Last Post for the Winds of Freedom
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The Spanish invaded by land while the French hit the Rock with a continuous bombardment from the sea, reducing the town and harbour defences to rubble. Those who could walk -fled. The military hospital staff were rounded up, and then frog-marched across the empty void of no man’s land into La Linea to disappear from view. The local militia caring little for the patients in the tiny wards while an arrogant Colonel shrugged his shoulders with a dismissive gesture as many of the patients were dumped out in the open. They trashed the place concentrating on setting up a command centre with the heavily armed soldiery manning every window and doorway, peering out from behind piles of sandbags. The British held on much to the growing ire of the invading forces who hated them with an intense fervour buried in history. Only the insistence of a short wiry Major prevented immediate harm to the patients when one of the militiamen began ripping the life-support from a casualty swathed in bandages. Startled and ashamed the militiaman replaced the connections, but the damage was done. The Major paused for a second shaking his head, pursing his lips in dismay when he saw that the youth lying before him was not much older than his own son.
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About the Book
In 'Last Post For The Winds of Freedom', the story tells how former members of the Navy, Chip Woodingdean and Fred Newman, become involved in a civil war at home that escalates into a war of independence against the European Republic. Their company 'Golden Arrow Marine' and its single asset, the Privateer, which they jointly own carries cargoes at high speed between Britain and the Channel ports. They witness an unprovoked attack upon two naval vessels in the Thames estuary and pick up the survivors knowing full well that there is not a national agency within a hundred miles capable making a rescue. Later, Chip and Fred survive the transition from being a North Sea trading enterprise into a well armed naval transport fitted with the latest warfare technology, and become embroiled in the wider implications of a rebellion at home. Narrowly escaping arrest and the impounding of their vessel at Portsmouth they receive orders to undertake a mission of the utmost secrecy. While at the same time, the Chiefs of Staff face the unenviable burden of re-building the nation's defences from scratch, with the onset of a conflict that bears all the hallmarks of becoming a bitter war of independence.
About the Author
David de l'Avern was educated at Streatham Grammar and at Feldon. Sometime later he gained a degree in engineering and business management at the University of Sussex. Having a liking for the English language as well as for all sorts of adventure stories, he quickly read many books all about the sea and flying. After a career spanning 15 years at sea he later became a pilot. His interests are aviation, listening to jazz, science fiction, cats, computers, and flying model helicopters -because the real things scared him half to death during missions. He lectures in mathematics and occasionally in other things.