This image is the cover for the book Doing One's Duty

Doing One's Duty

Andrew was recruited into the British Secret Intelligence Service in 1939 for his linguistic talents and other qualities suitable for working in the service. After returning from his first main mission inside enemy territory in April 1940, he is instructed to join one of the ‘small ships’ in the evacuation of BEF soldiers out of Dunkirk. During the same trip, he is required to obtain vital information from the retreating French battalions that were holding off the German advance into Dunkirk. Almost immediately after getting back to London, Andrew joins the crew of a British battle cruiser off the Shetlands that is on its way to Tromsô in northern Norway. The objective of this mission is to persuade the King of Norway and its cabinet to accept exile in London rather than fight against the vastly superior Nazi war machine. A number of possible life-threatening incidents occur before Andrew successfully returns to London with the Norwegians in mid-June 1940. By this time, the French government is on the point of signing an armistice with Germany and General de Gaulle has escaped to join his ally, Winston Churchill, in London. Andrew is closely involved in helping to set up de Gaulle’s broadcasts from the BBC and protect him from anti-de Gaulle protesters. This story is a most fascinating sequel to the first novel, Monique. The use of actual events and characters in a fictitious manner should enhance its appeal.

Mike Walsham

After graduating in chemistry and physics from London University, Mike Walsham worked in pharmaceutical research for a few years before joining a well-known international computer company in sales and marketing. He has worked in the computer industry for over eleven years in several African countries, such as Ethiopia, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa. During his time in Zambia in 1973–75, he drove from Lusaka to successfully climb Mount Kilimanjaro. He obtained a private pilots’ licence in 1974 at the Lusaka Flying Club and went on to be an instructor. He has a strong interest in music, particularly jazz. He has a keen interest in classic cars and owns a Triumph TR4A. As a result of working abroad, he enjoys travel, especially to places of historical interest in Europe and Africa. He is thoroughly committed to his family (four children, nine grandchildren) and to his local C of E church. Over the last ten years, he has written articles for the local Parish News on subjects such as: the Ark of the Covenant, the Knights Templar, the Cathares, the Battle of Agincourt, the Scramble for Africa. A keen sportsman, he still plays squash and jogs, with a strong interest in most sports, particularly at international level. He was a crew member on 42ft yacht in 2002 from Menorca to Split, Croatia. In 2004, he again was a crew member taking 44ft yacht from Southampton to Split. His close relative’s involvement in WWII stimulated him to write historical novels based to some extent on the relative’s experience in the Intelligence Services.

Austin Macauley Publishers