Pattinson, James Last on Convoy

A gritty and extremely grim North Atlantic convoy novel focusing on the aging merchant ship S.S. REGAL GESTURE and on the men who attempt to get her safely “Across the Pond” to England. The ship foolishly sails out of Halifax in a “fast” (10-knot) convoy despite her captain’s knowledge that the REGAL GESTURE’s engines are decrepit and that she probably won’t be able to maintain a grueling ocean passage at high speed. Indeed, from the start, the REGAL GESTURE is relegated to last position in the 45-ship convoy, and all too soon, the ship is forced to drop out of convoy and make her way alone across the hostile ocean. Along the way the REGAL GESTURE encounters (and possibly sinks) a surfaced U-boat, battles storms and a German Focke-Wulf bomber and has her cargo of wool catch fire. Almost within sight of land she founders after having drifted for days ablaze. Dramatic as these events are, Pattinson’s real strength lies in his characterization of the ship’s crew, particularly how they act and interact among themselves, under stress. Of particular note are his descriptions of the daily lives of the Royal Navy gunners serving aboard the REGAL GESTURE.