Close to the Wind: A Story of Escape and Survival out of the Ashes of Singapore 1942

In May 1940, a group of Auckland yachtsmen and Royal Navy volunteers left for the war. Leonard Hill, a young Māori sailor, and his friends arrived in Singapore under siege. They manned fast motor launches, raiding and rescuing Allies from behind enemy lines. On 13 February 1942, the eve of the fall of Singapore, they took two Fairmiles, ML310 and ML311, to evacuate members of the Allied High Command and survivors of sinking vessels. Hunted down by the Japanese, most of the almost one hundred men perished. Only three succeeded: Leonard Hill, Herbert 'Johnny' Bull and Andrew Brough. This is the story of how they evaded the Japanese and survived.

• David B. Hill, Author

  David B. Hill (Ngāpuhi/Te Tahawai) is a writer and tour guide. From an early age, David’s passions have been history and travel, and he has spent much of his time on both. Embarking on a career as a guide as a young adult, he has travelled extensively internationally. He now focuses on leading tours closer to home and telling tourists stories of Aotearoa New Zealand.