The discovery of a long-forgotten suitcase of old photographs and souvenirs inspired Mike Pinnock to begin an odyssey around the shores of the UK, retracing his father’s movements as a Royal Marine between the years 1921-45.
In this enjoyable book, Mike journeys around the shores of Britain and beyond, by land and by sea, uncovering some surprising facts about his father’s life as a 'bootneck' (slang for Royal Marine).
He draws upon newspaper articles and accounts from those who remember the great warships and historic events of the period in order to bring them to life.
Sometimes trespassing, he re-treads the ground his father once trod and seeks out old anchorages, in the process uncovering some of Britain’s nautical and military heritage. Along the way he has some humorous adventures and and encounters a colourful cast of characters, including an ancient naval captain, a knife-carrying nautical buff, a suspected MI5 agent, a maverick lifeboatman and some fervently anti-English Lewis folk.
But this book is more than a historical travelogue, it is a journey of self-discovery in which Mike seeks to reconnect with his late Father ... and himself.