Frederick 'Johnnie' Walker - From Stork to Starling (Part 2

Frederick 'Johnnie' Walker - From Stork to Starling (Part 2 - Early 1942 to June 1943)

Рет қаралды 70,952

Ай бұрын

Today we take a look at the middle stages of the WW2 career of 'Johnnie' Walker and the last voyage of HMS Stork under his command.
Part 1 - • Frederick 'Johnnie' Wa...
Sources:
Walker RN - Robertson, Terence (1956)
www.amazon.co.uk/Fighting-Cap...
www.admiraltytrilogy.com/pdf/B...
Naval History books, use code 'DRACH' for 25% off - www.usni.org/press/books?f%5B...
Free naval photos and channel posters - www.drachinifel.co.uk
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'Legionnaire' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Пікірлер: 338

@Drachinifel Ай бұрын

Pinned post for Q&A :)

@themanformerlyknownascomme777 Ай бұрын

In the movie Das Boot, whenever the U96 is depthcharged, it seems that the crew’s response to leeks is to use valves or block the hole, is this realistic? And if so what are they doing? If not, then what should they be doing?

@JohnBianchi Ай бұрын

Have you ever covered "the new six" - the US Navy gunboats commissioned in 1927/28 for the Yangstze River Patrol? I didn't find them amongst the KZfaq archive, and I think at least one, USS Luzon, may have had a colorful career, and of course, there is 1937's USS Panay Incident.

@bkjeong4302 Ай бұрын

What options did the Chinese, or at least the richest Chinese warlords, have in the 1920s and Early 30s as to purchasing warships from other powers that weren’t intent on conquering them like the Japanese proved to be?

@backinblack03 Ай бұрын

How about a special about Greek subs in WWII?

@_Jfb Ай бұрын

Hi Drach, apologies if I have missed this being answered in a recent drydock, but it's been in the news recently that the WWII ship De Wadden is going to be scrapped. Could you tell us about its history / the significance of the role it played in transporting resources across the Irish Sea

@1982nsu Ай бұрын

Drach needs to contact major movie producers and turn the Frederick 'Johnnie' Walker series into an epic movie blockbuster. Leave a thumbs up if you agree.

@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 Ай бұрын

Nice idea, but with one ENORMOUS drawback..... Brits would prefer it if it was a depiction of the true story about a largely unsung British hero with "salt of the earth" British crews fighting alone against a deadly foe, as opposed to 5 star Admiral Freddy "Hotshot" Walker USN winning the war single handed for the US.

@TheRealMarxz Ай бұрын

@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 yep and it would be as "historically accurate" as U-571 (typical bunch of Yanks stealing UK's glory)

@walkerig1 Ай бұрын

Please contact Netflix, this needs their budgets, their attention to quality, their tendency to ignore Hollywood and produce in the nation of origin, and Netflix's massive international audience.

@RCAvhstape Ай бұрын

They'd screw it up.

@thomaskositzki9424 Ай бұрын

@@walkerig1 Errr, you mean the producers of the dumpster fire called "All Quiet on the Western Front" (2022)??? Nah, thanks.

@stephenmstanley Ай бұрын

25:14-25:45 - HMS Wild Swan clearly lived up to the aggressiveness of its namesake bird; the crew must have had some amazingly effective anti-aircraft curses!

@voiceofraisin3778 Ай бұрын

The army's anti-aircraft curse, "I hope you crash you noisy bastard" only has a 10% effectiveness rate so you need to organise the men in teams of at least 10. It helps if they're welsh, all that close harmony really pays off. The navy may have developed their own

@robertf3479 Ай бұрын

Agreed. IMHO the Royal Navy should honor this ship and crew by applying the name to a new destroyer.

@GARDENER42 Ай бұрын

@@voiceofraisin3778 It only worked once for Milligan.

@PorscheRacer14 Ай бұрын

"I say, get out of that Fokker, you f@cker!"

@TheIndianalain Ай бұрын

Words are often more powerful than swords.

@martinlisitsata Ай бұрын

1 hour of still shots and monologue and he still manages to leave us on a cliff hanger

@_Jfb Ай бұрын

Ive been looking forward to this since the previous video. Please make some more videos on people who have become legends in the naval world Drach!

@hazchemel Ай бұрын

Olè

@myparceltape1169 Ай бұрын

That's History.

@michaelinsc9724 Ай бұрын

Me too! Walker was a total badass!

@CryptidRenfri Ай бұрын

I second this.

@cartmann94 Ай бұрын

Horario Nelson: I can turn into a Frigate! Johnnie Walker: amateur 🦅 *flies away*

@theawickward2255 Ай бұрын

What was in that whiskey?

@michaelkinsey4649 Ай бұрын

Brilliant! That was utterly absorbing and I literally yelled 'NO!' at the last frame! Walker's speech words are excellent. I've always been a believer in 'less noise, more efficiency'

@nemosis9449 Ай бұрын

Same here!

@micaaelnunnm82a1 Ай бұрын

Please don’t take a month to get part three out. The story is great.

@aaravtulsyan 13 күн бұрын

It's been a month there is still isn't Part 3 😢

@majorbloodnok6659 Ай бұрын

Thank you for giving these brave men their due.

@JackSmith-hx8zh Ай бұрын

Go, Wild Swan. You're worth your own episode.

@jugbywellington1134 21 күн бұрын

Yep! I'm ashamed to say this is the first I've heard of HMS Wild Swan. Her crew must have been a hideous shock for the Luftwaffe.

@martinswiney2192 Ай бұрын

Drach, you left us with a cliffhanger. You crafty scoundrel. Will tune in next week.

@gbcb8853 Ай бұрын

Cracking narrative technique. We're all on the hook for the next chapter.

@davidhouston4810 Ай бұрын

Walker and so many others would win the battle of the Atlantic, may they never be forgotten.

@williestyle35 Ай бұрын

Good comment. While the Battle of the Atlantic is not all that "forgotten", the details and personnel have been kind of not fully appreciated.

@davidhouston4810 Ай бұрын

@@williestyle35 I was born in Liverpool, and many of my relatives fought in the Atlantic. So for me its personal.

@williestyle35 Ай бұрын

@@davidhouston4810 I can understand what you mean. The American "escort carrier" forces are something that became good and important to keeping the Atlantic pipeline open, that I feel gets overlooked - and was an idea advocated for by Walker. Separate note : I'm from Chicago in the US. The U - 505 that was "captured" by Admiral Daniel V Gallery in the Atlantic (one of three brothers Gallery that served) and his escort carrier group is on display at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago. It is quite well presented, with a little bit of the history of the Battle of the Atlantic (used to be a more "Navy" type display, before they *modernized" and built underground to protect the submarine). Thank you for your comments.

@davidhouston4810 Ай бұрын

@@williestyle35 Thank you for your information.

@dennisfox8673 Ай бұрын

Absolutely loving the series on Captain Johnnie Walker, as well as just the Battle of the Atlantic in general. Thank you for the great work!

@scott2836 Ай бұрын

I must say, Drach. As much as I enjoy your videos about surface battles, the story of escorts fighting U-Boats is equally, if not even more, thrilling. Their war was just as important, if not more so, and considerably less glamorous. It’s amazing that those relatively small ships were able to carry those sailors and their big brass balls. Walker should be a national hero rivaling Nelson.

@Karibanu Ай бұрын

*Far* more important than big battles - while the big ships were in being as deterrents between a battle a year or so, the small ships were constantly fighting both the weather and the u-boats. Possibly less true in the Med ( please Drach, do some more episodes on the Med! that has *everything* ) and from what little I know of the theatre, the Pacific even less, but the Atlantic was the longest running theatre & probably the busiest.

@Ken-zs6vl Ай бұрын

Listening to this historical report, with the fantastic slide photographs, I felt i was actually there. The bravery of the merchant marines and sailors is inspiring! My Aunt, was born in England, as a young child remembered the blitz over London. I remember her telling me, an American, " Your Navy maybe the biggest but our's is the best!". I never understood what she ment until now. Thank you Drach!

@nledaig Ай бұрын

Excellent again. Your voice is clear and precise and you have no dislike of the letter "r". Walker and others kept themselves awake frequently by using benzedrine. The stress upon the escort-duty sailors was huge. The standards of seamanship, stamina and co-operation was very high. They saved several thousands of lives.

@davidsachs4883 Ай бұрын

Damn cliffhanger! Very well placed however

@gyrene_asea4133 Ай бұрын

Damn Drach and his episode ending "... to be continued". I had to laugh at it.

@johnhudghton3535 Ай бұрын

Captivating account of this British naval hero. You paint an excellent portrait.

@freddeeks5496 Ай бұрын

I served on HMS Starling in 1959( her last commission.) She was a navigation training ship at that stage. One of our last visits was to Kiel the German Navy UBoat headquarters. One of our engineers had been sunk on the Royal Oak but had no animosity towards the opposition. A great party was held in the German Navy Senior rates Mess and much beer and Schnepps drunk. Our final visit was to Bootle where the Civic Authority gave us a fabulous send off and Mrs Walker joined us for our final voyage to Portsmouth to pay off.

@36cmarti Ай бұрын

Walker RN was one of the first books I remember reading when I was in primary school back in the mid/late 60's and started my interest in naval history. Thank you for your excellent videos on this great man.

@EllieMaes-Grandad Ай бұрын

An excellent book.

@antonking9652 Ай бұрын

I want a copy , sounds like a good read. @EllieMaes-Grandad

@GARDENER42 Ай бұрын

I've read it, _War in a Stringbag_ & _Convoy Commodore_ several times. Three of the best books regarding the Navy in WW2 IMO.

@alexandermonro6768 Ай бұрын

Me too! :)

@john_in_phoenix Ай бұрын

Thanks, I just looked and it's available on Kindle unlimited! Just downloaded it!

@davidhouston1729 28 күн бұрын

A great video recording the service of a great U Boat hunter. For the record, the turning point in the Battle of the Atlantic is often said to be May 1943. When so many of Walker's ideas came to fruition.

@dw8555 Ай бұрын

You are a MASTER storyteller, Drach!

@doce7606 Ай бұрын

First ! Part two of this gripping account is welcome... the convoy actions are so interesting, thanks !

@myparceltape1169 Ай бұрын

He is up there with Douglas Reaman, but not with fictional characters.

@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 Ай бұрын

I'd like to SINCERELY thank Drach..... not for informing me about this Nelson-esque British hero, I've known fully of his and his crews exploits for many years... being born in Liverpool, with a father who served in the RN throughout the whole of WW2 meant I was steeped in British naval lore.... but my thanks are for his efforts in so effectively passing on legendary stories such as that of Capt Walker to so many eager new listeners of future generations. Drach is truly "passing on the torch of history" to be rekindled in the future. Vitai Lampada !!! Splice the mainbrace !!!

@Cobra-King3 Ай бұрын

Obligatory from last episode Capt. Walker: Here's *JOHNNIE* **Hedgehog and Depth Charge Noises** Uboat Crews: **Screams of Terror**

@nikolaideianov5092 Ай бұрын

Uboat crews a bit later:*drowning noises*

@AnimeSunglasses Ай бұрын

@@nikolaideianov5092 I believe "blub glub CRUNCH" is about what you're looking for...

@Wolfeson28 Ай бұрын

And now, in his new ship: "Hello, U-552...Fancy some fava beans and a nice chianti?"

@danphariss133 Ай бұрын

Thank you so much. I have 4 “go to” channels and this is one I check every day. At a time, at least in the United States, when historical events are distorted or simply ignored you are a beacon. Thank you.

@thomasbernecky2078 Ай бұрын

Johnny Walker in detail never gets tired for me.

@fatherglyn Ай бұрын

Absolutely fascinating. Captain Walker was an outstanding naval officer and your detailed examination of his career is so welcome.

@Johnny13Tube Ай бұрын

GREAT job teaching us about this focused, driven leader. I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for part 3!

@lancethompson6839 Ай бұрын

Enjoying this series on Walker, especially the quotations from his speeches.

@OtakuLoki Ай бұрын

Thank you, Drach! Today's video is particularly welcome. (For reasons beyond the scope of the channel.)

@khaelamensha3624 Ай бұрын

Well, wish you the best whatever you seems facing. Regards

@stephenrichards339 Ай бұрын

That's not fair 😕 leaving us hanging on, brilliant video thank you

@Redgolf2 Ай бұрын

Excellent video of a Great Man, thanks Drachy

@john_in_phoenix Ай бұрын

Talk about the right man in the right place at the right time! Walker really embodies the phrase "in the highest tradition of the Royal Navy". Nelson would have been proud. FYI, for members of Kindle Unlimited, "Walker, R.N." is available to read for free. $5.99 if not a member.

@calebsmith5102 Ай бұрын

Man I need part 3! Thanks for this one Drach, probably the most enjoyable bio you’ve done so far!

@airplanes42 Ай бұрын

Well done. Walker deserves every accolade.

@luckyguy600 Ай бұрын

WAR is ugly & harsh. Best we don't do it too often. But sometimes it is needed.

@jehl1963 Ай бұрын

Walker seems to very much be the RN's version of George Patton. The parallels in their lives are fairly striking. Both were described as "sensitive" as youths, but were inspired by their predecessors to follow the careers that they did, and remade themselves into the "hard men" that they felt that they needed to be. Both developed a reputation for innovation and -- aggressively -- defending their ideas. Being of similar age, both gained some initial experience in their respective services in WWI. The tone and contents of their speeches to subordinates was very similar, as was their speeches to the women on the home front. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

@thomaskositzki9424 Ай бұрын

Only difference: Walker had his political convictions set straight, Patton did not... f***ing Nazi sympathizer that he was.

@pedenharley6266 Ай бұрын

That was great, Drach. Ever since I first read “The Cruel Sea” I’ve been fascinated by this part of the war. Thank you for this tribute to those who endured so much as they fought for their country.

@crazypetec-130fe7 Ай бұрын

I'd also recommend HMS Ulysses.

@ed4415 Ай бұрын

I love these biography videos. What a fascinating leader and war fighter!

@janboen3630 Ай бұрын

Great story told by a great storyteller. Waiting for Ep3.

@paulamos8970 Ай бұрын

A greatfully received second chapter for the great Capt. F. 'Johnnie' Walker RN. Thank you Drach. One of the most inspiring small ship's commanders of the second World War IMO.

@alexbenis4726 Ай бұрын

So looking forward to this!

@chrismaverick9828 Ай бұрын

I always love Story Time with Drach! Steel ships and Iron men. Menacing enemies, brave, staunch sailors, and commanders who wield their massive pairs of....epaulettes!

@gregcollins7602 Ай бұрын

Great job Drach. Waiting patiently for the next part.

@rpick7546 Ай бұрын

Outstanding! Thanks Drach.

@nathanhubler Ай бұрын

Excellent. Thank you.

@simonjames3417 Ай бұрын

Cracking series Drach!

@duncanandrews1940 Ай бұрын

Thanks, a great presentation as always. Can't wait for part 3 - but i'll have to!!

@lewiswestfall2687 Ай бұрын

Thanks Drach. Inspirational

@kurgisempyrion6125 Ай бұрын

Superb account Drach - top job.

@bradrapp3697 Ай бұрын

What a fun cliffhanger! Well done and thank you!

@michaelfrank2266 Ай бұрын

This second installment was well told. I was interested throughout and you left me wanting to hear more.

@barrydysert2974 Ай бұрын

Drach, it never ceases to amaze me the way You can turn History into a cliffhanger! i want the rest of the story Noooooowww !:-)

@user-ee5yk4fz2f Ай бұрын

Great series Drach, can’t wait for the next instalment - regards markc

@scootergsp Ай бұрын

Great video, Drach! Looking forward to the next part...

@purpleldv966 Ай бұрын

This is a very enjoyable series! Thanks!

@dersaegefisch Ай бұрын

Great video as always!

@alt5494 Ай бұрын

Brilliant series looking forward to next part!

@wacojones8062 Ай бұрын

Keep working on this masterpiece of a series.

@brianvittachi6869 Ай бұрын

I first read the book "Captain "Johnny" Walker, R.N." about 40 years ago when I was 15 or so. My grandfather gave it to me. Maybe that's why I opted to enlist in the Singapore Navy a few years later.

@warrenjones744 Ай бұрын

Outstanding....More please!

@jugbywellington1134 21 күн бұрын

This is one of your best. Need... More... Soon...

@gman829 Ай бұрын

I love this series. Can’t wait for the next episode. Always a treat to find characters that helped shaped the course of history.

@georgezagger487 Ай бұрын

I'm really enjoying this series! Most excellent! Thank you very much!

@newtonmillham790 Ай бұрын

You have a great narrative talent and I look forward to the next Johnnie Walker episode. Many thanks for your work on this.

@mikewilson3169 Ай бұрын

Most excellent! Looking eagerly forward to me.

@chriswinnek7200 Ай бұрын

Cliff hanger got Me good Drach! I love these episodes! Though I have admit your Q/A series have narrated some amazing dreams while I unconsciously continue to listen after falling asleep with ear buds in! Discovered your channel on deployment to Kuwait in 2021 and have been hooked ever since. This is my favorite series yet!

@benchapple1583 Ай бұрын

Utterly fabulous. Thank you. Like has been added.

@rolanddunk5054 Ай бұрын

Hi,having watched parts one and two I am eagerly looking forward to the next episode,thank you,Cheers Roly 🇬🇧.

@phodough7201 Ай бұрын

great story telling Drach, my fave uncle was on a HMCS corvette [i've forgotten which one] during the 2nd WW. i would sit and listen to the stories for hours at a time

@kennethdeanmiller7324 Ай бұрын

One of the longest & most hard fought naval battles of WW2 was the Battle of the Atlantic!! And this is just a very small taste of that battle. Thank you for posting this. It becomes rather clear that with all of these convoys of shipping that there are plenty of targets of opportunity for the U-boats. And the US building so many merchant vessels & a lot of them failing to even complete their maiden voyage was testament to the danger of those U-boats. And the fact that they were able to have escort carriers as well as all the smaller convoy escorts and have hunter/killer groups that were NOT associated with any one convoy made it more & more dangerous for U-boats as time weared on. Looking forward to getting to hear more about "The Battle of the Atlantic" in the future. I've heard so little about this part of the war that I find it very intriguing that this was such a large part of the war efforts. And without all of these convoys of shipping the war could have been lost.

@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 Ай бұрын

THE longest battle of WW2... without those convoys and hundreds of thousands of civilian sailors the allies WOULD have lost the war.

@tigerland4328 Ай бұрын

@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684absolutely. 30,248 British 🇬🇧, 9,521 American 🇺🇸 & 1,451 Canadian 🇨🇦 merchant sailors lost their lives in ww2. The vast majority in the battle of the Atlantic

@BetterAircraftFabric Ай бұрын

Great Content yet again !!! Very appreciated. Watching Drach' videos is always a "Sanity break" in this crazed world. Best Regards from Alaska!

@aerospacenews Ай бұрын

Really enjoyed this episode @Drachinifel - felt almost like an adventure movie with your storytelling. I only create short videos by contrast and they feel like they take forever. You produce these incredibly long and detail-rich voyages into the past and you publish so often. Super human stuff!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

@christianhaupt2637 Ай бұрын

I absolutely LOVE these types of videos, hearing about the absolute badasses that actually won us the war is awesome!

@harleyschmydlapp704 Ай бұрын

Excellent video! Capt Walker is a true hero. Bravo!

@billistefansson5309 Ай бұрын

Greetings and Salutations! Thank you Drax. Johnny Walker is one of the most admirable characters of the Royal Navy in the Battle of the Atlantic. All the best, Billi.

@samsmith2635 Ай бұрын

Man, those early learning curves and the accidents really puts into perspective how ASW was an evolving thing. Also those Spanish Fisherman had quite the show!!

@andrewthomson137 Ай бұрын

Drach I consider you a master of Ripping Yarns! Can't wait for next episode!

@hankbirmingham6662 Ай бұрын

Fantastic telling of a Glorious History!🔥😎

@davidscott5898 Ай бұрын

Really excellent work

@tokencivilian8507 Ай бұрын

Great episode. It had such a teaser of an ending. I'm awaiting the next installment eagerly.

@marydickson5871 Ай бұрын

Excellent! More please, soon.

@stephenmardon6781 Ай бұрын

Great. Have been waiting for this one.

@stephenmardon6781 Ай бұрын

Brave men & ships, and well worthy of recounting the battles just as critical to the war as Coral Sea et al. Thank you Drach.

@martinbscott8815 Ай бұрын

Talk about timing!! Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, was just here in Victoria; one of her "tasks" was to lay a wreath at the Battle of the Atlantic memorial ceremony.

@andrewcoley6029 Ай бұрын

Great stuff. Thanks you.

@philliprandle9075 Ай бұрын

Looking forward to the next episode

@d.t.4523 Ай бұрын

Thank you, keep working.

@stevelalley6194 15 күн бұрын

These are great.

@jabonorte Ай бұрын

Enjoying this series! Interesting that Walker's 'Kill them all!' approach isn't dissimilar to that of the 8th Air Force in 1944. Can't help but think that the escort roles parallel each other, albeit at different speeds/altitudes. Not surprised if the ideas weren't shared between services, but it's a shame they weren't.

@Jimorian Ай бұрын

I haven't been able to re-find the reference, but I remember hearing a story as D-Day got closer, that Eisenhower had to order the bomber groups to stop faking out the Germans with their targets. We WANTED them to know when and where we were going so they'd send up their fighters for the escorts to shoot down before D-Day.

@RailfanDownunder Ай бұрын

Superb work again sir .... Hopefully Hec Waller is also on your list of future presentations too😊

@adrianbeese2150 Ай бұрын

Awesome, you are in a class of your own

@georgeswinford6950 Ай бұрын

This sounds like a great series to make. Thoroughly enjoyed the telling of the first part. And what a cliff hanger on the second 😂

@earlyriser8998 Ай бұрын

I love this series and they way you summarize these Bios. I am reading the German summary of the" U-Boat war in the Atlantic" by Bob Carruthers and the story from the other side is fascinating

@jeffholloway3882 Ай бұрын

Excellent, shall be watchful for continued content, same drach time, same drach channel, hope you and the family are doing well.

@steveball2307 Ай бұрын

Absolutely gripping.

@NightOwlModeler Ай бұрын

Wow Drach, what a cliff hanger! Don't stop there!

@bryanstephens4800 Ай бұрын

Good timing on a ship named Stork

@davidlee8551 Ай бұрын

Informative on personalities shaping policy! Thank you.

@The_Modeling_Underdog Ай бұрын

HMS Wild Swan, to the Ju-88 crews: "I am now going to impart upon you a lesson on severe pain. Spare the crying, gentlemen." Thanks for sharing, Drach. Looking forward to the next video on Walker. Cheers. P.S.: I'll second another comment regarding more videos about the Mediterranean. And, maybe, on the late-war Eastern Fleet.