The Mediterranean Sea in World War II was the scene of prolonged and violent naval warfare between the British and the Axis powers, Italy and Germany. The stories of the major squadrons and their admirals have been told, as their actions led directly to the outcomes. Here is the tale of the smallest surface ships, their officers and men who, at the very tip of British sea power in that disputed sea, played vital roles in making possible the successes of the more famous forces. It is told by one of them -- a Canadian on loan to the Royal Navy who took a leading part from the lowest ebb in British fortunes through the struggle against almost overwhelming odds to the climax of the first landings on the continent of Europe.

Gordon W. Stead's profile page

Gordon W. Stead, DSC, LLD, now retired, was head of the Canadian Coast Guard for twelve years. A former Lieutenant Commander, RCNVR, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Bar for his part in the actions recorded in this book.

An entertaining, human and very literate memoir that deserves the acclaim it has received ... A fine piece of work and welcome addition to the small but steadily growing body of literature on Canadians at sea in the Second World War.

Argonauta

A fascinating little book about a small but fascinating subject ... reads like a novel ... Reading between the lines one is constantly struck with the realization that the men and women of Stead's generation, especially those caught up in the various theaters of war, were tested and tempered by challenges almost unimaginable to persons coming of age in contemporary North America and Europe ... the human drama of life and combat in these cockleshells is a rich and endlessly engaging subject providing us with valuable insights into the workings of the human spirit in extreme adversity.

The American Neptune

Stead's memoir is low-key with flashes of humour ... His operations, fought from a tiny platform that was indeed a leaf upon the sea, were no less important than the grand fleet designs that eventually secured victory.

The Vancouver Sun