Tradesmen:
Hellespont
The Dardanelles, 1915: Allied battleships lie rusting on the seabed, their grand assault repelled by the Ottoman Empire's iron grip and treacherous minefields, leaving Gallipoli a bloody stalemate.
But beneath the waves, a handful of daring submariners prepare for a desperate gamble, diving into the enemy's lair to break the deadlock and ignite a flicker of hope in the heart of a failing campaign.
"From the thunder of naval guns to the chilling silence of the deep, Tradesmen Hellespont is a thrilling adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last dive."
Goodreads
"A gripping tale of underwater daring and desperate gambles, Tradesmen breathes life into the forgotten heroes who dared to challenge the Ottoman Empire's stranglehold on the Dardanelles."
The times
"Tradesmen: Hellespont plunges you into the claustrophobic depths of wartime submarines, where one wrong move means a watery grave, and the fate of a campaign rests on a whisper of courage."
Naval Review
1915.
The Dardanelles.
A graveyard of shattered dreams and sunken battleships.For months, the might of the Allied navies has crashed against the unyielding defenses of the Ottoman Empire, each assault met with a storm of fire and a forest of deadly mines. Gallipoli bleeds, a brutal stalemate where courage withers under the relentless sun and the sting of defeat.Hope is a ghost, whispering of a swift victory that never comes. The Grand Fleet, once so confident, now limps back to port, battered and broken. The generals bicker, the politicians squabble, and the men on the beaches dig deeper into their trenches, facing a grim winter and the gnawing certainty of failure.The Dardanelles, the gateway to Constantinople, remains firmly closed, a defiant symbol of Ottoman resistance.But beneath the churning waves, a new breed of warrior stirs. A handful of daring submariners, piloting their fragile iron coffins, are preparing to gamble everything on a desperate mission.They will dive into the heart of the enemy's lair, navigating treacherous currents, dodging deadly mines, and facing the ever-present threat of a watery grave.Their mission: to break the deadlock, to strike at the enemy's heart, and to resurrect the flickering flame of hope.This is their story.This is the story of the tradesmen who dared to defy the odds and change the course of history.
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About the author
Malcolm Avery
Malcolm served for over 32 years in the Royal Navy. Rising through the ranks to command three submarines. After a distinguished career, he was awarded an OBE and retired at the rank of Commodore.His lived experience and deep understanding of submarine warfare, strategy, and the challenges faced by submariners in wartime informs his writing. Tradesmen: Hellespont is his debut novel.
"The Trade"
By Rudyard Kipling
1914-18
They bear, in place of classic names,
Letters and numbers on their skin.
They play their grisly blindfold games
In little boxes made of tin.
Sometimes they stalk the Zeppelin,
Sometimes they learn where mines are laid,
Or where the Baltic ice is thin.
That is the custom of "The Trade."Few prize-courts sit upon their claims.
They seldom tow their targets in.
They follow certain secret aims
Down under, far from strife or din.
When they are ready to begin
No flag is flown, no fuss is made
More than the shearing of a pin.
That is the custom of "The Trade."The Scout's quadruple funnel flames
A mark from Sweden to the Swin,
The Cruiser's thund'rous screw proclaims
Her comings out and goings in:
But only whiffs of paraffin
Or creamy rings that fizz and fade
Show where the one-eyed Death has been.
That is the custom of "The Trade."Their feats, their fortunes and their fames
Are hidden from their nearest kin;
No eager public backs or blames,
No journal prints the yarn they spin
(The Censor would not let it in! )
When they return from run or raid.
Unheard they work, unseen they win.
That is the custom of "The Trade."
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