TED ?Mook? Madgwick served in the Royal Canadian Navy for 30 years before settling down in Tavistock with his wife Peggy.
His fascinating adventures, which include wartime service in Korea, have taken him to all corners of the globe.
An avid reader of nautical memoirs himself, it seemed only fitting that he should put pen to paper to record his experiences of war, mutiny, rescue, storms and fire.
His new book, Tribal Captain, is a personal and often lighthearted insight into life at sea with the Royal Canadian Navy between 1934 and 1963.
Captain Madgwick specialised in gunnery after his initial training with the Royal Navy, and saw action in the North Atlantic and Norwegian Sea.
In 1951, he was involved in the Korean campaign, for which he was later awarded the DSC and Legion of Merit, Degree of Commander.
He had previously earned the Legion of Merit, Degree of Officer, for the rescue of the survivors of a B-29 lost at sea.
During his illustrious career, he commanded HMC Ships Haida, Huron and Micmac and the 4th Escort Squadron.
Latterly he was Chief of Staff to the C-in-C Pacific, and attended the Imperial Defence College in London.
A former colleague, Vice-Admiral R Hennessy, described Captain Madgwick as a ?fine seaman and an engaging companion with a wonderful zest for life.?
Tribal Captain, published by Blue Island Books, is now on sale, priced £9.99.
TONY RICHARDSON