| ID | Description | Categories | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1762 | MINETT, Eric. The Coast is Clear - The Story of the BYMS. 433p., illus. Great Yarmouth : Eric Minett Scripsit, 2005. ISBN: 095491080X
A detailed account of the class of small minesweepers, built for the RN in the USA, known as BYMSs - British Yard Minesweepers, covering the ships, the men who served on them (mainly members of the Royal Naval Patrol Service), builders, experiences of the men on operations in all theatres plus a complete BYMS listing. |
view | |
| 1763 | NORTH, H. R. H.M.S. Adventure: The Story of the Cruiser Minelayer Built at Devonport 1922-1927 (Plymouth's Maritime Heritage, Pamphlet No. 18). 26p., bibliog., illus. Plymouth: Maritime Heritage Society, 2002.
A brief but useful survey of her building and career, not least at war. |
view | |
| 1764 | RIGBY, Albert. Before We Cross the Bar: Life on Small Ships in World War II. Collected Stories And Anecdotes. [vii], 124p., illus. Princes Risborough: author, 2001. ISBN: 0954170601.
Fourteen brief memoirs of service on minesweepers in all theaters and from BYMS to Algerines. |
view | |
| 1765 | RIGBY, Albert. MMS 172: A Telegraphist's Experience of Wartime Minesweeping. 82p., illus. Aylesbury: Kimble, 1997. ISBN: 0953013219.
An autobiography. Called up in 1941, he served for most of the rest of the war in Motor Minesweeper 172 in the Bristol Channel, off the coasts of Sardinia, Corsica and western Italy and in mine clearance of the Italian ports. An interesting little tale. |
view | |
| 1766 | SMITH, Peter. Into the Minefields: British Destroyer Minelaying 1916-1960. x, 213p., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword, 2005. ISBN: 1844152715.
About one-third of the book covers the neglected topic of the destroyer minelayers of the 20th Flotilla in Home Waters and the work done in the Far East. |
view | |
| 1767 | SOUTHALL, Ivan. Softly Tread the Brave: A Triumph over Terror, Devilry and Death by Mine Disposal Officers John Stuart Mould, GC, GM and Hugh Randal Syme GC, GM and bar. x, 293p., illus. Sydney: Angus & Robertson, 1960.
How two Australian RANVR officers became skilled at rendering bombs and mines safe in over 140 operations in the UK. Some of their exploits are reconstructed. |
view | |
| 1768 | SWORDER, Edward Robert Denys. The Time Has Come: Memoirs of a Seafaring Man. viii, 184p., illus. Fordcombe: Hendred Rowse, 2002. ISBN: 0954279301.
An autobiography. It concentrates on the war where he had a number of mine clearance roles. He served in trawlers in Home Waters, as an instructor, briefly in Walney as she charged the boom in Oran, then in staff appointments , often afloat, for the Mediterranean invasions, then was involved in mine clearance. |
view | |
| 1769 | TURNER, John Frayn. Service Most Silent: The Navy's Fight against Enemy Mines. 200p., illus. London: Harrap, 1955.
A participant gives an account of the success of the staff of HMS Vernon in tackling and beating the German campaign of mine warfare. |
view | |
| 1770 | WILLIAMS, Jack. The Algerines: Fleet Minesweepers of the Royal Navy 1942–1961. v, 387p., bibliog., illus. Blackpool: [author], 1995. ISBN: 0952314118.
An excellent operational history of each of the nine flotillas plus an account of their postwar roles. |
view | |
| 1771 | WILLIAMS, Jack. Fleet Sweepers at War: Fleet Minesweepers of the Royal Navy 1939–1945. x, 208p., bibliog., illus., index. Blackpool: [author], 1997. ISBN: 0952314126.
A sort of operational ragbag arranged by class and with much useful information. |
view | |
| 1772 | WILSON, Maurice E. A War-Time Diversion. 188p., illus. Redcar: [author], [c.1977].
Wilson was a local tradesman when war began. He quickly volunteered and trained for the Controlled Mine Watch Service. After a period of service on the Clyde, in January 1942 he sailed for Mauritius. This was idyllic if boring and, late in 1943, he was shuffled round the Indian Ocean, ending up in Colombo. In April 1944 they were drafted home and spent the last part of the war surveying and clearing ports. |
view | |
| 1773 | BOURNE, Dorothea St. Hill. They Also Serve. viii, 226p., illus., index. London: Winchester, 1947.
The Secretary of the Allied Forces Mascot Club lists the strange variety of birds and beasts to have served in action. There is a section on naval mascots. |
view | |
| 1774 | BROOME, Jack. Make a Signal. 224p., illus. London: Putnam, 1955.
A general history of naval signals, which covers several major actions of WWII through their signals at Narvik, the Bismarck chase, PQ17, Force K, the sinking of the cruiser Haguro - plus a selection of the Navy's famous wit. Reprinted by Douglas Boyd in 1994. |
view | |
| 1775 | BROOME, Jack. Make Another Signal. [v], 255p., illus. London: Kimber, 1973. ISBN: 0718301935. An anthology of signals from the Glorious First of June onward, but concentrating on WWII. Really a second edition of his earlier book Make a Signal. Illustrated with the author’s own drawings. |
view | |
| 1776 | BROWN, Winifred. No Distress Signals. [vi], 248p., illus. London: Davies, 1952.
The wartime memories of a yachtswoman who was involved in running the tenders for seaplanes arriving in the Menai Straits. |
view | |
| 1777 | BURGESS, Robert, & BLACKBURN, Roland. We Joined the Navy: Traditions, Customs and Nomenclature of the Royal Navy. vi, 124p. London: A & C Black, 1943.
Not really relevant to the story of the war, but the book is a mine of information. Aimed in part at "temporary sons of the sea." |
view | |
| 1778 | DICKSON, Robert K. Naval Broadcasts. 91p., illus. London: Allen & Unwin, 1946.
A transcript of eight BBC broadcasts and a lecture given at the University of Oxford, all made by the Chief of Naval Information, Rear Admiral Dickson. Although the war was almost over, they are notably bland and intended to inspire rather than inform. |
view | |
| 1779 | DIXON, C. Douglas. Adventure Is Never Done: A Tale of Some Ancient Mariners, Gentlemen Adventurers and Little Ships. 213, [2]p., illus. London: Gifford, 1945.
In 1942 the RN began to receive small craft from the US for harbour duties. Volunteer ferry crews were raised from the Small Vessels Pool set up for the Dunkirk evacuation. This is the story of the long voyage of HM Fleet Tender 22 from New York to Malta via the South Atlantic, in late 1943, under the captaincy of Temporary Lieutenant (RNVR) Admiral the Honourable Sir Herbert Meade Featherstonhaugh, GCVO, CB, DSO. A splendid tale. |
view | |
| 1780 | DOWNES, A. M. Q Ships in World War II: Service in HMS Botlea. (Monograph 153). 13p., illus. Garden Island: Naval Historical Society of Australia, 1996.
Botlea was fitted out as a decoy ship. She later converted to an AMC. |
view | |
| 1781 | DUNNING, John. Humber Division Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. 248p., illus. Beverley: Bishop Burton Books, 1994. ISBN: 0952414503.
In reality a history of the men from the Humber who served on the C Class cruisers and Armed Merchant Cruisers. Illustrated profusely and well. |
view |