Derek Law's Bibliography

Entries

ID Description Categories
3462 SPURR, Russell. Let the Tiger Turn Tail: Spurr's War. 203p., illus. Edinburgh: Mainstream, 1992. ISBN: 185158479X.

The rather picaresque adventures of a ne'er-do-well who gravitated from the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders to the Indian Army and thence to RIN Coastal Forces. He found an enjoyable role as an official photographer with the RIN and saw action on the field and in bed as the Japanese-conquered areas were liberated.

view
3463 STREATFIELD-JAMES, E. C. In the Wake: The Birth of the Indian and Pakistan Navies. 224p., illus. Edinburgh: Skilton, 1983. ISBN: 0284985805.

Really an autobiography covering the author's service in the RIN from 1921 to 1948. During the war he created and commanded the Cochin Local Defence Flotilla, was Sea Transport Officer Bombay, then held more senior shore-based appointments.

view
3464 ALLISON, David. Flying Navy: New Zealanders Who Flew in the Fleet Air Arm. 319p., bibliog., illus., index. Auckland: Fleet Air Arm Museum of New Zealand, 2009. ISBN: 9780473144609.

Gives an account of the setting up of the Fleet Air Arm and of all New Zealand deaths in service with potted histories of the individuals., arranged chronologically. The vast majority dies in WW2, often in accidents.

view
3465 CHURCHOUSE, Jack. The Pamir under the New Zealand Ensign. xi, 284p., bibliog., illus. Wellington: Millwood, 1978. ISBN: 0908582048.

She was a beautiful Finnish windjammer seized as a prize in 1941 when Finland was formally declared an enemy state. Includes a voyage by voyage account of her subsequent career trading on the New Zealand–San Francisco Run.

view
3466 COX, Bryan. Too Young to Die: The Story of a New Zealand Fighter Pilot in the Pacific War. [vii], 290p., illus. Auckland: Century Hutchinson, 1987; Ames: Iowa UP, 1989. ISBN: 0813802059.

Cox joined up in 1943 aged 18 and paints a vivid picture of island-based fighter squadrons.

view
3467 FRAME, Alex. Flying Boats: My Father's War in the Mediterranean. 208p., illus. Wellington: Victoria University Press, 2007. ISBN: 0864735626.

The flying boat career of the author's father, especially the period 1940-1941, flying in the Mediterranean.

view
3468 GILLESPIE, Oliver A. The Pacific (Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45). xii, 395p., bibliog., illus., index. Wellington: Department of Internal Affairs, 1952.

Although basically the story of the New Zealand 3rd Division, the nature of the Pacific War meant the close involvement of the Navy.

view
3469 HORN, Alex. Wings over the Pacific: The RNZAF in the Pacific Air War. xi, 228p., illus., index. Auckland: Random Century, 1992. ISBN: 1869411528.

A comprehensive but informal history of the RNZAF in the Pacific, covering everything from seaplanes to land-based Corsairs.

view
3470 LADD, Fred with ANNABELL, Ross. A Shower of Spray and We're Away! 233p., illus. Wellington: Reed, 1971. ISBN: 0589006924.

An autobiography. Has a short but interesting section on his war service, mainly in an Avenger Squadron

view
3471 ROSS, J. M. S. Royal New Zealand Air Force (Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45). xv, 344p., illus., index. Wellington: Department of Internal Affairs, 1955.

Much useful background on the war in the Pacific and on the loss of the Far East.

view
3472 BALLINGER, Ralph. By Land and by Sea. 204p., illus. Blenheim: R & P Ballinger, 1996. ISBN: 090856371X.

An autobiography. His diary for 1940-42 is topped up by reminisces of his childhood and post-war career. He volunteered in 1940, trained in the UK and served mainly on Kipling at home and in the Mediterranean. In 1942 he was moved to work on food production since he had a degree in agriculture.

view
3473 BEAVER, Floyd. Sailor From Oklahoma: One Man's Two-Ocean War. ix, 303p., illus., index. Annapolis, MD; NIP, 2009. ISBN: 9781591140603.

A thoroughly enjoyable memoir. He enlisted in the USN in 1939 and over the course of the war served in fifteen ships. There is an excellent account of his service in the corvette Moa in 1943 until her sinking, while he was acting as a liaison signaller.

view
3474 CASSELLS, K. R. Fairmile Flotillas of the Royal New Zealand Navy. 125p., bibliog., illus., index. Wellington: New Zealand Ship & Marine Society, 1993. ISBN: 095978344X.

Describes their design and construction as well as operational history, including deployment in the Solomons. Includes plans of these Type B MLs 400–411

view
3475 CLAUSEN, Stuart. Towards Victory: Pictorial Record of the Gambia. 48p., illus. Palmerston: author, 1993. ISBN: 0473021595.

A straightforward pictorial record.

view
3476 DEAR, M. L. Two Hits and a Miss. 36p., bibliog., illus. Auckland: Royal New Zealand Navy Museum, 1995. ISBN: 0477017509.

Describes three engagements between New Zealand warships and Japanese submarines, two resulting in the sinking of the submarines.

view
3477 DICKINSON, Olivia. The Forgotten Service: DEMS, 1939–1945. 80p., illus. Wellington, author, 1995. ISBN: 0473032449.

New Zealanders were amongst the naval personnel serving as gun crew on merchant shipping.

view
3478 GAMBRILL, Timothy. New Zealand Cruisers in Combat. 164p., bibliog., illus., index. Palmerston North: Dunmore, 1988. ISBN: 0864690886.

A routine brief retelling of the operational histories of Achilles, Gambia, Leander, and Neptune, all from secondary sources.

view
3479 GLOVER, Dennis. Hot Water Sailor. 200p., illus. Wellington: Reed, 1962.

About half of the book gives a light-hearted account of his war. He joined the New Zealand Volunteer Reserve just after the war started. He was sent to England and trained at Ganges, joined Onslaught as a seaman for Russian convoy work, and was then commissioned. The tale continues with his role in the Normandy landings where he commanded an assault ship.

view
3480 HARKER, Jack. Almost HMNZS Neptune.335p., illus., index. Wellington: Moana, 1991. ISBN: 0908705727.

Neptune had a busy war but was sunk in a Mediterranean minefield with heavy loss of New Zealand life in December 1941 before she could become the RNZN's promised fourth cruiser.

view
3481 HARKER, Jack S. The Birth and Growth of the Royal New Zealand Navy. xiv, 491p., illus. Bishop Auckland: Pentland Press, 2001. ISBN: 1858218047.

A comprehensive and very well written account which focuses on the Second World War.

view