Category: Ports and Bases - UK

A local journalist describes Plymouth at war: the air raids; the naval base, the heroics of civil defence.

The important flying boat base at Pembroke Dock was attacked frequently in 1940-41. It is now in a 6th edition published by Paterchurch Publications of Pembroke.

An illustrated history of the base.

Base Two was built at Rosneath in the Gareloch and housed US special forces and a squadron of submarines.

An expatriate French author recounts life in the port during the heavy German air raids.

Gives brief operational histories of the twenty-two airfields which contributed most notably to Coastal Command's part in the Battle of the Atlantic and to the defence of Plymouth.

The story of the building and use of the station just outside Arbroath when farm land was taken over for military use during World War II. Consists of lists, newspaper cuttings and photographs arranged by theme. Most recently used as a base for Royal Marine Commandos, Condor is set in one of the most beautiful places known to man. The bibliographer was however born there and may be biased.

A local historian gives a rather banal diary account of the effect of both world wars on Avonmouth and Shirehampton. Well-illustrated.

Although mainly concerned with Army and RAF, there is an interesting section on naval involvement in firing ranges.

Not really a World War II volume, but gives an excellent account of the defences in the Portsmouth area, from the Hilsea Lines to Palmerston's Follies.

Excellent photographic record of damage to the city, with lists of trawlers lost during the war.

An alphabetical list with brief annotations, followed by a gazetteer. A very useful reference work. A revised and enlarged edition was published in paperback in 2000 (ISBN: 0907771734).

A good local history.

First published in 1991 as Plymouth Blitz, this is a much enlarged and heavily illustrated account of the 1941 bombardments and the post-war rebuilding.

BEAMISH, Derek, BENNETT, Harold & HILLIER, John. Poole and World War II. 239p., illus., index. Poole: Poole Historical Trust, 1980. ISBN: 086251004X.

A chronological account of this important port covering a huge range of material from flying boats to D-Day.

DAVIES, J. D. Britannia’s Dragon: A Naval History of Wales.288p., bibliog., illus., index. Stroud: History Press, 2013. ISBN: 9780752470139.

An account of a little explored area with good coverage of WW2 ranging from the defence of Wales to the service of Welshmen in the Royal Navy.

HARDY, Clive & HARRIS, Paul. Tyneside at War: A Pictorial Account 1939-1945. 128p., illus. Newcastle: Archive Publications, 1988. ISBN: 0948946075.

Contemporary photographs with good sections on the shipyards.

Although there is a limited amount of material on World War Two itself, this gives an excellent background account of this major naval base. A revised second addition was published by Meresborough in 1987 (ISBN: 0948193301).

A photographic collection on the men, the ships, and the port.

Describes the building and operation of the Short Brothers factory building Sunderlands in the Lake District, as well as some of the battles their products fought.

An important experimental station.

A heavily illustrated account of wartime life for the FAA and RAF crews who served in the Orkneys.

A competent work with a long section on World War Two and the role of Scotland in training, maintaining and manning the fleet.

Set out as a diary this attempts to reconstruct the events which involved Dorset actively in the war, and the feel of life at the time, from murders to air raids and from convoy sinkings to the ploughing of public footpaths. Some relevant naval material. First published in 1986 by Wincanton Press as Dorset's War 1939–1945 (ISBN: 0948699027).

The fort off New Brighton was part of a major defensive system. Some marginal information on WW2.

The story of how over one thousand Italian POWs were used to help construct the causeways – the so-called Churchill Barriers - protecting Scapa Flow.

JONES, Reg Chambers. Anglesey and Gwynedd: The War Years  1939-45. 248p., bibliog., illus. Wrexham: Bridge Books, 2008. ISBN: 1844940519.

This is an enhanced and expanded edition of the book Bless 'em all : aspects of the war in north west Wales published in 1995. Has good coverage of the relevant naval, FAA and Coastal Command activities.

More concerned with the city than the port.

A good heavily illustrated account of how the community in and around the docks faced the war.

A popular and heavily illustrated work which covers both world wars.

Principally a photographic record with some excellent research.

A lyrical and rather literary account of the building of the chapel by the Italian POWs working on the defences of Scapa Flow.

A well illustrated chronological account of wartime life in the area. Some limited naval interest. Effectively a second edition of Wartime Teesside published by Dalesman in 1989 (ISBN: 0852069812) .

Liverpool was of great strategic importance and suffered badly from German air raids as a consequence. A good account of a seaport city in the thick of the war.

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.

CRITCHLEY, Bert & DAWSON, William. HMS Ringtail: Royal Naval Air Station Burscough 1943-1946. ‘Ringtail – Retail’. 23p.illus.+ 11 loose pages. Burscough: [authors], 2017.

Mainly concerned with the creation of a memorial at the site of the base, now in part a retail park. Also has some contemporary pictures and memories.

MACLEOD, John. River of Fire: The Clydebank Blitz. xiii, 338p., bibliog., illus., index. Edinburgh: Birlinn, 2010. ISBN: 9781843410492.

1941 brought one of the most savage wartime air raids when Clydebank and the surrounding towns and their shipyards were devastated by the Luftwaffe. A detailed account. A revised edition was published in 2011, ISBN: 9781841589688.        

ARMSTRONG, Craig. Edinburgh at War 1939-45. 216p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military, 2018. ISBN: 9781473879638.

From air attacks on the River Forth to Royal visits, this book paints a strong picture of the Home Front in central Scotland.

BAILEY, Geoff B. The Forth Front: Falkirk District’s Maritime Contribution to World War II. [8], 408p., bibliog., illus., index. Falkirk: Falkirk Local History Society, 2013. ISBN: 9780956048059.

 Largely based on local documents and reminiscences, this charts the areas work in shipbuilding, repair, ship conversion, provision of supplies and men – and even HMS Hood’s use of the local laundry!

BARCLAY, Gordon & MORRIS, Ron. The Fortification of the Firth of Forth 1880-1977. Xxi, 247p., bibliog., illus., index. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 2019. ISBN: 9781908332141.

A historical study, followed by a geographical description of the defences, accompanied by excellent plans. An excellent study.

ARMSTRONG, Craig. Aberdeen at War 1939-45. 176p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword, 2020. ISBN: 9781473899162.

Aberdeen suffered more air raids than any city bar London. Its shipyards and fishing fleet contributed to the war effort, while Coastal Command and the RAF launched many attacks from the surrounding area.

ARMSTRONG, Craig. Orkney and Scapa Flow at War 1939-45. 176p., bibliog.’ Illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword, 2020. ISBN: 9781473899209.

These remote islands were central to the role of the Royal Navy. Another excellent volume in this series.

BURT, Walter. Rosyth Dockyard and Naval Base Through Time. 96p., illus. Stroud: Amberley, 2016. ISBN: 978-1445648965.

Completed in 1916, the yard closed in 1925, reopening in 1938 when relations with Germany began to deteriorate again and serving throughout the Second World War where it was a major base. A well illustrated brief account.

CONE, Philip J. 100 Years of Parkeston Quay and Its Ships. 93p., illus., index. [Ramsey: author, 1983].

Of limited value but has factual details of WWII traffic.

BELL, Archie. Stranraer in World War Two.  17p.,[13]p. of plates, bibliog, illus. Stranraer : Stranraer and District Local History Trust, c1999. ISBN 0953577600.

A good account of the involvement of the town and the port of Cairnryan. There were five R.A.F. bases nearby, as well as the military port. A mix of mainly physical description with some chronology. A revised and expanded second edition was published by the Society in 2005 (ISBN 095429663X) and a third edition in 2017 (ISBN: 9781906737139).

ARMSTRONG, Craig. Dundee at War 1939-45. 160p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military, 2021. ISBN: 9781526704689.

Gives good coverage of Dundee’s little known contribution as a naval base and in shipbuilding.

OSBORNE, Brian D. & ARMSTRONG, Ronald. The Clyde at War. 192p., bibliog., illus., index. Edinburgh, Birlinn, 2001. ISBN: 9781841581873.

Another of the very fully illustrated accounts of the wartime experiences of Scottish cities and towns.

CHADWICK, Steve. Loch Ewe During World War II. [ii], 40p., illus., index. North Kessock: Wilderness Guides, 1996. ISBN: 0952813408.

A local historian describes the base, its activities and defences, the Home Fleet and Arctic convoys and the wrecking of a Liberty ship. Some personal reminiscences are included. A second edition was published by Wilderness Guides in 2014.

BOWMAN, Margaret G. The Lost Airfields of Angus. [9], 147p., bibliog., illus., index. Dundee: [author],2021. ISBN: 9781739820008.

A local historian describes the role of Angus airfields in the history of military aviation. Has good coverage of their role in FAA development and training in WW2.

TAIT, Derek. Devon at War 1939-45. 205p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military, 2017. ISBN: 9781473855755.

Recovers many contemporary news stories and has good accounts of the role of the county in the war, from Plymouth and its air raids to the disaster at Slapton Sands.

KONSTAM, Angus. Royal Navy Home Fleet 1939-1941: The Last Line of Defence at Scapa Flow. 80p., bibliog., illus., index. Oxford: Osprey, 2024. ISBN: 9781472861481.

Profusely illustrated with new artwork, 3D diagrams and maps, Konstam provides a detailed description of the Home Fleet during the first years of the war, covering many topics from the capabilities of the warships to logistics and intelligence-gathering, to how fleet organization and command.

An anecdotal account, which includes material on the US Navy at Derry, and on preparations for D-Day.

DOWNES, Michael. Oundle’s War: Memories of a Northamptonshire Town, 1939-45. xiii, 321p., illus. Oundle: Nene Press, 1995. ISBN: 0952671409.

A former teacher from Oundle School has collected wartime reminiscences ranging from the town at war, to the war service of local people to the fate of POWs. This broad approach, including many naval reminiscences, builds a telling picture of how war affected the entire community.

 HOBBS, David. HMS Jackdaw: Royal Naval Air Station Crail. 36p., illus. Crail: Crail Museum Trust, 2014.

 The base was commissioned in 1940 as a torpedo-bomber training base. The base, the training courses and the aircraft are well, if briefly, described.

TAYLOR, L. A. Growing Up In The Thirties. x, 84p. Bishop Auckland: Pentland Press, 1999. ISBN: 185821727X.

A short autobiography covering the period from his birth in 1925 to his calling up to the RN at the end of 1943. Gives a vivid account of the early war years on Tyneside.

HUGHES, Mike & HOLLIDAY, John. Tiree: War Among the Barley and Brine. vi, 154p., illus. Isle of Lewis: Island Book Trust, 2012. ISBN: 9781907443381.

A local history which covers everything from shipwreck to air-sea rescue.

HARDY, Clive. Hull at War. 172p., illus. Derby: Breedon Books, 1993. ISBN: 1873626533.

A mainly photographic account of life in a frontline port. Much naval interest from blockade runners to shipbuilding.

HARDY, Clive. Tyneside at War: A Pictorial Account 1939-45. 128p., illus. Bowdon: Archive, 1987. ISBN: 0948946075.

A photographic record of the area at war with much of maritime interest.

HADWEN, Phil. Felixstowe at War: A Military History. 192p., bibliog., illus., index. Felixstowe: Neil Wylie, 2001. ISBN: 0953654613.

A heavily illustrated history with a substantial section on WW2.

LEGG, Rodney. Dorset’s War Diary: Battle of Britain to D-Day.336p., illus., index. Wincanton: Dorset Publishing Company, 2004. ISBN: 0948699795.

An amended and updated version of his earlier work on this frontline county. Has  almost 900 entries and 500 photographs. Despite its title, the whole 1939-45 period is covered.

DALY, James. Portsmouth’s World War Two Heroes: Stories of the Fallen Men and Women.143p., bibliog., illus., index. Stroud: History Press, 2012. ISBN: 9780752463513.

Includes much naval material from Royal Oak and Royal Marines to submarines and the Merchant Navy.

WOODLAND, Derek R. A History of the Bincleaves Site. 112p., bibliog., illus. Weymouth: Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, [2001].

        This thorough and comprehensive history records the history of the naval  research establishment associated particularly with the development of torpedoes  from its creation in the nineteenth century to the end of the twentieth century.

BARTLAM, Bill & KEILLAR, Ian. World War II in Moray. xxi, 205p., illus. Kinloss: Librario, 2003. ISBN: 1904440363.

Describes the role of the armed, auxiliary and allied forces. Limited naval coverage.

SCOTT, Vernon. An Experience Shared 1939–1945. vi, 298p., bibliog., il-lus., index. Pembroke Dock: Laleham Publications, 1992. ISBN: 0952038803.

An autobiographical view of the interaction of home front and battlefront as seen from Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock where the air-sea war took place. Gives a detailed account of the ships, aircraft and men based at or passing through Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock during WW II. A second edition was published in 1993.

SMITH, David J. Action Stations. 7: Military Airfields of Scotland, the North-East and Northern Ireland. 232p., illus., index. Cambridge: PSL, 1983. ISBN: 0850595630.

An alphabetical listing with details of the base, squadrons stationed there and notable events. Good coverage of Fleet Air Arm and Coastal Command Squadrons.

SMITH, David J. Action Stations 3: Military Airfields of Wales and the North-West. 217p., illus., index. illus., index. Cambridge: Patrick Stephens, 1981. ISBN: 0850594855.

An alphabetical listing with details of the base, squadrons stationed there and notable events. Good coverage of Fleet Air Arm and Coastal Command Squadrons. A new edition was published in 1990 with a supplement of additions and corrections (ISBN: 1852603755).

ROYLE, Trevor. A Time of Tyrants: Scotland and the Second World War. xiii, 386p., bibliog., illus., index. Edinburgh: Birlinn, 2011. ISBN: 9781843410553.

A good general account which looks at Scotland’s role as everything from a convoy base to special operations base and an industrial and military powerhouse.

The last 50 pages are concerned with a routine retelling of some of the events of WWII.

Over 40 pages look at a range of activities stretching from Dunkirk to D-Day.

A detailed view of their use and the deployment of all squadrons, including FAA and Coastal Command.

A detailed view of their use and the deployment of all squadrons, including FAA and Coastal Command.

A detailed view of their use and the deployment of all squadrons, including FAA and Coastal Command. Has a pronounced RAF bias.

A heavily illustrated account of wartime life in a town very much in the front line, from air raids to the assault on Europe.

A largely photographic record of the creation and operation of the base which supported the troops for the landings on Utah beach.

The small port of Deal opposite the Goodwin Sands was in the frontline from the start of the war. Some naval material of interest.

Sixty illustrations and an accompanying text describe the response to the Royal Oak tragedy.

A collection of reminiscences, fairly equally divided between the two wars. Gives a good impression of life at the anchorage.

A local history. Over five hundred assault craft and barges used the river before D-Day, while an assortment of miscellaneous units had bases there, from scientists to SOE.

Londonderry at War. The port played a key role in the Battle of the Atlantic.

In and around this major base.

A narrative chronological history by a local historian of a town at war and one with some naval connections.

A heavily illustrated view of naval life in the West Country around the Tamar in the first half of the twentieth century.

An illustrated guide to the RAF station, used for flying boats during the war. Regularly reprinted.

Looks at the changing face of a dockyard town in the twentieth century. Heavily illustrated.

A heavily illustrated account which covers their wartime role.

Very much Home Guard and air defence focused, but with some minimal naval information.

An autobiographical tale of a young barrister, who, as his contribution to the war effort, set up in business with a 40-foot cutter to transport material from the mainland for the reconstruction of Scapa Flow.

A short, partial and very personal account.

There are over one hundred pages on WW2, covering the war experience of islanders in the armed forces, actions taking place around the islands and their role as a base for Coastal Forces and air-sea rescue.

Memories of a teenager in Oban who worked in the MacBrayne Office where she helped with the routine of sending convoys on their way.

The Port of London at war.

A good history including the raids on the docks, but with little naval material.

A good illustrated local history covering the entire war, although the major focus is 1944.

Tyneside was a major industrial area and shipbuilding area, which suffered substantial bomb damage.

A local history describing the impact of war on this part of Cornwall. It was a major base area before D-Day.

Follows on their earlier work, below, to look at the social conditions as victory approached.

Really of marginal interest in that Sunderland was an important shipbuilding port. Each page has a captioned photograph showing bomb damage to the town, largely in residential areas. Does give a good impression of the devastation caused.

A largely photographic account of the heavy damage to this great naval centre.

A profusely illustrated account of the port's contribution to victory. Attributed to T. J. Buckley. Reproduced by the publisher in 1988.

A record of the 1940–41 "Blitz." Reprinted by Scouse Press in 1993 (ISBN: 0901367273) .

A mainly photographic record.

A comprehensive history by a local journalist covering 1,000 years. Almost 150 pages are devoted to WWII.

Hill's pleasure cruiser was used as a tender during the war and is at the centre of a lively description of the effect of the war on the town, from Luftwaffe attacks to U-boat surrenders.

A solid well researched local history.

Written as a diary/chronology apparently relying heavily on local newspapers. Also has a 20-page account of the naval base. A rather colourless account of the dangers and excitements visited on the town.

Cairnryan was created to provide additional secure port facilities on the West Coast. Later it was used for surrendered U–boats and as a breakers yard. Well-researched and produced local history.

An exhaustive and comprehensive local history, which concentrates on the May Blitz of 1941.

A photographic record which tells the tale of the local involvement in the bases and training areas for Navy, Air Force and Army.

A diary of events in a front line port. Concentrates on the town.

A concise, popular paperback account.

Deals mainly with Shetland people in WWII, and as many served in the Merchant Navy there is much about the ships they were on and their fates. Also covers enemy activity around the Shetland coast and ship casualties in the area.

Includes information on Dundee's role as a submarine base for the 9th Flotilla.

The weakest of the trilogy, with little on the role of the Navy beyond the early air raids on Rosyth.

War on the West Coast began with the landing of the Athenia's survivors. The horrendous blitz on the Clyde valley is described as is the role of a variety of training establishments for everything from Combined Operations to X-Craft.

A largely photographic record of Lowestoft at war, by its mayor. Many small craft were based there and they feature prominently.

A heavily illustrated chronological account of the raids on the city and its impact on the various naval establishments. Reprinted in 1992.

Has some very limited information on coastal traffic, lifeboat rescues and the Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich bases. A second revised edition was published in 1992 (ISBN: 0711705984) .

A photographic account of Derry at War with the links to the RN emphasised prominently.

The engagingly told tale of a frontline port. Coastal convoys, magnetic mines, Dunkirk, the Blitz and D-Day were all part of its war.

Herbert was an MP for the University of Oxford. He was a law reformer, librettist, author, and public figure. Yet he still found time to enlist as a Petty Officer and take his six-ton boat Water Gipsy into the Navy. He spent six very active years combining his various careers with war service on the Thames, patrolling, towing, fetching, and carrying. Reprinted in 1970 by Howard Baker (ISBN: 0093088809).

A large number of well chosen illustrations overshadow a banal text. About half of the book covers WW2.

Some excellent atmospheric photographs, many of naval and merchant relevance and a solid accompanying text.

Over two hundred photographs cover war in the north-east of Scotland, although surprisingly few are of naval relevance. Reprinted by Lomond Books in 1995 as Aberdeen & the North East at War (ISBN: 8215958729) .

A photographic record of wartime life, including a section on Grimsby trawlers at war.

A largely photographic record of the history of the base with limited information on World War II.

A photographic record of the trials of the town.

A brief account of the wartime home of the Royal Naval Patrol Service.

A reprint of a work first published in 1948. It looks at the war as it affected the people of Caithness as well as the county and includes a roll of honour. Although a small underpopulated area it suffered all the horrors of war from being bombed, to losing nine men on Jervis Bay and having bodies from Exmouth washed up on her shores. An excellent amateur history.

A well-illustrated local study based on original material.

Good local history which shows Brightlingsea as a microcosm of the East Coast war.

Fox served in the little known Docks Operating Royal Engineers, drawn from the Territorial Army. He describes recruitment, training and service in the UK and Mediterranean.

Dover was in the front line for much of the war and this book considers various aspects of its contribution to the war effort.

Limited naval material