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Donald Cameron Naval Thriller #13
Secret Mission
The Second World War. The Nazis occupy France. Air raids regularly pummel British cities.
And the HMS Castile, a light cruiser with an extensive history, has just launched on her final mission, with Lieutenant-Commander Donald Cameron of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve in command.
Although the post would normally go to a captain in the regular navy, the Castile’s last voyage is no ordinary one.
Her crew has been handpicked by Winston Churchill himself, many with prior connections to the ship, and slated for a special — and perilous — mission…one that the crew only learns about once they’re on their way.
The Prime Minister has implemented a desperate strategy to carry the Allies through one of the most dangerous engagements in the war, along the darkened coast of occupied France. The Castile makes her way towards Dieppe, destined to become a blockship.
Everyone aboard, from Cameron down to the lowliest rating, knows there’s a good chance none of them will be coming back.
Dieppe is dangerous, and made even more so by the ship’s second mission: to extract an English agent before the Nazis get to him themselves.
As they face possible extermination, the crew’s minds drift across the Channel towards home, and the family, friends, and lovers they have left behind.
For Cameron, his parents weigh heavily on his mind.
For First Lieutenant John Brown, it’s his wife of only a year that occupies his thoughts. Lieutenant Blake dreams of his wife and leaving behind a life at sea to which he is not suited. Navigator Hugh Batten hopes desperately for revenge against the Nazis for the deaths of his wife and their two small children.
These men, and so many others, steam onwards, guiding their old ship and her valiant crew once more into the fray, knowing all too well that most of them go to meet their maker.
War is never kind, but the duty of the men who serve on the HMS Castile is clear: for Queen and country and the free world they fight until the end.
Praise for Philip McCutchan
“McCutchan’s tightest, most inviting plot.” — Kirkus Reviews
“A first rate adventure series.” — Publishers Weekly
This book was previously published as Cameron's Commitment.
Philip McCutchan (1920-1996) grew up in the naval atmosphere of Portsmouth Dockyard and developed a lifetime's interest in the sea. Military history was an early interest resulting in several fiction books, from amongst his large output, about the British Army and its campaigns, especially in the last 150 years.
Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent digital publisher. For more information on our titles please sign up to our newsletter at www.endeavourpress.com. Each week you will receive updates on free and discounted ebooks. Follow us on Twitter: @EndeavourPress and on Facebook via http://on.fb.me/1HweQV7. We are always interested in hearing from our readers. Endeavour Press believes that the future is now.
And the HMS Castile, a light cruiser with an extensive history, has just launched on her final mission, with Lieutenant-Commander Donald Cameron of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve in command.
Although the post would normally go to a captain in the regular navy, the Castile’s last voyage is no ordinary one.
Her crew has been handpicked by Winston Churchill himself, many with prior connections to the ship, and slated for a special — and perilous — mission…one that the crew only learns about once they’re on their way.
The Prime Minister has implemented a desperate strategy to carry the Allies through one of the most dangerous engagements in the war, along the darkened coast of occupied France. The Castile makes her way towards Dieppe, destined to become a blockship.
Everyone aboard, from Cameron down to the lowliest rating, knows there’s a good chance none of them will be coming back.
Dieppe is dangerous, and made even more so by the ship’s second mission: to extract an English agent before the Nazis get to him themselves.
As they face possible extermination, the crew’s minds drift across the Channel towards home, and the family, friends, and lovers they have left behind.
For Cameron, his parents weigh heavily on his mind.
For First Lieutenant John Brown, it’s his wife of only a year that occupies his thoughts. Lieutenant Blake dreams of his wife and leaving behind a life at sea to which he is not suited. Navigator Hugh Batten hopes desperately for revenge against the Nazis for the deaths of his wife and their two small children.
These men, and so many others, steam onwards, guiding their old ship and her valiant crew once more into the fray, knowing all too well that most of them go to meet their maker.
War is never kind, but the duty of the men who serve on the HMS Castile is clear: for Queen and country and the free world they fight until the end.
Praise for Philip McCutchan
“McCutchan’s tightest, most inviting plot.” — Kirkus Reviews
“A first rate adventure series.” — Publishers Weekly
This book was previously published as Cameron's Commitment.
Philip McCutchan (1920-1996) grew up in the naval atmosphere of Portsmouth Dockyard and developed a lifetime's interest in the sea. Military history was an early interest resulting in several fiction books, from amongst his large output, about the British Army and its campaigns, especially in the last 150 years.
Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent digital publisher. For more information on our titles please sign up to our newsletter at www.endeavourpress.com. Each week you will receive updates on free and discounted ebooks. Follow us on Twitter: @EndeavourPress and on Facebook via http://on.fb.me/1HweQV7. We are always interested in hearing from our readers. Endeavour Press believes that the future is now.
215 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1989
About the author
Philip McCutchan
187 books36 followersaka Robert Conington Galway, Duncan MacNeil
Philip McCutchan (1920-1996) grew up in the naval atmosphere of Portsmouth Dockyard and developed a lifetime's interest in the sea. Military history was an early interest resulting in several fiction books, from amongst his large output, about the British Army and its campaigns, especially in the last 150 years.
Philip McCutchan (1920-1996) grew up in the naval atmosphere of Portsmouth Dockyard and developed a lifetime's interest in the sea. Military history was an early interest resulting in several fiction books, from amongst his large output, about the British Army and its campaigns, especially in the last 150 years.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 13, 2022
One Of The Best
I have read thirteen of the Donald Cameron series in sequence and this is one of the best. A really good story that moves along at pace but we also get to find out more about the characters in this story. Their lives, their home lives, their families and circumstances, a real cross section of war time Britain.
The story is loosely based on the Zeebrugge of WWI or St Nazaire of WWII, a good read.
I have read thirteen of the Donald Cameron series in sequence and this is one of the best. A really good story that moves along at pace but we also get to find out more about the characters in this story. Their lives, their home lives, their families and circumstances, a real cross section of war time Britain.
The story is loosely based on the Zeebrugge of WWI or St Nazaire of WWII, a good read.
September 12, 2019
Holy Moly. I liked this Donald Cameron book the most.
I've enjoyed all of the Cameron stories but this was my favorite.I felt like l was right there with them and knew the characters. I'm going to hate when the series ends. Just one to go I think.
I've enjoyed all of the Cameron stories but this was my favorite.I felt like l was right there with them and knew the characters. I'm going to hate when the series ends. Just one to go I think.
August 11, 2020
Continuing the saga
This continuation of the saga is the most enlightening of the thoughts of the sailors and the families during the war. It also shows how they reacted to the life of nation at war.
This continuation of the saga is the most enlightening of the thoughts of the sailors and the families during the war. It also shows how they reacted to the life of nation at war.
March 28, 2018
Good reading
Followers of Donald Cameron novels will know that he usually gets the sticky jobs and this is no exception, it gets quite bloody at the end but a good story.
Followers of Donald Cameron novels will know that he usually gets the sticky jobs and this is no exception, it gets quite bloody at the end but a good story.
April 8, 2018
Excellent as usual
Excellent as usual i really enjoyed this book and the very many of his previouxs books a very good storyteller
Excellent as usual i really enjoyed this book and the very many of his previouxs books a very good storyteller
December 31, 2024
Enjoyable naval fiction, with an interesting focus on the home front as well.
May 25, 2025
This was the second best story in this series (IMHO) after the first edition where Cameron deals with a U-boat with just grenades.
May 17, 2016
Bond to the rescue...AGAIN!
The story's the same, just a different locale. Cameron goes into action, the good guys are having a tough time of it, and Zorro comes to the rescue. A very predictable piece of fiction, but at the same time a very good read. I'm REALLY surprised that Cameron isn't on the silver screen yet, however I believe that if someone in Hollywood were to read these tales, it genuinely would have a shot.
The story's the same, just a different locale. Cameron goes into action, the good guys are having a tough time of it, and Zorro comes to the rescue. A very predictable piece of fiction, but at the same time a very good read. I'm REALLY surprised that Cameron isn't on the silver screen yet, however I believe that if someone in Hollywood were to read these tales, it genuinely would have a shot.
April 30, 2017
Cameron books
Having read all of the books,I did enjoy them. Although I must admit that Cameron deserved at least six VC's and maybe could have won the war on his own. One criticism I would make is that if he studied his facts about Malta the planes he spoke about were not Swordfish but Gloucester Gladiator's.
Having read all of the books,I did enjoy them. Although I must admit that Cameron deserved at least six VC's and maybe could have won the war on his own. One criticism I would make is that if he studied his facts about Malta the planes he spoke about were not Swordfish but Gloucester Gladiator's.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews