This dramatised narrative is based on real events that occurred almost 80 years ago. The characters are also real, but in most cases names have been changed for reasons that will become apparent to the reader. For instance, murder—premeditated and in self-defence—was committed by the Japanese, Koreans, Javanese, and the survivors of HMAS Perth.
Red Lead, the cat belonging to HMAS Perth’s Captain Hec Waller, existed. HMAS Perth I and III honoured Red Lead with decorations on the deck of her paw prints and a silhouette of her.