were spawned by rumour. In some cases they were deliberate fabrications, either to make up for lack of information or to present a particular spin. Once film-makers stepped in, the distortions increased in the name of dramatic licence. One widely circulated story claimed that the greatest contribution of the Jaywick mission (classified as top secret until after the war), was to raise the spirits of the Australian public at a time when Allied victories were few and far between. A sobering aspect of many of the special operations carried out by Australian forces during World War II is that many fine men who volunteered for hazardous service died while carrying out missions that were politically, rather than militarily, motivated. Even more sobering is the fact that on the Australian army's post-war assessment, many of these operations, including Jaywick and Rimau, achieved nothing but death, misery and suffering. A fascinating account of some of the most daring, and politically motivated, missions undertaken by Australian soldiers behind enemy lines in WWII Singapore. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.

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Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: Deadly Secrets (Paperback)
• Editore: Sally Milner Publishing Pty Ltd, Binda
• Data di pubblicazione: 2010
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 1863514104
• ISBN 13: 9781863514101
• Rilegatura: Paperback
• Condizione: new

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

In February 1942, when Australian Bill Reynolds escaped from beleaguered Singapore in a battered Japanese fishing boat, he had no idea that his unremarkable vessel would become the catalyst for Operation Jaywick—one of the most daring missions undertaken behind enemy lines during World War II. Using Reynolds’s boat, now renamed Krait, a small group of intrepid men slipped into Singapore Harbour and attacked enemy shipping, an action that would have far-reaching and tragic repercussions for the people of Singapore. The following year, members of the same team set out on a second, far more ambitious raid: Operation Rimau. Although partially successful, every man involved was ultimately killed.

In recounting the story of these two raids, author Lynette Silver uncovers a number of deadly secrets and offers insight into the shadowy world of covert operations, in part through the experiences of Denis Emerson-Elliott, a British secret service agent closely connected to both missions. She also challenges several myths that have arisen in the sixty-five years since the Singapore raids. Some stem from assumptions based on incomplete information; others grew from rumour. In certain cases, fabrications were deliberate—created to fill gaps in knowledge or to promote a particular narrative. Once filmmakers became involved, distortions multiplied further under the guise of dramatic licence. One widely circulated claim alleged that the greatest contribution of the Jaywick mission—classified as top secret until after the war—was its supposed impact on Australian morale at a time when Allied victories were scarce.

A sobering reality emerges from many of the special operations carried out by Australian forces during World War II: numerous courageous men who volunteered for hazardous service died on missions driven more by political objectives than by military necessity. Even more sobering is the Australian Army’s post-war assessment that many of these operations, including Jaywick and Rimau, resulted in nothing but loss, anguish, and suffering.

Informazioni sull?autore

Lynette Ramsay-Silver is a military historian, the author of a number of books on Australian history. In 2003 Lynette received a Defense Forces Commendation and Medal from Special Operations Command Australia, for her work during the 60th Anniversary of Operation Jaywick, the first civilian ever to receive this prestigious award. She has been awarded an OAM,OBE and MBE in recognition of Lynette's services to Australian and British Servicemen.