On January 25, 1917, HMS Laurentic struck two German mines off the coast of Ireland and sank. The ship was carrying 44 tons of gold bullion in order to finance the war effort. Britain desperately needed that sunken treasure, but any salvage had to be secret since they dared not alert the Germans to the presence of the gold. Lieutenant Commander Damant was the most qualified officer to head the risky mission. Wild gales battered the wreck into the shape of an accordion, turning the operation into a multiyear struggle of man versus nature. As the war raged on, Damant was called off the salvage to lead a team of covert divers to investigate and search through the contents of recently sunk U-boats for ciphers, minefield schematics, and other secrets. The information they obtained, once in the hands of British intelligence, proved critical toward Allied efforts to defeat the U-boats and win the war. But Damant had become obsessed with completing his long-deferred mission. His team struggled for five more years as it became apparent that the work could only be accomplished by muscle, grit, and persistence.
Using newly discovered sources, Williams provides the first full-length account of the quest for the Laurentic's gold. More than an incredible story about undersea diving adventure, The Sunken Gold is a story of human persistence, bravery, and patriotism.
”Williams has uncovered one of the greatest stories of WWI, a tale of U-boats, lost treasure, and the tenacious diver determined to recover it at all costs. Simply put, this book is a real gem.” —James M. Scott, noted author
”A wild and wooly tale of pressurized goats, black arts, and maritime gold, all beautifully told … I devoured it in two thrill-filled nights.” —James Nestor, noted author
(A special thank you to Frank Dougherty for the book suggestion.)