ARMAGEDDON IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN: Up the Hawse Pipe from Galley Boy to Third Mate on a Legendary Liberty Ship in the Biggest Convoy Battle of World War II Paperback – May 2, 2022

I enjoyed this book and learned a lot about PQ18 from the merchant ships point of view. As far as the biggest convoy battles, I would argue that the battles around HX229 and SC121 were the biggest Convoy battle of the war. PQ18 lost so many ships that the Allies, Royal Navy was forced to change strategy and broke the convoys up and sailed them in two separate convoys. They renewed JW services heading to Russia and RA heading back to Iceland. Overall, is a great book especially about the Great Depression. The book shows how rough the economy was during that period and traveling as Hobo was rough. Great tie between Great Depression and World War Two.

Meticulously researched through family documents and Navy records, this is one of the most compelling stories of the Maritime industry's vital role in World War II. Though told through the lens of one remarkable family from South Boston, MA, the book honors all of the men who served in the maritime service during the war. The book is highly detailed and skillfully written, thanks to the efforts of Dr. Paul G. Gill, Jr.I have read many books about the Merchant Marines and Navy Armed Guard crews who defended the ships. Among those are my late father, Navy Gunners Mate 3C; and my late father in law, Merchant Marine, 3rd Assistant Engineer. ("3rd" indicates his watch assignment, not a lesser rank than a 1st or 2nd Assistant Engineer.) I wish that both men lived long enough to read Lt. Gill's story. Thank you Dr. Paul G. Gill, Jr. for preserving your father's story and sharing it with others.Kevin B.Beverly, Mass.

This is a festinating book about the journeys of a young man from South Boston, coming of age in the Depression. Its one of those books that is hard to put down. To be fair, only a small part of the book is about Convoy duty in the Arctic. Its mostly about the struggles of a young man growing up in the great depression. Although the author is listed as Mr Paul Gill, my belief is that his son, also a Paul Gill put together and heavily edited the manuscript after Paul Sr’s passing. I think the original source material is probably some original text, notes, records from the US Maritime commission and perhaps some sea stories and tales enhanced by the passage of time. None the less, it is a great story and one hard to put down.

Review of “Armageddon in the Arctic Ocean”This fine book by Paul G. Gill, edited by his son Paul Gill, Jr. takes us from the poor Irish Neighborhoods of South Boston in the 1920s and ‘30s, to the Armageddon-like World War II sea battles in the Arctic Ocean near Archangel, Russia (when Russia was our ally), to the sinking of his ship, SS Nathanael Greene, in the Mediterranean in the Spring of 1943. Parts of this book are raw and violent. And yet even in the midst of war you sense the humanity of the warriors of the Navy and Merchant Marine.The book briefly deals with the Gill Family’s heritage in the Aran Islands of Ireland, the emigration to America, the tough life in Depression-era Boston. I also enjoyed hearing about Paul Gill’s service in the Civilian Conservation Corps. I really appreciated the context the back-story gave to the war story.Paul Gill lived a life of service and great adventure, a kind of archetypal American life, and it is vividly recounted in this book.Robert M. Coughlin, Ph.D.

I hated for this book to end. It’s reviews promised much, but the volume delivered even more. An enthralling tale of an enterprising and courageous American set against some of our country’s darkest and most dangerous days.The book introduces us to a youngster pulling his weight through a hard-scrabble depression-era life on the edge of Boston harbor. Faced on all sides by challenge and risk, Paul Gill is shown as a boy and as a man of unfathomable curiosity, resourcefulness and perseverance; confronting and besting threats not only to his immediate interests, but his very survival.Forging his name and age he repeatedly gains entree to prohibited opportunities. Be it the back-breaking demands of extended service in a rural conservation camp or the deadly dangers confronting a hobo’s riding the rails across the country, this man survived, learned and grew as he matured into a world-traveled seaman, a heroic combat veteran and a well-educated and successful executive.You’ll find it hard to put this book down, and when you do finish it, you’ll be hard pressed not to miss its characters and begin rooting for this compelling story’s debut as a film.

The diary of a man who went from a life of poverty to a Harvard MBA, serving on the way as a merchant seaman during the most dangerous days of WWII. Told in a quiet and straightforward manner, it is a fascinating and compelling saga of the heroism of the common man.

One is hard pressed not to fall in love with the passionate contents to Paul Gill's memoirs of his never-say-die attitude to navigate Depression employment, and to rise up through the ranks on the high seas. Gill's explicit details described as officer in some of the fiercest marine convoy battles of WW II will set your senses to flight! A sure fired attraction for baby boomers to better appreciate the greatest generation, and pass on justified full respect to future generations. No wonder Armageddon already is being recommended by well regarded admirals as a must-read for aspiring mid-shipmen at Annapolis and at the Merchant Marine Academy. The exquisite detailed accounts are guaranteed to capture your attention. Did mine! Don't be surprised to see Armageddon On The Artic Ocean qualify someday to be a blockbuster movie!Paul Valeri, Vietnam VeteranBridgewater, CT

To know how courageous people can be.

I sailed on a liberty ship, the Malabar. So good to have this unique story preserved here. A fine life he had.

This is a great biography that I enjoyed from start to end. Gill Senior had a tough life early on but overcame many obstacles to battle through to much success. His son has done an admirable job pulling the tale together. Just a word of caution for anyone expecting a book wholly about Arctic convoys. Only about 20% of the book is set in the war. Highly recommended.

An excellent first hand account of human endurance in the harshest of conditions. 'Armageddon in The Arctic Ocean' is a five star WW2 read. I highly recommend the book to anyone with an interest in WW2.