Beyond the Sea

Love, duty and true-life adventure in the shadow of the Second World War

Beyond the Sea is a compelling narrative by Christian Lamb, one of the last surviving Wren Officers to have served her country throughout the entirety of WW2.

Christian joined the Women's Royal Naval Service at the age of nineteen and quickly rose through the ranks. Initially serving at a degaussing range, she was soon posted to Operations and Radar in Belfast. There, she became part of the team tracking the movements of both the Royal Navy and the dreaded Kriegsmarine in the Battle of the Atlantic, the largest sea battle of the war.

The task of plotting the Royal Navy's ships became intensely personal for Christian when her fiancé's ship, HMS Oribi, was surrounded by a U-Boat 'wolf pack'. Despite her colleagues' attempts to persuade her to cut her shift short, Christian remained resolute in her post, marking Oribi's progress as the frightening attack transpired. Thankfully, both HMS Oribi and John reached shore safely.

Upon marrying, Christian was assigned to a critical role back in London's COHQ. From a basement office in Whitehall, she worked on top-secret maps for the D-Day landings while Winston Churchill paced the floor above.

Now in her 101st year, Christian is eager to share her memories of duty, danger, love, and marriage during the war before they fade beyond living memory.