PublishedHarper Collins, September 2018 |
ISBN9781460755648 |
FormatSoftcover, 256 pages |
Dimensions23.5cm × 15.4cm × 2cm |
The little boat with a big past: the fight to save one of the most important artefacts of Australian military history.
For many years, thousands of people have walked past an unassuming black timber fishing boat bobbing in the water down at the wharves of Sydney's Darling Harbour. But appearances can be deceptive. This humble little trawler played a key role in one of World War II's most audacious and successful commando raids. In September 1943, fourteen young Z special operatives sailed the small fishing boat from Australia to Japanese-occupied Singapore. Battling deadly tides, fierce storms, hostile ships and detection from the air, this little ship and its courageous young crew made it to the heart of the enemy stronghold to make a daring raid that destroyed 30,000 tonnes of enemy shipping. Operation Jaywick still rates as one of the greatest Special Forces operations of all time.
But its story doesn't end there. Neglected and left to rot for years, it has taken a mighty and concerted effort by a dedicated few to save and restore the little ship with a big past and display it as a permanent memorial to Australian Special Forces.
The Mighty Krait is a compelling, uplifting and unforgettable story of Australian military history - and the importance of reminding all Australians of the courage and service of our armed forces.
Bill is one of the founders of Boffins and has been involved in selecting the books we stock since our beginning in 1989. His favourite reading is history, with psychology, current affairs, and business books coming close behind. His hobbies are reading, food, reading, drinking, reading, and sleeping.
Ian McPhedran is the author of The Amazing SAS and other books, and he knows a lot about special forces. His new book centres on the little Japanese-built fishing trawler called the Krait that was at the centre of one of WW2’s most audacious and successful Allied commando raids. In 1943 she carried 14 operatives from the top-secret “Z” Special Unit from Australia to Japanese occupied Singapore and back again. While there, they destroyed 30,00 tonnes of enemy shipping. In August 1945 The Krait, in the company of HMAS Bundaberg, attended the formal surrender of the Japanese forces to General Blamey at Ambon – a fitting tribute. After the war the Krait was used by smugglers, and then as a work boat, and now it’s in the hands of the Australian War Memorial. A great story of a feisty little boat and lots of derring do.
