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

Pinned post for Q&A :)

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.

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.

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!

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

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!

So pleased to find parts 2&3! I read WALKER’ss biographies and other histories of the Atlantic campaign in which my grandfather, uncles and cousins served. They were American merchant sailors and US Navy veterans. One was killed long before Pearl Harbour bringing supplies to Britain. Grandpa had three ships sunk under him in WW1&2. New Bedford men, all.

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

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

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

Thank you for giving these brave men their due.

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'

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

My Great Uncle Frank Joyce was “manning the guns” on HMS Stork the day U 574 was sunk. He served under Walker on the Stork and the Woodcock. On his first leave after the battle my Uncle was interviewed by the newspapers and gave a first hand account about the battle which the family still has and it’s considered one of our family treasures

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!

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

Great episodes on Johnie Walker. My step father served on Stork under JW. He was later torpedoed on Stork and was disabled out of the RN. So proud of him. Thank you for the insights in to JW whom ultimately paid the price for his ambition, leadership, and focus. Where would we be without hero’s like JW

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

You are a MASTER storyteller, Drach!

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 !!!

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.

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.

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

Captain Walker was, at the time, the latest in a very long and magnificent line of Royal Navy sailors protecting British interests, British traditions and British democracy. He deserved many more medals than he was ever awarded, and sadly died too early in the service of his country.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

Excellent video of a Great Man, thanks Drachy

Damn cliffhanger! Very well placed however

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

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

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.

What a man and what a brilliant Video. Thank you for bringing the story of this man to my attention :)

Back in the 70s I remember taking out a library book "Captain Walker RN", which told his story in unemotive language and I was hooked. So sad he worked himself to death, but was such an influence on A/S tactics.

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!

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

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

Well done. Walker deserves every accolade.

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

Thanks Drach. Inspirational

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

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

This is a very enjoyable series! Thanks!

Excellent. Thank you.

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

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!!

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.

What a fun cliffhanger! Well done and thank you!

Outstanding! Thanks Drach.

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

Keep working on this masterpiece of a series.

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

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

Frederic Johnny Walker was the man. He was the bane of U-boats

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

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

Utterly fabulous. Thank you. Like has been added.

Great video as always!

Fantastic telling of a Glorious History!🔥😎

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!

Outstanding....More please!

Absolutely gripping.

Drach, it makes you so proud to watch what walker achieved ( and what Britain achieved ) he has a statue on the front at Liverpool, my father who was R.A , told me the rumour was he could smell out the German U boats.

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

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.

So looking forward to this!

Another thoroughly excellent video, thanks for your efforts.

Good timing on a ship named Stork

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

Cracking series Drach!

Walker was a man you would follow into the fires of hell such were his leadership skills, we need his likes today.

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

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

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.

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

Most excellent! Looking eagerly forward to me.

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!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

These are great.

Brilliant series looking forward to next part!

Absolutely fascinating stuff.

Great job Drach. Waiting patiently for the next part.

Good stuff, currently listening to the HG76 audiobook too

British destroyer Captains are the craziest of crazy, and magnificent.

Looking forward to the next episode

Great stuff. Thanks you.

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

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

Really excellent work

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.

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.