Mr Midshipman VC (Hardback)
The Short Accident-Prone Life of George Drewry, Gallipoli Hero
Imprint: Pen & Sword Maritime
Pages: 161
Illustrations: 32
ISBN: 9781526726247
Published: 2nd October 2018
(click here for international delivery rates)
Order within the next 10 hours, 43 minutes to get your order processed the next working day!
Need a currency converter? Check XE.com for live rates
Other formats available - Buy the Hardback and get the eBook for free! | Price |
---|---|
Mr Midshipman VC ePub (3.6 MB) Add to Basket | £6.99 |
Of the thirty-nine Gallipoli Victoria Crosses arguably none was more deserved than the medal earned by George Leslie Drewry.
At just 20, he was the first officer of the Royal Naval Reserve to get the nation’s premier award for valour when part of the landing on V Beach at Cape Helles. In so doing he was badly wounded.
Accident-prone, he survived falling into a bog as a child; he was knocked over by a car; as a novice merchantman he fell from the mast of his ship and on another occasion was shipwrecked after rounding Cape Horn and stranded on a deserted island.
Tragically he died at Scapa Flow shortly before the end of The Great War, while in command of his first ship.
Using contemporary sources, the author brings Drewry’s life into sharp focus and describes the role of ‘Snotty’ as midshipmen were then known. The result will appeal to addicts of real-life adventure and military historians
Perhaps inevitable when writing about one so young, his life had only just begun and in order to fill the space, the book dwells much on the Gallipoli campaign and the involvement of the Royal Navy but this does not detract from what is an interesting read.
Medal News, March 2019 – reviewed by Allan Stanistreet
A stirring tale of true valour, and well worth telling.
Mariners Mirror
It is a very engaging book and the young officer's personality and the love of his family shine through thanks to lively prose.
Warships IFR, February 2019
Using contemporary sources, the author brings Drewry's life into sharp focus and describes the role of 'Snotty' as midshipmen were known. The result will appeal to addicts of real life adventure and military historians.
Steve Chambers, The Gallipolian
A recommended book, a story that needs to be read.
How fortunate we are to now have Drewry's all too short life brought together with a splendid range of illustrations.
David Saunders, The Gallipolian
Engaging account. 9/10
The Great War magazine, January 2019
As featured in
Third Age Matters
Click here to listen to interview
Marlow FM on The Electric Light Show
NOTE: set cursor to 10:33
Quentin Falk has brought him back to life in this illuminating biography that not only tells of his life but also captures something of the period in which George lived. I commend this book to you most heartily.
Blitzwalkers, Steve Hunnisett
Read the full review here here
Article: 'WW1 novel tells story of naval hero' as featured by
Maidenhead Advertiser, October 11th 2018
Article: 'Once – in a blue moon' part of their 'Odd Man's Week' feature with Peter Chapman
Grimsby Telegraph, 13th September 2018
Article: 'Little Marlow author Quentin Falk's 10th and latest book is timed perfectly to coincide with the final months of the Great War centenary'
Round & About magazine (Marlow/Bourne End/Cookham), September 2018
Article: 'New book tells the story of a Grimsby VC'
Bygones – a Grimsby Telegraph special publication, 21st August 2018
As featured by
Target, August/September 2018
About Quentin Falk
Quentin Falk has been a show-business journalist for numerous national papers for over 40 years.
He has written nine books, including biographies of Anthony Hopkins, Albert Finney and Alfred Hitchcock.
He lives in Buckinghamshire.