Entries

ALPERT, Michael. The Spanish Civil War at Sea: Dark and Dangerous Waters. 256p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Maritime, 2021. ISBN: 9781526764362.

The Royal Navy had a significant role on the fringes of the Spanish Civil War which has been much neglected. This is a good introduction to the experience gained in these difficult pre-war years.

• Preparations for War

MCKAY, John R. Surviving the Arctic Convoys: The Wartime Memoir of Leading Seaman Charlie Erswell. 200p., illus. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Maritime, 2021. ISBN: 9781399013031.

He served from 1941 to 1946 then briefly in the merchant navy. Although he saw action in several theatres it is the tale of life on the Arctic convoys which lies at the heart of this memoir.

• Autobiography
• The Arctic Convoys
• Royal Navy Autobiographies & Biographies

WYNN, Stephen. The Shetland ‘Bus’: Transporting Secret Agents Across the North Sea in WW2. 216p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military, 2021. ISBN: 9781526735355.

A good modern account of the work of this special operations group.

• Special Service Units

JELLICOE, Nicholas. C. George Jellicoe: SAS and SBS Commander. 336p., illus. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military, 2021. ISBN: 9781399009447.

A biography of his father, a man with a life full of action and drama.

• Biography
• Special Service Units

SANGSTER, Andrew. Alan Brooke: Churchill’s Right Hand Critic. A Reappraisal of Lord Alanbrooke. 368p., bibliog., illus., index. Oxford: Casemate, 2021. ISBN: 9781612009681.

Although this offers a full biographical career of his childhood, service in WW1 and in the inter-war years, it focusses on his period as Chief of the Imperial General Staff during WW2.

• Biography
• The British Army

PAGE, Gwendoline. We Kept the Secret: Now It Can Be Told. Some Memories of Pembroke V Wrens Collected and Edited by Gwendoline Page. xii, 169p., illus. Wymondham:, Reeve, 2002. ISBN: 0900616652.

A wonderful collection of memories from the Wrens who served at Bletchley Park and the various out stations at home and abroad.       

• Autobiography
• Intelligence
• WRNS

COPEMAN, Harold. At War at Sea in the Med 1941-44: The Naval Diary of Harold Copeman transcribed and edited by Caroline and Chris Pond. 64p., illus. Loughton: The Alderton Press, 2020. ISBN: 9781905269310.

Published by the family to mark the centenary of his birth. Has some background contextual detail but basically transcribes the diary he kept on the coding sheets he used as a leading coder. Entries are short and sparse, typically a sentence for each day, but give a good picture of daily life on the lower deck. He served principally on the cruiser Cleopatra and Aurora  

• Autobiography
• The Battle for the Mediterranean
• Royal Navy Autobiographies & Biographies
• Cruisers

BALLANTYNE, Iain. Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom. The Final Act in the Mission to Sink Bismarck. x, 102p., London: Ipso Books, 2016. ISBN: 9781911295464.

A good retelling of the story, which focuses on the final twenty-four hours of the Bismarck. Makes extensive use of transcripts of interviews with surviving veterans.

• The Hunt for the <em>Bismarck</em>
• Kriegsmarine: Major Surface Units

SANTARINI, Marco. Bismarck and Hood: The Battle of the Denmark Strait. A Technical Analysis for a New Perspective. 169p., bibliog., illus., index. Stroud: Fonthill, 2013. ISBN: 9781781552315.

An Italian Admiral and gunnery specialist has produced  a very dry technical account of the action replete with mathematical formulas and calculations of what happened.

• The Hunt for the <em>Bismarck</em>
• Battle Cruisers
• Kriegsmarine: Major Surface Units

HORE, Peter. Bletchley Park’s Secret Source: Churchill’s Wrens and the Y Service in World War II. xiv, 210p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Greenhill, 2021. ISBN: 9781784385811.

Uncovers the hidden story of the Wrens who ran the Y Service chain of wireless intercept stations which provided much of the raw data for Bletchley Park. Engagingly told with strong use of recollections from those who served.

• Intelligence
• WRNS

HASTINGS, Max. Operation Pedestal: The Fleet that Battled to Malta 1942. xxxiii, 428p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Collins, 2021. ISBN: 9780008364946.

A good account of the convoy, sympathetic to the Royal Navy, and delivered in his usual trenchant and judgemental style.

• Malta

MANN, A.J., One Jump Ahead: Escape on the Vyner Brooke. 18p., 150p., [n.p.], 2020. ISBN: 9788619517712.

Mann was Second Mate on the s.s. Vyner Brooke. This is his personal account of his escape from Singapore, the loss of his ship, and his subsequent flight through the Dutch East Indies.

• Autobiography
• The Fall of Singapore
• The Merchant Navy
• Shipwrecks & Sinkings

MIZZI, John A. Operation Pedestal: the Story of the Santa Marija Convoy. vii, 68, [20]p. Valletta, Midsea Books, 2012. ISBN:9789993274063.

This heavily illustrated account marks the seventieth anniversary of the convoy and includes a substantial Roll of Honour.       

• Malta

KAY, Mary. Tin Can Heroes: Max Grey’s Story as Told to Mary Kay. [124p]., illus. Smithton, Tas.; Circular Head Heritage Centre, c.2010.

Called up in 1941 he trained at the Flinders Naval Depot, then served on HMAS Adelaide, Ararat and Australia. This is his story of his war service.

• Biography
• Royal Australian Navy

REID, Richard. Australia Under Attack: Sydney and the Midget Submarines, 1942. 64p., illus. Canberra: Department of Veteran’s Affairs, 2007. ISBN: 1920720014.

A short illustrated account. Part of a series published by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. The re-use of the ISBN suggests this may be a revised version of the authors 2002 work No Cause for Alarm, q.v.

• The Loss of the Far East
• Royal Australian Navy

Formal End of War; H.M.A.S. Shropshire; Battle of Surigao Strait. 2,3,5p. [Canberra], Naval Historical Society of Australia, A.C.T. Chapter, [1983]. ISBN: 9780909153182.

Three essays describing the service of HMAS Shropshire, including her presence at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay and her part in the Battle of Surigao Strait.

• Victory over Japan
• Royal Australian Navy: Cruisers

H.M.A.S. Yarra ; Epic of the Jervis Bay ; H.M.A.S. Ovens. 6, 5, [1]p., [2] p. of plates. [Canberra] : Naval Historical Society, A.C.T. Chapter, [1983]. ISBN: 0909153213.

Three brief essays. One Is on the three ships of name Yarra; One covers the Jervis Bay. Her Captain Fogarty Fegan had served in the Australian Naval College named Jervis Bay, while thirdly, HMAS Ovens is a post-war preserved submarine.

• The <em>Jervis Bay</em> Action
• Royal Australian Navy: Destroyers, Frigates and Sloops

STOREY, Neil R. Britain’s Coast at War: Invasion Threat, Coastal Forces, Bombardment & Training for D-Day. 288p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military, 2021. ISBN: 9781399001229.

A good account of the significant role played by the military and civilian populations of the coastal towns and cities throughout the war.

• Ports and Bases - UK

JACKSON, Robert. The Bismarck. 96p., illus., index. Staplehurst: Spellmount, 2002. ISBN: 1862271739.

A detailed account of her development and construction, comparisons with other German capital ships and chapters on her brief career. Finally, there is an account of the building and career of the Tirpitz. Profusely illustrated, this is a slim volume but crammed with facts.

• The Hunt for the <em>Bismarck</em>
• Kriegsmarine: Major Surface Units

LAMB, Christian. Beyond the Sea: A Wren at War. 304p., illus., index. London: Mardle Books, 2021. ISBN: 9781914451027.

A largely autobiographical work, much of it retelling the story of her war years, as in her earlier book I Only Joined for the Hat, q.v. This volume also gives a full account of her pre-war and post-war life.

• Autobiography
• WRNS