| ID | Description | Categories | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4468 | TAYLOR, G. A. Ships and Stars and Isles: A Personal Record of Naval Service During World War II edited and annotated by Mark Taylor. 266p., illus. Bognor Regis, Woodfield, 2009. ISBN: 184683077X. An enjoyable book derived from an extensive collection of letters written by Taylor whilst he was serving with RNVR. His letters home vividly describe his wartime life ~ both on and off duty ~ whilst undergoing training and when serving at sea. Transcribed and annotated by his son and written in an informal yet informative style they reveal details of life in the RN. He served on Royal Eagle, Aubrietia, Loch Glendhu and Loch Craggie and was involved in a variety of action, from the Dover Patrol, via the Dunkirk evacuation (where he was awarded the D.S.M.), Atlantic convoys, U-boat encounters, the invasions of both North Africa and France, and ultimately the Japanese surrender in the Far East. |
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| 4469 | TURNER, John Frayn. Fight for the Sea: Naval Adventures From World War II. 245p., illus. Annapolis: NIP, 2001; Barnsley: Pen & Sword Maritime, 2013. ISBN: 9781781592687. A mixture of accounts of such operations as the Battle of the River Plate, Pearl Harbor, and the Battle of the Coral Sea, as well as lesser-known actions such as the submarine attack on Corfu harbour, the loss of the USS Leedstown, and the saga of the USS Rich. Also includes memories of John F. Kennedy's heroic actions with PT 109 and George H. W. Bush's near-death experience with an aircraft known as the "flying casket." |
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| 4470 | VAREY, Peter. Life On The Edge: Peter Danckwaerts GC, MBE, FRS brave, shy, brilliant. iv, 368p., bibliog., illus., index. Cambridge: PFV Publications, 2012. ISBN: 9780953844012. The biography of a distinguished chemical engineer and academic. During the war he served in mine and bomb disposal in London and the Mediterranean. After being wounded in Sicily, he was given a role in Combined Operations HQ working on scientific projects and intelligence. |
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| 4471 | VOLKERSZ, Veronica. The Sky and I: Leaves from the Log Book of a British Airwoman in War & Peace including the first full story of the Air Transport Auxiliary. 200p., illus. London, W. H. Allen, 1956. The author qualified as a pilot in the Civil Air Guard before the war and joined the ATA in 1940, flying with them throughout the war. She flew inter alia naval aircraft, the characteristics of some of which are commented upon. She later ferried Typhoons to Pakistan before flying for a charter company. |
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| 4472 | WALLER, John. Two Ships: They Stand Watch in Sunda Strait. 176p., bibliog., illus., index. Seattle: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2012. ISBN: 146647985X. The author’s father captained Perth when she and USS Houston were sunk in battle with Japanese forces. Of fairly limited value. |
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| 4473 | WILLIAMSON, Gordon. U-Boat Tactics in World War II (Elite Series, 183). 64p, bibliog., illus., index. Oxford: Osprey, 2010. ISBN: 9781849081733. An excellent primer and overview. |
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| 4474 | WILSON, Alastair. A Biographical Dictionary of the Twentieth-Century Royal Navy. Volume 1 - Admirals of the Fleet and Admirals. 96p., Barnsley: Seaforth, 2013. ISBN: 9781848320888. The book comes with a CD which contains the service histories and careers of the 336 most senior admirals on the Navy List from 1900 onwards. A treasure trove of information. |
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| 4475 | WINGFIELD, Mervyn. Wingfield at War (The British Navy at War and Peace, Volume 1). xi, 179p., illus., index. Dunbeath: Whittles, 2012. ISBN: 9781849950640. The autobiography of a heroic but little known officer, originally written in 1982-3 for his family. About half covers his very active wartime career. He began the war in the Indian Ocean, returned to the UK to successfully take his Perisher course, then served in Umpire, Sturgeon and Taurus in the North Sea, Arctic, Mediterranean and was the first submariner to sink a Japanese submarine. An excellent tale well told. |
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| 4476 | WINKLARETH, Robert J. The Battle of Denmark Strait A Critical Analysis of the Bismarck's Singular Triumph. 336p., bibliog., illus., index. Philadelphia: Casemate, 2012. ISBN: 1612001238. Provides a very detailed account of the action with Hood, and offers a fresh view based on photographic evidence. Reprinted in paperback in 2019, ISBN: 9781612007137. |
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| 4477 | WINSER, John de S. Coasters Go to War: Military Sailings to the Continent, 1939-1945. 144p., illus., index. Preston: Ships in Focus, 2009. ISBN: 9781901703566. The book details the convoys, cargoes and challenges faced by almost 500 coasters of ten nationalities which supplied the Army in France and Norway in 1939-40 and again in Northern Europe from D-Day onwards. |
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| 4478 | WORT, Stanley. Prisoner of the Rising Sun. ix, 178p., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military, 2009. ISBN: 1848840039. He joined up in 1940 and after training was sent to Hong Kong, where he was captured by the Japanese. The book focuses on his POW experiences. |
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| 4479 | WRAGG, David. The Escort Carrier in World War II: Combustible, Vulnerable, Expendable! vii, 232p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Maritime, 2005. ISBN: 1844152200. A good competent history, covering the British, US and Japanese experience. |
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| 4480 | WRAGG, David. Operation Neptune: The Prelude to D-Day. 256p., bibliog., illus., index. Stroud: History Press, 2014. ISBN: 0752489224. A routine account of the naval operation. |
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| 4481 | ZUEHLKE, Mark. Juno Beach: Canada's D-Day Victory: June 6, 1944. 415p., bibliog., illus., index. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 2005. ISBN: 1553650506. A good popular account of the Canadian experience. First volume of a trilogy which looks at the post D-Day and break out operations. |
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| 4482 | ZUEHLKE, Mark. Operation Husky: The Canadian Invasion of Sicily, July 10–August 7, 1943. 491p., bibliog., illus., index. Vancouver: Douglas & Macintyre, 2008. ISBN: 1553653246. A good tactical level account of Canadian involvement. |
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| 4483 | ZUEHLKE, Mark. Tragedy at Dieppe: Operation Jubilee, August 19, 1942. 437p., bibliog., illus., index. Vancouver: Douglas & Macintyre, 2012. ISBN: 1553658353. A well written but error prone account of the operation. |
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| 4484 | KAPLAN, Philip. Grey Wolves: The U-Boat War 1939-1945. 224p., illus. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Maritime, 2013. ISBN: 178159242X. Captures the nature of life on board as taken from letters, diaries, journals and poetry, but offers no real fresh insights. |
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| 4485 | MACE, Martin & GREHAN, John. Capital Ships at War 1939-1945. xvi, 191p., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Maritime, 2014. ISBN: 1783462043. Reprints six despatches with a brief introduction, namely 37989, the River Plate; 38098, the sinking of the Bismarck; 38214, the loss of Prince of Wales and Repulse; 38204, X-craft attacks on the Tirpitz; 38038, the battle of North Cape; 38308, the assault on Okinawa. |
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| 4486 | STERN, Robert C. The Hunter Hunted: Submarine Versus Submarine Encounters From World War I to the Present. viii, 248p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Chatham, 2007. ISBN; 9781861762658. Most of the encounters took place in WW2 ad range from blue-on-blue sinkings to underwater encounters. |
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| 4487 | DOWNING, Taylor. Churchill’s War Lab. Code-breakers, Boffins and Innovators: the Mavericks Churchill Led to Victory. xviii, 397p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Little Brown, 2014. ISBN: 9781408702055. An engaging account of the role of science and scientists with a helpful view of the impact on the naval war.
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