Nuair a bha Ruaraidh G Macilleathain a’ fàs suas ann an Glaschu anns na seasgadan, chanadh a mhàthair ris gach 31 Dùbhlachd, ‘Chaidh Daibhidh a chall air na Russian Convoys’ – dìreach na faclan sin. B’ e co-ogha dha mhàthair a bha ann an Daibhidh. Bha e 22 bliadhna a dh’aois.
B’ e an aon fhiosrachadh a bha aig an teaghlach gun deach an soitheach aig Daibhidh, HMS Achates, fodha ann am Muir Bharents, 31 Dùbhlachd, 1942. Cha d’ fhuair iad a-mach a-riamh dè thachair dhan a’ bhalach òg à Bhatarnais san Eilean Sgitheanach. An deach a bhàthadh? An deach a mharbhadh le slige Ghearmailteach? Ach, a-nis, an dèidh rannsachadh agus thurchartasan iongantach, gabhaidh an sgeulachd aig Daibhidh innse.
Tha an leabhar seo ag innse ann an doimhneachd mu na cunnartan agus mun chruadal a dh’fhuiling seòladairean nan conbhoidhean dhan Ruis. Agus, mun ghaisgeachd a bha ri fhaicinn ann am Blàr Muir Bharents, a’ mhadainn ud ann an 1942.
Cha Till Mise conveys a heartfelt story about the Russian convoys and the heroes who sailed on them – with particular attention on HMS Achates.
Ruaraidh G Macilleathain has gathered material to give a detailed and illuminating analysis of the Russian Convoys. He tells of the commodores who came out of retirement, risking their lives to navigate convoys to Murmansk and Archangel; the doctors who diced with death, jumping from one ship to another in rough seas to administer crucial medical aid; the astonishing behaviour of Adolf Hitler belittling his Kriegsmarine admirals and captains, making them reticent to engage with the Royal Navy in December 1942; the rescue ships which pulled freezing survivors from the ice-cold Arctic waters. Cha Till Mise shares the story of those who, despite their fears, sailed in these convoys.