by Dudley Pope
Watts embraced the bulky container and without another word lurched with it into the old entrance of the Citadel.
An ancient guard on the door saluted him but held up a hand to bar Ned. ‘Pass, sir?’ From the tone of his voice and the way he eyed what was obviously a drunken fisherman, he knew no pass would be forthcoming.
Watts, realizing that Ned was not behind him, turned and shouted: ‘It’s Commander Yorke, if you look closely.’
Just as Ned felt the cold mosaic floor reminding him that he had left his boots in the control room of the U-boat, the attendant peered closely. ‘So it is. Grown a full set, eh sir?’
‘Yes,’ Ned said. ‘So embarrassing growing it while one’s in London.’
Ned followed Captain Watts down to the ASIU, the container sounding like a damp tom-tom as it bumped at corners, and soon they were marching into Captain Watts’ office, where an excited Joan hugged and kissed him and then reeled back.
‘Darling Ned – Commander Yorke, if you wish – have your best friends never told you?’
‘No fresh water in a submarine. Jemmy sends his love.’
‘Ned – you did it? She whispered, moving over to lock the door.
‘Yes. Sorry about the smell – German herring juice.’
‘Bugger it, Joan, give me a knife,’ growled Watts, crouched over the cask. ‘These fools have tied Boy Scouts’ knots!’
‘Only scissors.’
‘In the Admiralty and only a pair of scissors!’ Watts wailed. ‘When I was a youngster every matelot wore a knife.’
‘They were just whittling the first wheel about that time, weren’t they, sir?’ she asked sweetly.
Captain Watts took a deep breath. ‘Tell me, Ned, what’s in here?’
Ned grinned cheerfully. ‘One Mark III Enigma, which was in full working order when bagged but may have been damaged in transit; one U-boat log covering the whole of her last voyage; one U-boat’s wireless log, with all the entries up to yesterday…’
Watts’ face fell. ‘So you didn’t get –’
‘…and one Triton manual,’ Ned added.
Watts roared like a Viking, shook Ned’s hand fiercely, gave Joan a noisy slap on the bottom, and then collapsed in his chair. ‘Damnation – here I have all the riches of the world, but I can’t get at ’em because Joan’s too lazy to find scissors, or a knife, or – hell, even a sharp stone.’
Ned was so weary he said: ‘While you’re going through all this, perhaps I could have a zizz, sir?’
Watts slapped his own head with annoyance. ‘Of course, of course. And the bloody C-in-C Portsmouth’s car and outriders are still waiting outside. Tell ’em to drive you to Palace Street. Then send ’em home to Portsmouth. Let’s empty this container, then you can take it with you. Makes a fearful pong.’
‘Well,’ Ned said lamely, ‘I think the boys would like to keep it as a souvenir.’
Watts raised his eyes to the ceiling. Ned suddenly said: ‘I haven’t got the key to the Palace Street house.’
‘Oh, there’s bound to be someone there,’ Watts said airily. ‘Or just kick in a panel of the door and we’ll send round a chippy to mend it in the morning.’
The Humber pulled up in Palace Street, and while the four motorcyclists revved their engines to stop the plugs oiling, Ned thanked the driver and Marine guard, waved to the motorcyclists, went to the door and rang the bell.
The door opened almost at once and an angry Clare, looking past him into the street, said: ‘What’s all this noise?’
‘Sorry,’ he said and she stared up at him wide-eyed, and managed to murmur, ‘That beard!’ before she fell into his arms.
A week later, clean-shaven and in uniform, Ned sat at his desk in the Citadel. The room was strangely empty without Jemmy and the Croupier. Where was ULJ?
His uniform was newly pressed, his collar overstarched, his tie carefully tied because, with Captain Watts and the First Sea Lord, they were lunching at Number Ten Downing Street, and he was expected to tell the Premier (who had been abroad for several days, a fact which was still secret) the story of the cash register and cookery book.
And he was exhausted. Not tired, just physically exhausted. He had clung to Clare as though life was trying to tear them apart, although that was what death was trying to do. Yet exploding bombs added a hungry intensity to their love-making.
He took the latest U-boat sinking reports from his In-tray and put them squarely on the blotter. That had been a fascinating second visit to Bletchley Park yesterday: it was thoughtful of them to invite him down to watch them using the Enigma Mark III. It was a bizarre experience seeing the Enigma machine that Hazell and Keeler had put in kitbags and stuffed in a salted herring cask now plugged in at a Victorian mansion and clicking away, surrounded by half a dozen boffins who were as excited as punters reading the names of horses coming off a teleprinter and finding they’d all backed winners.
They had only one question to ask him (apart from demanding the complete story of how the U-boat was captured), and that was why the Enigma and the manual had smelled so strongly of herrings.
Ned felt completely flat. Part was a sexual surfeit and relaxing; but the other part was a combination of the sudden let-down of tension when the Sunderland had taken off with him on board, and the worry of what had happened afterwards. At that moment his telephone rang and a crisp voice he did not know asked: ‘Is that Commander Yorke?’
‘Yes, Yorke here.’
‘Is this a scrambler?’
‘Yes – you want me to switch?’ Without waiting for an answer Ned pushed over the lever and the voice said: ‘This is NOIC, Loch Eriboll. Wait, I have a call for you.’
What on earth did the naval officer in charge in about the northernmost loch in Scotland want to talk to him about?’
‘Ned? Jemmy here.’
‘Where the hell are you?’ Ned exclaimed.
‘Christ, up here among the stags and haggises. Loch Eriboll they call it. Has an easy entrance, though.’
Ned then remembered assuming that ULJ was going to the Clyde when Captain Watts had said ‘Scotland’ in answer to his question.
‘Is everything all right?’
‘Yep. They’ve taken away the German Engineer, just in case his mates turn rough. We’ve landed the rest of the prisoners. In fact we’re all relaxing. How’s Joan?’
‘When I saw her – all of ten minutes ago – she was fine.’
‘Missing me?’
‘She didn’t say so. After all, I’m here!’
‘You bastard! Well, is old volts, amps, ohms and Watts in yet? I’d better tell him we’re back.’
‘Yes,’ Ned said dryly, ‘he’ll probably be glad to hear. I know he was grateful for the cask of herrings.’
Series order & Synopses
Dates given are for first publication and (for Ramge series) year in which novel is set.
Ned Yorke Series
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
1. Buccaneer 1981
2. Admiral 1982
3. Galleon 1986
4. Corsair 1987
5. Convoy 1979
6. Decoy 1983
Ramage Series
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
1. Ramage 1796 1965
2. Ramage & the Drumbeat 1797 1968
3. Ramage & the Freebooters 1797 1969
4. Governor Ramage RN 1797 1973
5. Ramage's Prize 1798 1974
6. Ramage's Mutiny 1799 1977
7. Ramage & the Rebels 1800 1978
8. The Ramage Touch 1800 1979
9. Ramage's Signal 1800 1980
10. Ramage & the Guillotine 1801 1975
11. Ramage & the Renegades 1802 1981
12. Ramage's Devil 1803 1982
/>
13. Ramage's Trial 1803 1984
14. Ramage's Challenge 1803 1985
15. Ramage's Diamond 1804 1976
16. Ramage at Trafalgar 1805 1986
17. Ramage & the Saracens 1806 1988
18. Ramage & the Dido 1806 1989
Synopses (Fiction & non-fiction)
Published by House of Stratus
A. Ned Yorke Series
Buccaneer
It is the 1650's and Spain considers the Caribbean to be its own private sea. But England, Holland and France conspire to battle for freedom on the oceans set in days littered with the plunder of piracy. Ned Yorke, a loyal Royalist living in Barbados has a small vessel and devoted crew and together they sail, hunted by Roundheads and Spaniards, determined to pay whatever the price for freedom from tyranny. What transpires is a colourful, dramatic retelling of historical events surrounding the capture of Jamaica and the infamous raid on Santiago.
Admiral
Charles II returns from exile bringing with him unease to the Spanish Main. In this vivid description of seventeenth-century buccaneers, Ned Yorke, the leader and hero of the swashbuckling band are depended upon for the defence of Jamaica, fighting with captured Spanish guns. Daring raids on the Spanish seem inevitable, as Yorke sets out on the high seas to distant adventures on behalf of the King and his own honour.
Galleon
As England falls under a blanket of peace with the restoration of Charles II, in distant Jamaica all is not well. Though there is peace with Spain, there is No Peace Beyond the Line. It seems that the West Indies have become the private estate of the King of Spain. But Ned Yorke, Admiral of the Brethren, leader of the Buccaneers will not kowtow to the new Governor in Jamaica who is bent on weakening the Island’s defences and destroying its currency. Ned Yorke and his Buccaneers must not remain idle. The third in a series set in the Caribbean, Dudley Pope reveals a masterful plot of subtle, seafaring lore wound around the tense excitement of adventure on the high seas.
Corsair
In the 1660's Jamaica was an uneasy island, occupied by Spain but settled by the English and French. When Admiral of the Brethren, Ned Yorke, a brave, loyal Buccaneer, learns that Spain is mounting a Caribbean fleet perhaps to protect the treasures of Spanish ships, or carry an army to Jamaica, he vows to find out the truth. Yorke’s audacious attacks on Spanish camps reveal all and the Buccaneers must fight a bloody, desperate battle to try and hinder them.
Convoy
A deadly game of cat and mouse unravels its way out of this spine tingling war story as Lieutenant Yorke must find an answer to one vital question: how are German U-Boats sinking merchant ships from inside the convoys? In this gripping saga of heroism and intrigue, Yorke discovers the fate of one entire convoy. Only his wit and daring can lead to its survival and that of himself.
Decoy
It is February 1942 and the war in the Atlantic looks grim for the Allied convoys. The ‘Great Blackout’ has started, leaving the spy centre of Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire at a loss as to what the Nazis are planning. U-boat Command has changed the Hydra cipher. The Enigma cannot be broken. Cipher experts can no longer eavesdrop on Nazi command, which leaves convoys open for attack by packs of marauding Nazi submarines. Winning the Battle of the Atlantic will surely give Hitler a final victory. And who can stop him?
B. Ramage Series
Ramage
1796 – sea battles raging and an attack from the French has left third-lieutenant Ramage the sole officer in charge of his frigate. With orders from Nelson to be obeyed and a daring mission to be completed, young Nicholas Ramage must rise to the challenge. Despite the grave adversity of his situation, Ramage embarks upon an intrepid rescue with quite unforeseen consequences. This thrilling adventure is the first in Dudley Pope’s popular and much-loved series.
Ramage & the Drumbeat
Ramage and the Drumbeat takes the brave Lord Ramage to the new world where he becomes embroiled in a series of electrifying sea battles and hazardous political shenanigans. He must once again prove his mettle as he undergoes the merciless enemy attacks. Fighting alongside Lord Nelson, this is Ramage at his best.
Ramage & the Freebooters
Lieutenant Lord Ramage is given command of the Triton brig and ordered to deliver three sealed dispatches to admirals in the Caribbean. Unfortunately, he is also given command of a mutinous crew that he must overcome if he is to deliver the dispatches and prevent himself from being made a convenient scapegoat…
Governor Ramage RN
Lieutenant Lord Ramage, expert seafarer and adventurer, undertakes to escort a convoy across the Caribbean. This seemingly routine task leads him into a series of dramatic and terrifying encounters. Lord Ramage is quick to learn that the enemy attacks from all angles and he must keep his wits about him in order to survive. Fast and thrilling, this is another highly-charged adventure from the masterly Dudley Pope.
Ramage's Prize
Lord Ramage returns for another highly-charged and thrilling adventure at sea. Instructed with the task of discovering why His Majesty’s dispatches keep unaccountably disappearing, Ramage finds himself involved in a situation far beyond his expectations. Based on true events, Ramage’s Prize is another gripping story from Dudley Pope.
Ramage's Mutiny
Mutiny and rebellion are rife on board a British ship in the Caribbean. A young British naval officer is chosen to rescue the ship from its Spanish captors — yet this means almost certain death. Lord Ramage soon learns that for his mission to succeed — and for him to stay alive — he must resort to almost any means. Will his skill prove a match for the strength of the Spanish attack?
Ramage & the Rebels
On a routine patrol, Ramage and his ship 'Calypso' make an horrific discovery. Caught in the process of taking a British ship, a ruthless French privateer has murdered the passengers and crew. Ramage and his men decide to track him down and set out to find his whereabouts in the Spanish Main.
The Ramage Touch
Ramage Touch finds the ever-popular Lord Ramage in the Mediterranean with another daring mission to undertake. He soon makes a shocking discovery which dramatically transforms the nature of the task at hand. With the nearest English vessel a thousand miles away, Ramage must embark upon a truly perilous and life-threatening course of action. With everything stacked against him, he has only one chance to succeed…
Ramage's Signal
With Bonaparte Napoleon at the height of his powers, the Mediterranean can be safely considered exclusive French territory. So when Captain Ramage and his crew are sent alone into Mediterranean waters, they can expect to be outnumbered. But it is the French who discover they have an enemy they had not bargained for…
Ramage & the Guillotine
As France recovers from her bloody Revolution, Napoleon is amassing his armies for the Great Invasion. News in England is sketchy and the Navy must prepare to defend the land from foreign attack. Lieutenant Ramage is chosen to travel to France and embark upon the perilous quest of spying on the great Napoleon. His mission is to determine the strength of the French troops – but his discovery will mean the guillotine!
Ramage & the Renegades
The Treaty of Amiens is signed and Nelson's navy languishes in port. Ramage is at home on half pay and suspects Napoleon will yet break the terms of the Treaty. He is then given secret Admiralty orders to survey a small island off the coast of Brazil. He sails in Calypso, but then encounters more danger than in previous exploits.
Ramage's Devil
amage is suddenly caught behind enemy lines when on honeymoon in France, as the Peace of Amien unexpectedly ends. The story chronicles his escape and dashing adventures in true Ramage style, as an enemy ship is captured and a sub-plot develops involving a pursuit to the prison colony on Devil's Island.
Ramage's Diamond
In 1804, Ramage is newly promoted to be the youngest Captain in the Royal Navy and is despatched to blockade the French in Martinique. The passage pro
ves difficult; a slovenly crew under the command of a now incompetent drunk having to be overcome so as to realise the objective. Diamond Rock is fortified and a French convoy dealt with as this gripping adventure proceeds, emulating the real life exploits of Commodore Samuel Hood RN.
Ramage at Trafalgar
Lord Ramage returns to fight in the most famous of Britain's sea battles. Summoned by Admiral Nelson himself, Ramage is sent to join the British fleet off Cadiz where the largest battle in naval history is about to take place. Finding himself in the front line of battle, Lord Ramage must fight to save his own life as well as for his country. The result is a thrilling, hair-raising adventure from one of our best-loved naval writers.
Ramage & the Saracens
When Ramage and the frigate Calypso are ordered to Naples, he does not expect to meet with any trouble in the Mediterranean, as Trafalgar has been won and a time of peace should prevail. However, two French ships of the line are then sighted. Moreover, upon arrival in Naples, Ramage fully expects to be put onto convoy duty, escorting merchantmen. Unexpectedly, he is given orders to set sail for Sicily where he has deal with pirates, the Saraceni, who have been terrorizing fishing ports.
Ramage & the Dido
In recognition of his great achievements at sea, their Lordships of the Admiralty have made Lord Nicholas Ramage captain of a ship of the line – the youngest man to be so honoured since Nelson himself. And so Ramage sets sail on the Dido, a formidable fighting weapon and the most prized war machine of the British Navy. But sooner than expected, Ramage is called upon to test the Dido to the full as his path to the Caribbean is beset with troubles. Thrilling and exhilarating, Ramage and the Dido is a fitting conclusion to Lord Ramage’s adventures at sea.
