Cha Till Mise

Acair, 2022. 256 pages. Paperback.

On the 11th of September 1928, the keel of the HMS Achates (H12) was laid at the John Brown shipyard on the River Clyde. On the 31st December 1942, HMS Achates (H12) was sunk in the Arctic Ocean by the Kriegsmarine. Cha Till Mise conveys a heartfelt story about the Russian convoys and the heroes who sailed on them – with particular attention to HMS Achates.

Enlightening, entertaining and informative, Roddy Maclean’s book offers new and fascinating insights into the Arctic Convoys of World War Two. As a writer with a detailed knowledge of the west coast of the Scottish Highlands, he offers a fresh perspective of the places and ports round which these vessels sailed, showing how much those on board suffered and endured. His words took me into the lives of men like my Skye grandfather who also sailed – and served on two vessels that sank – during these years at war.’ DS Murray