History Briefs: Captain John Walker RN - Britain's Greatest Fighting Naval Commander since Nelson
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- Опубликовано: 11 май 2023
- The Royal Navy's Captain John Walker was the most successful anti-submarine commander of the Second World War. By 1939 he had repeatedly been passed over for promotion having specialised in the unfashionable art of submarine hunting. However with the U-boat peril in the Atlantic Ocean, his skills came to the fore. He provided much of the template for anti-submarine warfare during the war which together with his bravery and determination would result in him sinking more U-boats than any other commander during the War.
This is the story of his remarkable exploits which have drawn comparisons with some of the greatest naval commanders of all time and he has frequently been described as Britain's greatest fighting naval commander since Horatio Nelson.
This video forms part of the History Briefs series from "Great Stories from the Past" which is designed to provide a quick yet reasonably detailed overview of famous people and renowned events in history.
Keep up to date with the latest news and information from Great Stories from the Past by visiting us on twitter:
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What an amazing man. He lived two lives and died at 48 beloved of his nation. Respect Sir John. Australia
Between 2013-15 I worked in "Walker House", Exchange Flags Liverpool. In the basement of this building is the Western Approaches Museum from where the Battle of the Atlantic was fought. Opposite "Walker House" is "Horton House"; so glad to see the legacy of both men are remembered in the city.
Like Nelson, a man who learned his job thoroughly with many of his own ideas! "General Chase" must be the most exciting words to a naval man!!
👍👍👍
I read about this man many years ago and have never forgotten the story. Literally worked himself to death and saved lord knows how many thousands of allied lives in turning the tables on the U Boats.
Totally agree. Could not have put it better myself!
It was because of men like him that we won the war. Material and weapons galore could help win but it took brave men and women like Walker to take it to the enemy and WIN! Thku for a wonderful presentation.
Thanks for your comments
With superb commanders such as J Walker RN this surely was their finest hour
Interestingly, when the Royal Navy eventually got around to promoting him to the rank of Captain, they back-dated his promotion by a number of years so he would have leapt up the seniority rankings. Had he not died when he did, he appears to have had swift promotion to Commodore especially as this was effectively the job that he was doing. He would also have become more of a national hero whereas his feats have somewhat gone below the radar.
@@GreatStoriesNow933 Not to the older generations of Liverpool such as my grand parents who always remembered Johnnie Walker with great reverence and esteem, especially as a good proportion of their menfolk served in the R.N and an equal number in the Merchant Marine.....a LOT of whom were on the very convoys he protected.
@@GreatStoriesNow933 He was only 47 when he died, so potentially had another 20 years or so in the service had the stroke not taken him, so he would probably have made Admiral.
My mother worked at the Naval Hospital throughout the War. Captain Walker was an incredible hero for everyone that worked there. He was given benzedrine tablets to keep him awake during the crossings and on his return to Liverpool would have to go into hospital to recover. They would have to give him sleeping tablets to get some rest.
Wow! I think that explains his untimely death. Thanks for your contribution.
@@GreatStoriesNow933... such drug use was far more common than most realize.
After awhile though you start getting stupid and punch drunk... time to sleep .
Fantastic. Was that Seafield House ?
At last he is getting a little bit of the recognition he deserves, had he been American or German we all would have known about him.
Had he not died at the time and had he survived the war, it is likely that he would have achieved much greater recognition. There is an interesting contribution in the TV Series, The World at War (Ep 10, Wolf Pack) made by Captain Gilbert Roberts RN, a staff officer in Western Approaches at the time, who states that it was Captain Walker who changed the way that convoy escorts operated. It is as if a tear wells up on his eyes when he mentions the name of Captain Walker! Clearly he was highly thought of within Western Approaches.
Thanks for your contribution.
@@GreatStoriesNow933 I remember watching that, yes, he was full of emotion, and I seem to recall the officer had a hatred of the Germans whom he held responsible for Captain Walkers death, and in my above comment I was really referring to how Hollywood would have made him famous had he been American and any successful Germans are well known , but rarely British success.
Thank you for highlighting this incredible British warrior, I saw an American comment on another RUclips video saying “ the British haven’t had anyone since Nelson who has done anything of note” I of course told him about Captain Walker!
I read the book "Walker RN" when I was at school 50 years. A rollicking good read as I recall. He was not entirely without recognition.
@@robertsopinski7971 I bet if you asked anyone in the street in the last 40 years who Captain Walker was , or who Audie Merphy or Michael Whittmann was, I’m sure Captain Walker would have been the least remembered name, unfortunately.
@Hi Time I think a movie of his naval career, specialising on his WW2 exploits would make a great movie. I wonder who would play him? Possibly James Cromwell? He did play the D of E recently.
What a hero, his wife suffered greatly though, losing a son and then her husband so young 🙏🏻
Very sad.
Sad times, very sad times, and dark, spiritually dark, which darkness lasted for some years after.
@@gailbirchall2163... let's not forget how badly Britain suffered from the first great debate. Many of her young men never went home.
@@philgiglio7922 True, and Kitchener the vile piece he was, that debacle afterwards, which saw Churchill at his finest in seeking to have sailors sacrifice themselves by ramming sea mines. Had not the top brass stopped the man he would have had his way.
@@gailbirchall2163 YOUR COMMENT IS SO RAMBLING, DISCONNECTED AND UTTERLY INCOMPREHENSIBLE THAT IT GIVES THE IMPRESSION THAT IT LACKS ANY DEGREE OF GOOD SENSE, UNDERSTANDING AND REALISTIC GRASP OF THE FACTS OF THE ISSUES/MATTERS INVOLVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
What an amazing man. A true British hero. Thank you for the video.
Glad you enjoyed it.
I'm betting the German I boat crews were getting nervous as crews didn't report back.
The hedge hog wa genious
Having survived a massive stroke more than likely he wouldn't have made another sail. Which is a sad thing it's frustrating to see others do what I used to
Stood many times and looked at his statue in Liverpool. Time for a revisit soon. Thanks "Sir" Johnny Walker.
And thanks for your comments. Hope you enjoyed the video.
An amazing man who gave it everything he had....
A Hero...
Bless Him.....
👍
What a hero Walker was, intelligent, patriotic and indefatigable, he was a major factor in defeating the Nazis and Britains survival of WW2. My father, George Power was an asdic operator during the Battle of the Atlantic, serving on convoy protection in destroyers and corvettes. He also took part in the Arctic convoys to Russia. Weather conditions were atrocious and he was torpedoed twice, ending up in freezing seas. He spoke highly of Walker, and Sir Max Horton, both stationed at Liverpool, protecting Britains trade. Walker was popular among his men, and valued their lives. He died of exhaustion, from too many hours on a freezing open bridge and going without sleep for days on end. A true British hero to the end.
Thanks do much for your comments. I think you describe him admirably.
Funnily enough, my Dad also served in the convoy escorts. He was a telegraphic coder in EG5 out of Belfast. He was on the Russian convoy and in the battle around Normandy!
He too spoke Highly about Johnny Walker!
My father too, Donald Morris Ellis was on the deck operating Sonar tracking U boats in the Artic convoys. Yes Walker died of exhaustion.
Ive literally just educated some arrogant Russian.. about the arc angle.. my great uncle lost his closest friend due to him freezing to death right beside him.. they were that cold they couldn't even talk to each other.. we genuinely couldn't afford to go and help.. but we Did. Apitamises us
Destroyers, corvettes and sloops, most people have no idea of just what it was like on these ships in rough seas. My father in law often spoke of his time on sub chasers during ww2 as they would climb up a wave and then the nose would then drop down into the trough and as it did The propeller would come out of the water and without any resistance started spinning faster making the ship vibrate violently before the ship hit the next wave and started climbing up and the propeller would bite and the ship would twist in the water with the torque only for the propeller to come back out of the water as it passed the crest and so on…… hour after hour even when the crew were trying to sleep. Imagine having to endure this and then go into battle . Some job eh?
Great presentation. Thank you.
At 14 years of age as a Sea cadet with Kirkby unit , I had the great honour of not only learning of Captain Walker, but also taking part in a parade with the CWOBA (Captain Walkers Old Boys Association) in Bootle.
A truly humbling experience mixing with so many of those brave heroic men . Truly Their Name liveth forevermore.
🇬🇧
My Uncle James McParland served on HMS Kite (Black swan class sloop)in which Johnnie Walker commanded but unfortunately was sunk off Greenland in which there was only 9 survivors ( my uncle was not one of them)
HMS Kite was one of the six sloops that formed the 2nd Escort Support Group under Captain Walker which undertook the famous six U-boats in one patrol that we feature in the video with actual footage of their return to Liverpool to great applause. Your Uncle was therefore part of a real game-changing patrol.
@@GreatStoriesNow933 Thank you for posting this this means a lot because my family in Dublin still remember him.
Watching this and reading comments like yours is priceless. It makes you go all funny inside with pride, (my dad was on the covoys). I find, especially when you've boys of your own even older and you just can't see them doing anything like what their grandad did. Resect to all our brave forbears.
I would recommend the book "Walker RN" which is an excellent biography of this extraordinary Naval Officer.
The photos here are all in that excellent book . . .
Wasn't he just
Read the book... First class read.
@@EllieMaes-Grandad aàg⁰
Thanks for the info!I will buy it!What an officer?Best regards from Spain.
With all the documentaries made about D-Day, this one is the first that I know of that addresses the 'U-Boat" factor of the Normandy landings -- spelling out the effective tactics of a remarkable man whose intense focus and growing experience held the enemy submarine force at bay while the Allied invasion was at it's most vulnerable. More than a Hero of his time, Capt. John Walker, RN remains a Hero for ALL TIME!
Yes, I wondered too, why haven't all the other D-Day programs and books mentioned this man and his crews. It's as if they did such a good job, no one noticed them, which also happens in other situations.
The perceived view is that the U-boat threat had been overcome by the time of D-Day. However, if Karl Dönitz was able to send 75 U-boats to attack the allied invasion fleet, this view cannot be correct. Additionally, German E-Boats had attacked allied troops practicing landings on Slapton Sands only a few months before so the Kriegsmarine was still a potential threat.
By 1944, the U-Boats had been beaten as a convoy raiding force. I had never heard an account that Adm. Doenitz had launched such an offensive at the Normandy landings (not that I'm surprised. He was pretty sharp). Quite a ... sea ... story. I think his knighthood should have been conferred posthumously regardless of the rules. He had already earned it. The only thing missing was the investiture. I'm sure the stress got him but I wonder also (a) how much he smoked and (b) how little he may have either listened to or even attended his doctor(s). In the picture of him with the young woman (daughter?) He looks to me significantly older than 48. Excellent video. Thank you.
@@henrivanbemmel When I saw that picture of him with the woman, I had the same reaction. He looked more in his 60's. And yea, we were not told if he was a smoker or if he had health problems before he took on the job of sub hunting. But regardless...he sacrificed himself and saved thousands & thousands of lives. A true hero..!!
my primary school teacher was a merchant sailor who went on convoys to Murmansk he told lots of stories.There was a book by or about Walker in the school library he was a beast!
It's not the rings on the sleeves that count towards performance, but the intelligence and leadership who prove their fighting skills when faced with challenges. Captain Johnny Walker was such one whose story demonstrated this so vividly.
A good point well made. Thanks.
@Charles Lavers Spot on.
Yes! Remember too, that it is an unfortunate fact that sometimes people who are completely useless in their current job are "promoted out" of that position into one where they can do less damage!! 👍
Correct, so correct. It generally turns out that the best of the best are those who have no rings on their sleeves
so true the man for that moment in which the whole world depended. History could have been so different but for Capt Walker and the brave men who battled the cruel sea.
Cometh the hour,cometh the man. As a Liverpudlian,Captain Frederic John Walker CB,DSO & 3 Bars has always been a hero to me. Thank you for taking the time to make this wonderful film.
Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed it
I find it amazing that there were two extraordinary men on that first convoy. Not only the worlds best u-boat hunter, Captain Fredrick "Johnny" Walker, but also the worlds best pilot aboard HMS Audacity, Captain Eric "Winkle" Brown.
You have just inspired me to have a good look at Captain Eric "Winkle" Brown. Thanks.
@@GreatStoriesNow933 Read his book "Wings On My Sleeve".
@@paulhicks6667 I could listen to him speak for hours. An absolutely amazing life.
Eric Brown was one of only two officers who were saved by a destroyer after HMS Audcity went down. He and the other officer were both pilots and he attributed their survival in the cold waters of the Bay of Biscay to their wearing of their Mae West's. The other some 26 or so had come together as a group and had tied themselves together with bits of string etc. unfortunately those others who were not pilots succumbed to the cold water and drowned. Eric Brown described having to cut them off one by one until he and the other pilot were left to be rescued. I am not saying others from Audacity were not saved but just that of nearly 30 crew mates who had come together in the water only two of them survived. And it's certainly good for Britain that he'd did, given what he went on to achieve during WW2 and his glittering career as a test pilot up to and including testing the Blackburn Buccaneer for the Royal Navy. Incidentally, he was originally a young RAF pilot prior to transferring to the Fleet Air Arm due to the Navy's need for pilots after an aircraft carrier was sunk west of Scotland with the loss of all its pilots. I'd really advise anyone to get his book " Wings on My Sleeve" you can still get it on Amazon. I bought mine last year, and he mentions Captain Walker in his book.
Tragic that such a really superb officer drove himself to exhaustion and death in the cause of freedom it's a pity he could not receive the knighthood pothsumously RIP Captain F Walker
What a remarkable man. Thank you for this outstanding video.
A hand salute from Colorado, USA.
Thanks for your comments
A very good film about a person I had never heard of. My father served on an ex-Norwiegian tanker sunk in the Battle of the Atlantic. He was one of a few survivors. He almost never talked about his war. This film has made me want to find out more..Thank you
It s amazing that Britain keeps producing such men as Johnnie Walker. Proud to be British, the son of a WW2 Battle of Britain mechanic.
Xcellent documentary on this heroic and gifted warrior.
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it. I Hope we can bring you plenty more.
My father served on HMS Torbay during the war and (knowing a thing or 2 about submarine warfare) told me many years ago that, in his opinion, Capt Walker and his tactics, played a massive part in enabling victory in Europe.
A remarkable man who we owe a great debt of gratitude to.
👍
It's about time some one did a program about this great man
That's what we thought! Thanks for watching.
When visiting Liverpool in 2016 my Mum's hometown ( I'm from South Australia) I visited this great Naval officer's statue on the bank of the Mersey looking out towards the Western Approaches ( also visited the museum).
My Granddad worked for a shipping company and his office was on the docks and he told me many years ago ( he died in 1963) of the Naval vessels returning to port playing "A hunting we will go".
A truly great Englishman whose name should be spoken of in the same manner as Nelson and Drake.
Lest we forget
Representatives of the Royal Navy and US Navy will be in Liverpool at the end of May for commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic - BOA 80. Captain Walker will be uppermost in their minds. I know the story well but still his story brings tears to my eyes - tears of pride, tears of sadness. Thank you for this timely production.
Thanks for your comments and thanks for letting us know about BOA 80.
Hi Lester, greetings from a fellow course member of the Junior Supply Officers Course January 1973 at Chatham. Seems a long time ago now! Thanks for letting people know about BoA Anniversary.
@@iainstewart9844 Hi Iain. A long time ago indeed - fifty years ago this month we were joining our new ships, for me HMS Bulwark, where I was to serve as a Midshipman undertaking supply sea training, then take over from fellow course member, the late Tony Guyatt, as Assistant Secretary, leaving the ship in Aug 1975 as a Lieutenant, with a new appointment as Secretary to Commodore (Amphibious Warfare). What a happy few years I had in the world of amphibiosity! I have just looked at the course photograph and was able to identify you straight away! I might well have gone to Liverpool for BOA 80 but instead I will be at the San Carlos Dinner in Plymouth. I trust you are well. I am all right except for being 72, balding, fat, ugly and the rest ...
@@lestermay5878 Thank you for replying. I had not heard about Tony, he was a gentleman.
My Naval career took a shorter path that yours! In 1975, after 2 years as Sec in Diomede, both the Navy and I felt l should seek another source of income. I joined the RNR in 1977 and, over many years did my annual training at sea or ashore. The RNR S&S branch was disbanded in 1994 and l retrained in Forward Logistics Site operations. In 2002 l was recalled and spent an interesting year in various sandy places getting PMC to the right ship. Then I spent another year in Fleet HQ reviewing training for FLS operations and designing two new courses.
My last RNR job was setting up the Logistics for the anchored ships in the Traf 200 Fleet Review in 2005.
Now 71, bald, making the most of life in the mountains of SE Spain. My time is spent maintaining our house and researching the Royal Naval Division in WW1.
All the best wishes to you and yours. Iain
Fascinating and informative, thank you. My wife's grandad served with Captain Walker during the war including on HMS Starling. I remember reading in his log books that on 6th June 1944 he was somewhere off Cornwall. I wondered why they weren't escorting the invasion flotilla. Now I realise that they must have been screening the invasion fleet against U-boats.
I'm a fully grown man and no, these aren't tears in my eyes (I was cutting onions only yesterday) but he died of exhaustion? I can believe it and honour the man in my own quiet way. Fair winds Sir, God speed.....
I first came across Captain Walker in the book "Yankee RN " by Cdr AV Cherry. He gives an exciting account of his time serving with the Second Escort Group under Walker's command. Well worth finding a copy.
Brilliant suggestion. Thanks.
What a resilient people the Brits are. The saying, 'Not until you've walked in my shoes for a day' applies with Captain Johnny Walker. It pulled every ounce of being out of him to be the best. Unquestionably being the best at his trade fueled him even more.
Not the incredible medals. No.
For God and Country.
Great video guys!
Thanks
We owe so much to this man and the men under his command ! Thankyou to all involved in the making of this video !🇦🇺
A blue plaque to his memory exists in Plymouth beside the small street behind the Hoe where his early life was spent. A great and largely unknown Hero - not too much of an exaggeration to say that he was instrumental in winning the war for us......
Thank you for making and posting this very well produced video!
Thanks for your comments. As you are probably aware, Walker hailed from Plymouth being the son of a naval officer based there.
@@GreatStoriesNow933... that Blue plaque is equal to an Historic marker in the US
Liverpool also memorialized him with a statue in Pier Head. One of a number of memorials related to the Battle of the Atlantic.
Brilliant! Walker got a brief mention in the World At War - I think the episode was Wolfpack - but has rarely been given the credit he deserved in the 2WW history books.
Excellent video.
Captain Gilbert Roberts, a staff officer at Western Approaches, was the man who talks about Captain Walker in the TV series World at War. He clearly states that it was Walker's performance that changed the whole way that Convoy escorts operated in the Atlantic.
Walker is also mentioned in Alan Eastons "50 north", another great book about the Battle of the Atlantic, but from a Canadian point of view. Easton makes it quite clear what an emotional blow the loss of Walker was to all the men serving in the U-boat killing buisness. Btw I highly recommend the book.
An amazing and great performance. Nevertheless, the great ones like COMO Walker will never be duplicated. He played his game; it remains for us subsequent seamen to recognize that, learn from his example, and strive for a different greatness. This is how true leadership works.
Thanks for your contribution. Sound advice.
A remarkable and brave man. A shame he died so young.
👍
I read his biography 'Walker RN' by Terence Robertson, when aged 11, and was awed. I only recently discovered more about the Western Approaches Tactical Unit (who did analysis of Uboat tactics to predict other positions once partial information was gained)
Tragic for his wife to lose her son and then her husband in the war.
Sad ending to such a heroic story.
It was all too common. Don't know if the Brits had a blue/gold star system
@@philgiglio7922 As far as I'm aware there wasn't a UK equivalent to the blue/gold star system.
I thought I had a reasonable knowledge of the Atlantic Battle, I was mistaken. Thank you for well researched and well presented video.
Thanks for your comments. Glad you enjoyed the video.
Captain John Walker Royal Navy was undoubtedly the U-Boat hunting ace of WW2. However, I commend all should read 'A Game of Birds and Wolves - the secret game that won the war' by Simon Parkin. Those 'in the know' already knew this story and without the efforts and intellect of Captain Gilbert Roberts Royal Navy and his band of impressive Wrens - who's legacy live on to this day', John Walker would have been less successful and many more lives would have been lost to the cold waters of the North Atlantic and the longest battle of WW2 would have possibly been much longer and with possibly profound negative affects for the allied, democratic, cause. In addition to John Walker's exploits, ships and ships' companies, so the role of Gilbert Roberts and the Wrens of WATU located at Derby House Liverpool should be brought out of the shadows and given the recognition it deserves.
Thanks for this contribution. Captain Gilbert Roberts was featured in the World at War TV series where he pays a considerable tribute to John Walker.
Watching a docu drama series called War Gamers which is all about WATU. Excellent!!
When I was very young I read the book "Walker RN", so to see your channel telling his story was an absolute delight. Thank you so very much.
Thanks for watching . Hope you enjoyed it.
He did his duty, and gave everything fot his country. A true Great Britain.
A true hero my dad was a merchant seaman who always said his life is owed to a hero who turned the tide of the battle of alandtic
I cannot think of a much worse wartime job than being in the Merchant Navy crossing the Atlantic during the Second World War. Hats off to every one of them!
A valuable documentary about a modest hero who was an ornament to his profession.No doubt this Officer directly saved the Nation from the threat which Churchill feared the most.A dedicated family man he must be regarded as a gentleman who has always warranted the historic celebration which he has never received .
Captain John Walker was a true British hero a legend, and should forever be remembered as such.🇬🇧
Yes he was very good at what he does Tragically his son which who was in the Mediterranean his submarine was sunk Captain Walker like so many older officers something gave and it was his health and he had suffered a stroke and was buried at sea
👍
Freedom owes him an enormous debt of gratitude.
R.I.P. Captain Fredrick ‘Johnny’ Walker DSO and Bars.
What a man..
👍
An amazing man and amazing achievements. How many lives might have been lost without him.
Never before have I seen any reference to the U boat threat on D Day. Amazing man and a sad loss to this nation
My Grandfather was Mentioned in Despatches whilst serving with Walker - he never spoke of it we only found out after he died I would have loved to be able to ask him for stories he served on HMS Naiad and was sunk with her and then HMS Valiant at Durban before transferring to small ships
ADMIRALTY.
Whitehall.
June, 1944.
The KING has been graciously pleased to
approve the following awards:
For outstanding leadership, skill and devo tion to duty in H.M. Ships Starling, Wild
Goose and Wanderer on convoy escort duty
in the North Atlantic:
Mention in Despatches.
Captain Frederick John Walker, C.B., D.S.O.,
Royal Navy (Torquay).
Lieutenant - Commander David Edward
Gillespie Wemyss, D.S.O., D.S.C., Royal
Navy (Saltash).
Temporary Lieutenant John Evans,1
D.S.C.,
R.N.V.R. (Birmingham).
Temporary Lieutenant Leslie Charles
Humphrey Porter, D.S.C.,' R.N.V.R.
(Worthing).
Temporary Sub-Lieutenant Derek John Kidd,
D.S.C., R.N.V.R. (Croydon).
Mr. George Alan Franklin, Acting Gunner (T),
Royal Navy (Romford).
Acting Chief Engine Room Artificer John
George'Gillanders, C/MX.49191 (Chatham).
Chief-Stoker Walter John Banfield, C/K.6o698
(Bristol).
Petty Officer William Harry Kelly, D.S.M.,
D/SSX.235Q7 (Manchester).
Acting Stoker Petty Officer Gilbert Edworthy,
D/KX.86202 (St. Helen's).
Temporary Leading Stoker Albert Edward
Victor Pannell, C/KX. 103941 (London).
***Leading Steward David Moir Lang, C/LX.
23686 (Dumbarton). - My Grandfather
Able Seaman Leonard Alfred Holmes, C/JX.
219773 (Forest Gate).
Able Seaman John Thomas Williamson, D/ JX.
253622 (Wakefield).
Fabulous contribution. Thanks😀
A remarkable man, thanks so much for the effort you have put into telling his story
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
A truly exceptional and outstanding officer, something of whose story has at last appeared here, but whose story was told in the book "Walker RN".
He, literally, worked himself to death. Apparently, promotion to flag rank was also on the way, together with the command of a task force in the Pacific. tragically, all of this came too late to save his life.
A great man.
The flag rank would presumably have been Commodore. Effectively he was already doing the job of a flag officer but as a Captain.
@@GreatStoriesNow933 You may be right: I have no hard evidence, either way, but from the book (if I remember rightly) I gather that the intention was to give him reward and respite in the form of a carrier task force in the Far East. Henry Harewood was already a Commodore (as Walker should have been) at the time of the River Plate, following which he got both his "K" and his flag. I suspect that the same was intended for Walker
@@GreatStoriesNow933 Yes. These are the flags flown by Commodore, Rear Admiral, Admiral and Admiral of the Fleet.
4.bp.blogspot.com/-t4c3dJxbnMM/U1gDVKzXL9I/AAAAAAAAC7A/xHnlaky2mMg/s1600/RN+Rank+flags.png
Interestingly... the higher you go, the less balls you have. Red balls on the flag, that is😉😉
I really enjoyed reading the book "Walker RN": he was a truly brilliant commander.
@@klackon1 My Dad and I read that book, one of WW2's unsung heroes, died suddenly in 1944, as stated on this thread, he worked himself to death. Dad was a wartime Paratrooper who came from Portsmouth, had many friends and relatives in the Navy, he used to read of Johnny Walkers exploits in the papers..
I've just been to Portsmouth to see Victory, Warrior etc and this man ranks highly in the spirit and best traditions of the Royal Navy, even compared to Nelson, Collingwood and the like! May he rest in peace.
Interesting! Thanks for your comments.
My father served on HMS Wild Goose and spoke about U Boat patrol missions quite a bit. After helping with the D Day landings he was shipped across to the USA on the Queen Mary, then across the USA on a train to San Francisco to join the HMS Indefatigable for patrols in the Pacific.
Your comment about Royal Navy patrols in the Pacific is not a known subject. We will look into it and see what interesting stories we can find there. Thanks for your contribution.
The Captain of Wild Goose was Cdr D E G Wemyss RN who wrote the book "Walker's Groups in the Western Approaches", later retitled "Relentless Pursuit". I had a copy of the old titled book from the Bookstore at Dartmouth and forgot to return it. I met Wemyss later and he kindly signed my copy.
@@iainstewart9844 Hi there: I have a copy of Walker RN and Relentless Pursuit, both great reading.
@@GreatStoriesNow933 My old man was on several troopships traversing the Pacific. One one journey I know they stopped at Pitcairn Islands, and also went around the Horn (although the easy way).
There's a statue of him in Liverpool. My grandad also fought in the battle of the Atlantic. The longest battle of the war.
Indeed the longest naval battle of all time. It started on the day was declared on the 3rd September 1939 with U-30 sinking the British passenger liner, the SS Athenia and ended on VE Day, 8th May 1945,
His wife complained that her husband was never given a chance to physically rest after these sea battles. Once ashore he was constantly being told to attend meetings back at the Admiralty by the land based jobsworthys who demanded his presence to shore up their own naval credibility.
Thanks for your contribution. That sounds very much to be the case.
While working in the textile industry in west Yorkshire , I met an old gentleman called Tom France.
He asked me if I had been to Albert dock and if so did I see the statue of Captain Walker.
I said that I didn't see it .
He said
' Captain Walker was a very clever man I served under him on the Starling.
He took an old torpedo and tuned it so when we dragged it behind the ship it's motor being turned slowly by it's own propeller made the noise of a knackered triple expansion engine, bing bang bonk, bing bang bonk, the u boats listening with their sonar thought , ah a lone merchantmen struggling to get home with a knackered engine , we ll have him.
Torpedoes were expensive so they would surface and use their 2 pound gun.
They had a shock when they did because we were waiting. We depth charged them and sent them to the bottom.
Walker ordered full speed ahead back to Liverpool where the Admiralty refused to believe him.
They asked where the evidence was.
Walker said my whole crew witnessed it.
They said that doesn't count .
So apparently they went straight back out to sea and did it again. Then he ordered dredging and got enough bits of u boat for the Admiralty to believe him.
There we are amazing first hand tale of this amazing man
What a brilliant post! Thanks for that amazing story.
These things need to be posted or the memory is lost
Fabulous utterly fabulous story!! Thank you for sharing it.
The other thing to say is before I was told this story I new nothing of Captain Walker, since I heard the tale I've looked up everything I can about him
I believe they were going to promote him to flag rank or just had when he died. Well done! A good account of a genuine war hero. Along with others engaged in the war at sea, he is not sufficiently recognised for what he did, although there are a couple of good books that cover his career.
Thanks for your comments. Glad you enjoyed the video.
I am 76 years old and shouldn't really admire "Heroes". But Capt Johnny Walker is due all admiration and respect possible.
A remarkable story. Also a vivid illustration that rank and responsibility can be very far apart, especially in the Royal Navy: the video says that he was given command of 40 ships for his protracted defence of the Normandy landings - how many admirals have ever commanded a force of 40 warships in combat? I think a few score at most. The rank of admiral seems to be something that is conferred after great command, rather than to accompany it.
Must agree with your point. Having said that, I suspect that most of the 40 ships would have been Corvettes.
Many thanks for the detailed story. A true patriot and leader of our men in dangerous seas.
God rest his soul and the men who lost their lives for our people.
Yes indeed! Thanks for your comments.
His near retirement brings some questions with it about our age, both in the USN and BN: how many excellent commanders are now being passed over because of what they are so damned good at doing?
Good question!
There was a very good saying in our armed forces that damn good Captains NEVER make Major.they are far too useful.
In peacetime, the only natural way of getting a promotion, is when someone retires, or leaves for some other reason. There's also little action, so no possibility to show what you're made of....
There's also a saying that you will be promoted, until you reach the level of incompetance....
and by the way it is the R.N not the B.N, (ROYAL Navy)
@@usernamesreprise4068 So you didn't understand what he meant...?
BTW, capital A at the beginning of a sentence....
My father served under him during WW2 on the Artic convoys etc.
He was a very green 19 year old at the time, but said that watches on the deck were spent chipping off ice so the ship wouldn't sink!
He slept in a hammock like others.
He was able to track sonar on U boats on the bridge and in the book, Walker R.N. shows him on the bridge with Johnnie Walker.
It was a supreme effort by all
Walker, unlike almost all other Royal officers, believed that fighting U-boats would be very important in the coming war, just as it was in the previous. So he sought duty on the few ships that practiced anti U-boat operations. As this video said, this caused him to be passed over for promotion. While his contemporaries served on cruisers, battleships, or destroyers, but practice torpedo attacks against simulated enemy surface fleets, not depth charge attacks against U-boats. And so these officers were given promotions.
But, when the early months of the war showed that smaller warships, for the most part, were not going to be battling the German surface fleet, but instead would need to fight U-boats, the Royal navy needed to turn to the right men to fight the U-boats.
Who did the Royal Navy turn to as the situation started to turn dire due to the unexpected U-boat menace? To their anti U-boat expert, Walker, who had studied for years how to fight them? No. They, of course, turned to Walker contemporary officers who did not study anti U-boats warfare between the wars. Why? Because they had seniority. They had not served in the navy any longer than Walker, but they had avoided anti U-boat service, and so got promotions and where given commands of groups of escorts, which were now seen as critical commands. And critical commands need to be given to the officers with seniority. And these officers tried to learn "On the job" how to fight U-boats, with very limited success.
Somehow, the Royal Navy muddled through. After 27 months of war, the Royal Naval finally gave Walker his chance and he commanded the group that escorted the convoy from Gibraltar. And the great success of that mission allowed Walker to stay at sea and command escort groups, with ever greater and greater success, until he died of a stroke. But he lasted long enough to show the way and turn the tide. Like Nelson, he died just as his overall mission, saving Britain, had been successfully completed.
Perfectly put! Thank you.
I don't know if this is correct but just prior to the Gibraltar convoy, the RN asked several captains "What would you do if there was a U-Boat in the middle of the convoy?"
Everybody was quiet apart from Johnnie who said he would break off a couple of destroyers to meet the U-Boat as it came out the back of the convoy
@@g8ymw your comment tallies with a story told on tge World at War by a senior naval officer based at Western Approaches
It was this type of thinking that led Percy Hobart to invent both blitzkrieg and his specialised tank-based vehicles for D-Day and beyond.
A great man sad at the end rest in peace captain walker
Very poignant end ... more so than if he had been killed in action.
Fantastic. A fitting tribute to a great man. My old man was one of the sweats who came home after five years on convoy duty.
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Such a sad, but also fitting, ending to an incredible naval officer. I hope his family were looked after.
Thanks for watching.
paid my respects to mr Walker after crossing the Mersey . His statue really captures this hero .RIP sir
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I had never heard of him before, but then the contribution of the navy in WW2 is so often overlooked.
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A rare example of the right man being in the right job, that would never be allowed to happen today.
Great vid. Read a book about him eons ago. Remember fondly discussing it with my Dad for days on end. Although I wasn't aware that he had died in 1944 - irrationally I'm really quite sad about that. Good job fella.
The manner of his death makes the story really quite poignant, probably more so than if he had been killed in action.
Thanks for watching.
@@GreatStoriesNow933 Yes I think you've summed it up nicely. Admiral Lee another loss to illness during wartime. Funny the things we choose to care about.
An incredible history 😲😲Thank you fir this excellent documentary 😊👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👍 One of the greatest captains….ever….in the history of The Royal Navy…I‘m saddened by his early death…he gave all his enormous strength to the country….a great British hero…my he rest in peace…and never be forgotten 😔
Quite agree. Thanks for watching.
What a remarkable man.
To have spent his entire Naval career specializing in a subject NO ONE believes has merit.
Then just at retirement age and Suddenly that skill is in desperate need.
Sure he felt vindicated and then justifiably proud of his achievement.
He KNEW the knighthood was his, it mattered little he didn't live to see it.
Thanks for your comments. Hope you enjoyed the video.
I seem to recall reading in a biography of him that he was ear marked to go and take command of a carrier in the Pacific which was perceived as a step towards flag rank.
Another suggestion is that he was to be given flag rank to take a task force to the Pacific. Presumably no actual decision had been made by the time he died.
Nice to see some recognition for this unsung hero,its about time his story was told on the big screen.
Brilliant I had no idea about him until now
What a man he was
Thanks for the history! Walker basically sacrificed himself, but not before destroying enough of the German submarine fleet to render it ineffective.
heroic man who saved this country from being strangled thank you
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I read his biography some 50 years ago while in my twenties. I was amazed not just by his successes but by the character of the man. This brief documentary is wonderful synopsis of his naval liife.
Thanks for your comments.
All the way through this fascinating video I was thinking of Captain Vallery a fictional character in the book HMS Ulysses by Alistair MacLean … an absolutely stunning read. MacLean actually served in the convoys. That book resonated with me much as Das Boot did. I recommend it to everyone.
Great suggestion! Thanks
When a country knows that it is fighting for its survival it produced men like these.
The British do seem to be a nation that always has to fight with their backs to the wall. And to so so they need men like Walker.
And again had this been an American commander we would all have know his name as there would have been at least one major Hollywood film made about him.
The problem appears that even when a British Producer makes a film about the War, the Americans take all the glory. For example, in the film A Bridge too Far, the Americans capture the bridge when in reality it was a British armoured division. But with the finance for these films largely coming from America and with America being the largest audience (and therefore the most profitable audience) producers are under pressure to show (rightly or wrongly) American interests in a good light. There is nothing new in this; Shakespeare in many of his historical plays, like Henry V, re-wrote history to make the Tudor dynasty look more authentic. This has seriously distorted much popular understanding of English history of that period.
Thanks for your contribution.
Name the greatest American commander of a sub hunter destroyer?
You can’t because just like Captain Walker, they were never noted for their exploits
Don't worry he's got a well known whiskey on his name
Greyhound is probably based on Walker’s exploits. They just made the main protagonist an American.
I once asked a man what the design on his tie meant... they were signal flags C W O and B. It stood for Captain Walker's Old Boys, such was the high esteem in which he was held by his men. They were disbanded in 2004.
That's a pity
there can't be many of the left today. In the last ten years we have lost most of the WW2 reunion clubs.
I love that the guy is wearing his shirt and tie uniform and one can't tell he is a damn war hero. That's the difference between democracy and fascism.
Pretty modest about himself.
@Great Stories from the Past It's not just that he is modest, that's the point. It's cultural. Military Branches from democratic nations the world over with rule of law, tend to be self-effacing about what they do as opposed to militaries from fascist nations with authoritarian governments. Who are celebrated and made the center of gravity for projecting power inside and outside their country. Same way the armed forces of nations governed by the rule of law don't typically parade their tanks and nuclear missiles every year for the world to see. Greaseballs. This officer is not being modest. He is a citizen-soldier. That's how citizen-soldiers behave. Just like Cincinnatus and the defenders of Greece at Marathon. Who had to dig into their closets to get at their kit before going out to defend their homeland. As opposed to Nazi soldiers who wore their stupid Iron Crosses right into the battlefield and, probably, showered with them, too. Which, far as I know, never happened with a Victoria Cross. Obviously, you have never served under a democratic government and way of life or I would not have to explain. Another give away: he is wearing a tie!
An Outstanding Man we rarely see his kind certainly not today. Thank You for the program I don't doubt his men be it on his ship or his various groups would have followed him into hell and back an extremely Admirable Man, cut short in his prime, a very sad loss.
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Now, THIS should be a movie .
Unfortunately if it ever made it to the big screen it would be the incedible story of 5 star fleet admiral Frank "Buckaroo" Walker USN, the man who sank the Bismarck and broke the enigma code, before singlehandedly masterminding the US victory in WW1 & 2 while the other allied nations looked on admiringly.
Bravo Zulu (Well Done) Captain Walker. Thank you for leading the way.
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Read that , possibly this guy, realised that the u boats came in to convoys from behind and sunk ships, the RN reaction was to go outwards and never found the subs,this guy laid out the convoys on a floor and worked out how the uboats attacked,this is where the game warship came from.
Great comment. Thanks.
Admirable service and achievements.
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He was a man who had imagination a great skipper thanks to him a lot of sailers lives were saved rest in peace Johnny &thanks.
What a wonderful documentary. I was completely unaware of this excellent commander, and his incredible exploits. I will most certainly visit his stature in his honour if I am ever in the area.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.
Its worth also reading about Lt Cmdr Hitchens RNVR and motorgun boats.
Thanks for the suggestion.
What a heroic man and leader
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RIP, Capt. Walker. And thankyou.
The Hedgehog did not fire depth charges. They were contact bombs fired into a large elliptcai pattern.
That is understood
awesome film archive footage of merchant ships at wharfs.. seldom seen.. unsung hero's!
It is unfortunate that the British were very poor at documenting the war on film especially compared to the Americans and the Germans. So it is always a struggle to locate footage that has not been seen before ... often many times.
Thanks for watching.
It is a real shame that there hasn't been a feature film made about Captain John Walker. He was an astonishing man.
If he'd been an American there probably would have been. Come on Christopher Nolan, sort it out!!
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Excellent video about Captain Walker, a man that any serious student of the Battle Of the Atlantic needs to know. Not only an outstanding officer and tactician but an innovator as well.
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Thank you for that video, we often hear about the exploits of RAF crew/pilots and Army combatants/commanders, but rarely do we hear about the exploits of the Navy beyond the engagements with Bismark and the earlier (1939) engagement with Adm Graf Spee - it's sometimes seems as if historians think the Navy sat out the war - but what a hero this man was, clearly an epic tactician and strategist, a supreme commander that people of all ratings would listen to and follow - all of those qualities in one man are very rare.
The success his tactics had on mitigating the danger the U-Boats presented has been clearly under rated, but thankfully not forgotten.
The tragedy of his death, at such a young age, is unforfortunate, as they said, likely as a result of exhaustion etc due to his undieing commitment to getting the job done, he should have recived the VC for dieing in action for all his exploits - he truly and knowingly gave his life for this country, and he should never be forgotten - he should be up there with Nelson, Drake, Montgomery and the other great British Commanders who turned the tide of battle in our favour - saving tens of thousands of lives in the process by accelerating the ending of hostilities as a direct result of his actions.
All branches of the armed forces should be given equal attention for their roles. One thing that was leant during the Second world war was that hey are need to work together as an all-arms force. None of them could have do their job without the others. Thanks for watching, hope you enjoyed the video.