About the Author

Mike Williams served eight years both full time and as a reservist, first in the Royal Navy [intelligence] as a Russian-speaking intercept operator, then in the Royal Marines [SBS and Commando], ending as a Second-in Command of a combined SBS and Commando RMR unit. He is married to the children's author Brenda Williams. They live in Wiltshire and regularly go hill-walking and canoeing in the Isles of Scilly.

Reviews

"The story of the Scilly Islands flotilla is part of the larger issue of the small boat campaign of the Second World War. Amazingly, this bitter campaign has largely been forgotten, for books and films have tended to focus on the encounters of giants, battleships and aircraft carriers, both in the European and the Pacific theatres, or the major amphibious operations or the endless battle against German U-boats. Perhaps this is because, comparatively, so few people were involved. Or perhaps it because the strategic effects of the Scilly Flotilla in particular on the outcome of the war are harder to gauge since so much of it was shrouded in secrecy, being bound up with the complex and still contentious story of the French resistance. For all these reasons, small boat operations have been a sadly neglected part of our modern naval history. This is a real pity because, as Mike Williams has shown in this factionalised account, the deadly doings of the small boat men were just as dramatic, just as heroic and just as absorbing as accounts of much larger campaigns and battles. We owe Mike Williams a great debt for bring this forgotten story alive, especially as he has done so with such grace and humanity and with a meticulous attention to detail that professional historians would envy. This is a great story, an important one, and is very well told, as it deserves to be." Geoffrey Till, Professor Maritime Studies, King's College London and Director of the Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy Studies "Tresco played an extraordinary part in the clandestine war against the Nazis. Mike Williams' own experience with the Special Forces shines through as he skilfully spins an exciting tale around the true story. It is easy to imagine the tension, the bravery and the humour of young men who put their lives on the line to pull off one of the great intelligence coups of the war. A cracking read," Richard Barber, author of 'The Last Piece of England' and Editor of The Tresco Times "Mike William's knowledge of special operations is without question. His love of the beautiful Scilly Isles is without doubt. With a diverse set of characters and intriguing blend of fact and fiction, Mike Williams takes the reader on an exciting journey across the black waters of the English channel. "The Secret channel is a book that will be appreciated by all those interested in the Second World War and history in general." Britain at War Magazine "Written in an easy to follow manner, the reader is soon immersed in the book as the characters come alive off the pages. To anyone unfamiliar with the area then this master of written word soon has you in his grip. A great piece of realistic writing." Sea Breezes Magazine "This thrilling tale is based on true events - with characters that live on the page and brilliantly evoke the dangerous waters and the desperate times in which they lived." The Sea Magazine In 'The Secret Channel', author Mike William, lets you imagine the dangerous waters and desperate times in which the men and women lived - and sometimes lost - their lives in this thrilling fictional account of true events. HOMEPORT magazine "Mike Williams tells an exciting tale of wartime adventure and secret mission. His personal experience and understanding of this subject give the book rea authenticity, making for a gripping read." The Islander Magazine