The Line to Freedom-bookcover

By: Mike Walsham

The Line to Freedom

Pages: 270 Ratings:
Book Format: Choose an option
Free standard delivery on UK orders over £35

*Your order will be dispatched after the publication date of 23-05-2025

*Available directly from our distributors, click the Available On tab below

Andrew was recruited into the British Secret Intelligence Service in 1939 for his linguistic talents and other qualities while working in the banking sector in the City of London.

From the beginning of WWII, he worked full-time for the Service. His first mission was to witness the attempted assassination of Hitler in Munich in November 1939, followed by three further missions: sabotaging a German train carrying armaments deep inside enemy territory with a colleague; assisting in the evacuation of BEF soldiers during the Dunkirk operation aboard one of the ‘small ships’; and working with the Royal Navy to help bring the Norwegian king and his cabinet from Tromsø to exile in London.

After extensive commando-style training in Scotland, lengthy Royal Navy officer training, and instruction as a parachutist, Andrew was dropped into northeast France in late May 1941. This highly risky mission involved collaborating with the French Resistance.

Following several smaller, but equally dangerous, missions, he was sent to Sardinia to work with the Partisans in July 1941. His objective: to thwart the Italian Air Force from bombing Allied convoys heading to Malta.

On returning to England, Andrew assumed the identity of a missing French Resistance operative and was dropped back into France. There, he joined multiple groups on a perilous mission, narrowly escaping the Wehrmacht and the Abwehr before making his way back to England via Spain.

This is a compelling narrative, rich with exciting and lesser-covered themes in spy fiction. The writer’s attention to detail and meticulous research offers readers a vivid and comprehensive insight into the complex and colorful world of intelligence during WWII.

After graduating from London University, Mike Walsham worked in a large pharmaceutical company before joining a well-known international computer company.


As well as working in the UK, he has also lived and worked in Ethiopia, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa for over 11 years.


During the time in Zambia, he flew over 200 solo hours after gaining a private pilot’s license in 1974. He has climbed Kilimanjaro twice, the first time in December 1974.


He was a crew member on a 40ft yacht that sailed from Minorca to Croatia and then, two years later, took a 44ft yacht from Southampton to Croatia.


Over the period from 2007 to 2014, he has written articles for the local Parish News on various subjects such as the Battle of Agincourt, the Ark of the Covenant, the Knights Templar, the Cathars, the Scramble for Africa.


He is committed to his family of four children and their spouses, and his nine grandchildren. He is a former churchwarden for his local C of E church and a regular bellringer.


He has had several classic Triumph TR cars over the years. He has a strong interest in music—particularly Jazz—and is a philatelist.


He has written three other books that have been published: Monique, Doing One’s Duty and Outwitting the Enemy.

Customer Reviews
0
0 reviews
0 reviews
Write a Review
Your post will be reviewed and published soon. Multiple reviews on one book from the same IP address will be deleted.

We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience and for marketing purposes.
By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies