The grey wolves of eriboll
Hi all,
Head above the parapet time!
My book describing the almost secret surrender of the German U-boat fleet into Loch Eriboll between 8th and 19th May 1945 is now in the final stages of pre-publication. My original hope was that it would be published on 8th May this year, the 65th anniversary of the first U-boat entering Loch Eriboll, but it now appear that June is the more likely.
The story was heavily news-managed and censored at the time, and many Sutherlanders are even now unaware of the very significant part the county played in the Second World War's endgame. There was no mention in the local press at the time; Brief news reports did appear in the Scotsman from May 1945, but they were quite circumspect.
I have identified each of the thirty-three operational U-boats which sailed into Loch Eriboll and obtained contemporary monochrome photographs of many of them for publication. I have also identified approximately six other U-boats said to have also been in Loch Eribioll at the time, but which I am now satisfied were not.
For further details see http://moo.whittlespublishing.com/whittles/item/5197
Apologies for the delay in my responding to this forum item. It has taken me almost a month to have my registration activated!
I would be pleased to hear from anyone interested further. And of course I would be thrilled to hear from any contributor with anything to add to the overall story - photographs, recollections, artifacts etc, etc, which might enhance a second edition.
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Critics are like eunuchs in a harem; they know how it's done, they have seen it done every day, but they are unable to do it themselves (Brendan Behan)
Daily Telegraph, Saturday 20 March 2010
There is an interesting article in today's Daily Telegraph about the surrender of the German U-boats and the forthcoming book.
See www.telegraph.co.uk then search "Eriboll"
See also http://moo.whittlespublishing.com/whittles/item/5197
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Consultants are like castrated bulls : They can advise, and cajole, but they produce nothing
Book is published just this week
Hi all,
My book THE GREY WOLVES OF ERIBOLL is now published.
Details : Whittles Publishing, Dunbeath Mill, Dunbeath, Caithness KW6 6EG.
ISBN 978-1-904445-32-6 www.whittlespublishing.com
see www.whittlespublishing.com/index.php?view=product&product=119
It tells the whole fascinating story of the surrender of thirty-three U-boats into Loch Eriboll in May 1945, their later service histories and eventual fates. Profusely illustrated with contemporary official Admiralty and other monochrome photographs, maps, plans and charts, it records the personal memories of some of the combatants (of both Allied and Axis navies), contemporary newspaper reports, the surrender documents and a wealth of fascinating detail largely unknown today.
"There is no local commemmoration of the 59 allied merchant ships and 14 warships, comprising over 300,000 tons of shipping damaged or sunk by the 33 surrendered U-boats escorted into Loch Eriboll in mid-May 1945. More significantly, there remains no memorial to the many hundreds of brave Royal Navy and Merchant Navy seamen, of Allied and other nationalities, who perished by the direct intervention of those U-boats."
"The long overdue, first detailed investigation which reveals Loch Eriboll's pivotal role in the surrender of German U-boats to northern Scotland in May 1945. ......... The pivotal role played by Loch Eriboll in ending the U-boat menace is little-known and lesser celebrated - this book rights that wrong."
Order now to avoid disappointment, and order early for Christmas.
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"Eternal nothingness is fine, if you happen to be dressed for it." (Woody Allen)