George Duddy's Homepage

Called by the North

George’s first book, Called by the North: Extraordinary Adventures of the Fur Trade, Shipbuilders, Navigators and Traders in Northwestern Canada and Alaska a book by George H.S. Duddy. Published in 2022.

Following the collapse of whaling in Canadian western Arctic waters at the start of the 1900s, vessels facing the perilous voyage around the Alaskan Peninsula came in pursuit of Arctic fur trade. They came initially from the old whaling ports of California and settled locations in Alaska, but after 1914 also from Vancouver on Canada’s west coast. The vessels included those owned – or in support of – large fur trading companies and also those of adventurers bent on making their fortunes in the rich trade. Arctic transportation was also provided by expansion of the existing Mackenzie River system from the interior of Canada through the Boreal Forest and Mackenzie Delta. This book provides a fascinating account of the ships, shipbuilders and navigators of these waterways, and how the Arctic fur trade, pioneered by American entrepreneurs, was finally taken over by the Hudson’s Bay Company. Expanding eastward, the Company achieved many Arctic “firsts”. In 1930 a relay of company vessels successfully made the first west to east transit of the Northwest Passage; and several fur trading posts developed into permanent northern settlements. These, and many other intriguing stories, are enriched through 193 photographs, maps and diagrams; appendices; a bibliography; and an index to full names, places, and subjects, all adding value to this unique work.

Visit publisher Heritage Books Inc.

Ken Favrholdt reviewed George’s book on The British Columbia Review:

This book is an extraordinary feat of research and writing. It is especially significant as the Arctic has become the focus of attention about climate change, Canadian sovereignty, and relations with Indigenous peoples living in this vast region.

To order a copy or read reviews in Canada:

Rarely Idle

George contributed to, Rarely Idle: U.S. Navy Sub-chasers and Royal Navy Motor Launches and Canadian-built Drifters Combating German U-boats in World War I Published in 2024.

During World War I, while the British and German battleship forces, and later an American one, kept each other “in check,” German submarines waged war on Britain’s merchant fleet, which before the war was the largest in the world. With the island nation needing not only to fight the war on an industrial scale, but also to feed its population, large numbers of anti-submarine vessels were desperately needed. The Admiralty, lacking sufficient naval units to conduct anti-submarine patrols off Britain’s expansive coastlines, requisitioned, armed, and employed hundreds of fishing vessels in this role, or as minesweepers. Requiring many additional purpose-built ships and craft, the Royal Navy acquired 75- and 80-foot motor launches built in American and Canadian shipyards, and 86-foot Canadian-built Admiralty drifters; and was strengthened by U.S. Navy 110-foot sub-chasers dispatched to Europe. By war’s end, 135 chasers were operating in European waters, based at the Azores; Plymouth, England; Queenstown, Ireland; Gibraltar; Brest, France; Corfu, Greece; and Murmansk, Russia. “Eagle boats” constructed by auto builder Henry Ford arrived at Murmansk after the war for duty following that of the sub-chasers. One hundred forty-three photographs, maps, and diagrams; appendices; and an index to full names, places, and subjects add value to this work.

Visit publisher Heritage Books Inc.

To order a copy or read reviews: