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Churchill’s Pirates

The Seafaring Heroes Who Helped Win WWII
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Churchill’s Pirates

By: Will Iredale
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

BY THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE PATHFINDERS

As the UK entered WWII, and the nation called its men and women to their battle stations, a rag-tag group of sailors was brought together to form a ‘navy within a navy’ – the Royal Naval Patrol Service – to help defend Britain’s shores.

From sailing on the frontlines with the motley crew of sailors using converted fishing vessels to clear sea mines from British waters to Winston Churchill's clandestine war room meetings with navy leaders, Will Iredale brings us into the pivotal moments that transformed the war and helped secure victory for the allies with first hand accounts, exclusive interviews with veterans, and new material from the archives.

This is the defining story of the overlooked unit of ordinary people who worked day and night to keep Britain safe in her darkest hour.

© Will Iredale 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

 Armed Forces Europe Great Britain Military Naval Forces
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Critic reviews

Fantastic. Iredale masterfully explains how command of the sea required little ships with rugged, swash-buckling crews, just as much as the castles of steel. Exciting and important. (Dan Snow)
Iredale's brilliant new book tells the revelatory and thrilling nautical tale of the 70,000 men of Churchill's pirate fleet - the Royal Naval Patrol Service - who risked life and limb to keep Britain's sealanes safe and ports open, and the hundreds of Wrens who supported them. A hugely welcome addition to Britain's wartime story. (Saul David)
Will Iredale has carved out a formidable reputation as a chronicler of overlooked corners of the Second World War, and Churchill’s Pirates is his finest achievement yet. This is history at full throttle: deeply researched, richly peopled, and propelled by a narrative energy that reveals the work of those who should be regarded as central protagonists in Britain’s fight for survival (Guy Walters, author of 'Stealing Hitler's Rocket')
This book breaks new ground whilst also building thoughtfully on existing scholarship. Drawing from a wide range of sources, this is both rigorously researched and highly readable. An engaging and valuable contribution to the field. (Kate Jamieson)
What a fabulous book! Will Iredale has done those forgotten heroes of Harry Tate’s navy a long overdue service, telling the story of these immensely courageous men - fishermen, coastal sailors and civilian seafarers - who toiled in often appalling conditions with little protection to protect our vital coastal waters. This is a tale, above all, of human endeavour, fortitude and ingenuity, told both compellingly and rich in human drama. Superb. (James Holland)
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