Entries

DAVIES, Caroline. Convoy. 95p. Blaenau Ffestiniog: Cinnamon Press, 2013. ISBN: 9781907090851.

A debut collection of original poetry based on the Malta convoys in which her grandfather served. Based firmly on historical events.

• Malta
• Art and Poetry

HALL, Timothy. The Fall of Singapore. 223p., bibliog., illus., index. North Ryde, NSW: Methuen Australia, 1983. ISBN: 9780454004335.

The disastrous campaign culminating in the fall of Singapore is recounted from an Australian perspective by a prolific author and freelance journalist.Reprinted by Routledge in the UK in 2015, ISBN: 9781138912427.

• The Fall of Singapore
• Australian Armed Forces

FORCZYK, Robert. German Commerce Raider vs British Cruiser: The Atlantic & The Pacific 1941. 80p., bibliog., illus., index. Oxford: Osprey, 2010. ISBN: 9781846039188.

A brief and routine but competent account of the careers of the German raiders.

• Kriegsmarine: The Raiders

PRESTON, Antony. Super Destroyers: The Big Destroyers Built in the 1930’s for Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States (Warship Special 2). 72p.illus. London: Conway, 1978. ISBN: 0851771319.

A series of essays by acknowledged experts, edited by Preston. Profusely illustrated and full of technical detail.

• Ship types: Class lists

COCKER, Maurice. Aircraft-Carrying Ships of the Royal Navy. 160p., bibliog., illus., index. Stroud: History Press, 2008. ISBN: 9780752446332.

A comprehensive guide and directory to this ships from 1912-2000. Covers all classes of aircraft carrying ships whether built or converted with specifications and building details and some minimal service details. A useful reference guide.

• Reference Works

ELLIS, Michael, von HOFSTEN, Gustaf and LAW, Derek. The Baltic Cauldron: Two Navies and the Fight for Freedom. 304p., bibliog, illus., index. Dunbeath: Whittles, 2023. ISBN: 9781849955492.

A history covering the last 500 years. Several chapters relate to activities in World War II, from blockade running to the impounding of Swedish destroyers at the Faroe Islands. A magnificent work.

• Trade Defence and Blockade

BLAKE, John. HMS Belfast Pocket Manual. iv, 156p., bibliog., illus., index. Oxford: Osprey, 2018. ISBN: 9781472827821.

This fascinating book comprises a series of documents that give information on the building of the ship, her wartime service history and life on board.

• Cruisers

O’FLAHERTY, Chris. Torpedoes, Tea, and Medals: The Gallant Life of Commander D. G. H. 'Jake' Wright DSC** Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. xv, 190p., illus. Oxford: Casemate, 2022. ISBN:9781636241401

One of the first Volunteer Reserves to be called up, he was training at HMS King Alfred, when his war began at Dunkirk, helping to evacuate stragglers after Operation DYNAMO. He then volunteered for Motor Torpedo Boats, where he served with valour and distinction for which he received many honours.

• Biography

STOKE, Jeremy. More Lives Than a Ship's Cat: The Most Highly Decorated Midshipman in the Second World War.  xxi, 265p., illus. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Maritime, 2022. ISBN: 9781399071369

Aged nineteen, Mick Stoke was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his courage during the Siege of Tobruk. He survived multiple torpedo attacks, firstly serving on the cruiser Glasgow, which was hit twice; on the battleship Queen Elizabeth both at sea and when blown up by human torpedoes at Alexandria; and on HMS Hardy, struck in January 1944, while escorting Arctic Convoy JW56B. In 1942, he was serving on HMS Carlisle during the Malta convoys and he took part in the Battle of Sirte. Later that year he was awarded the MBE 'for outstanding bravery, resource and devotion to duty during very heavy bombing' at the port of Bone during Operation TORCH. He went on to serve at D-Day and later in the Pacific on HMS Rajah. An amazing story.

MACILLEATHAIN, Ruaraidh. Cha Til Mise: Conbhoidbean dhan Ruis anns an Darna Cogath [I will not return: Convoys to Russia in the Second World War]. (9), 256p., bibliog., illus., index. Stornoway: Acair Books, 2022. ISBN: 9781789070958
Although most of the book – perhaps 80% - is in Gaelic, there is a significant amount of English language material in the form of official reports and extracts from diaries and letters. The book is also profusely illustrated. The main focus is on the escort Achates and on the stories of convoys PQ16 and JW51B.

• The Arctic Convoys

PEYTON JONES, Loftus E. Wartime Wanderings 1939-1945. (6), 330p. bibliog., illus. [n.p.]: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2019. ISBN: 9781979816298.

        The memoir was first written for his family, but when he died in 2000, his son edited the memoir, adding photographs and archival documents from his father’s collection to pass round the family and friends. A corrected edition was then published in 2019. He joined the RN in 1936 and when war started was a sub-lieutenant on Penelope and served in the Norwegian campaign. In 1940 he commissioned the Hunt Class destroyer Brocklesby which served as a coastal convoy escort. He next joined Achates as her First Lieutenant and served in Arctic convoys until her loss in the Battle of the Barents Sea in 1942. He then transferred to submarines and sailed on his first patrol in Sahib in the Mediterranean incSpring 1943. It was his first and last patrol as she was sunk in action and he was rescued and became a POW in Italy. He escaped later that year and was soon appointed captain of the Hunt Class destroyer Easton operating in the Aegean, serving with her until war’s end. An astonishing tale.

• Autobiography

HALL, Ivan. Christmas in Archangel: a Memoir of Life in the Merchant Navy 1939-1946. 244p. Bloomington, Ind.: Trafford Publishing, 2009. ISBN: 9781425119706.

An autobiography. He went to sea aged 16 in 1939 and travelled to South America, on Arctic convoys – where his ship was frozen in at Archangel in the winter of 1941/2 – took part in the Mediterranean invasion convoys and finally served in the Indian Ocean.

• The Merchant Navy

McKINSTRY, Leo. Cinderella Boys: The Forgotten RAF Force that Won the Battle of the Atlantic.336p., bibliog., illus., index. London: John Murray, 2023. ISBN: 9781529319378.

An excellently written and well researched account of this much neglected force and their battles.

• Coastal Command

SHERIT, Kathleen. Women on the Front Line: British Servicewomen’s Path to Combat. 288p., bibliog., illus., index. Stroud: Amberley, 2020. ISBN: 9781445696843.

This very well written book by a former member of the RAF, provides useful background on the development of the WRNS in  the Second World War.

• WRNS

RAVEN, Alan. Royal Navy Camouflage (Warship Perspectives). 3 vols., illus. Lynbrook, N.Y.: WR Press, 2000.

The volumes are arranged chronologically. A fourth supplementary volume was published in 2003.

• Royal Navy: General Works

MELHUISH, Arnold. Commodore Robin Aveline Melhuish. vii, 79p., illus. Gairloch: Wordworks, 2013. ISBN: 9780956465740.

Originally published for family and friends by the son of his first cousin, this brief biography is republished on behalf of the Russian Arctic Convoy Museum and recounts his service in WW1 and the Royal Indian Navy, but focuses on his service in WW2, notably on Arctic convoys.

• The Merchant Navy

BARD, Robert. Channel Islands at War: A Dark History. 96p., bibliog., illus. Stroud: Amberley, 2014. ISBN: 9781445640372.

Very much focused on the experience of occupation and on the hidden tale of collaboration by islanders.

• The Channel Islands

GARRETT, Leah. X Troop: The Secret Jewish Commandos Who Helped To Defeat The Nazis. xiv, [2]351p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Chatto & Windus, 2021. ISBN: 9781784743116.

A still secret troop often described as a suicide squad, these men assumed false identities to disguise their origins. This well researched book focuses on several individuals who say action at Dieppe, in Italy, at D-Day, in Normandy, in the Adriatic and in the final battles in Northern Europe.

• The Commandos

HOLLAND, James. The Savage Storm: The Battle for Italy 1943. liii, 565, [21]p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Bantam, 2023. ISBN: 9781787636682.

More excellent work based on letters, diaries and official papers this volume tells the story of the protracted and bloody campaign in Italy with good coverage of the various invasions.

• The Mediterranean Invasions

BENNETT, G.H. The War for England’s Shores: S-Boats and the Fight Against British Coastal Convoys. xx, [2], 273p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Seaforth, 2023. ISBN: 9781399077910.

An experienced author examines the Kriegsmarine's neglected S-Boat campaign in the English Channel and the North Sea from 1940 to 1945. A wide-ranging and thorough work.

• German Armed Forces