Category: The Arctic Convoys

BURKETT, Molly & STREET, Robert. Once Upon A Wartime X. 96p., illus. Grantham: Barny Books, 2001. ISBN: 1903172144.

A small set of oral recollections. Only one is naval. Douglas Martin joined up in mid-1942 and after radar training was posted to Allynback [sic – presumably Alynbank] in Cardiff in mid-1943. He took part in HUSKY and when she decommissioned he was sent to Serapis and the Russian convoys. She moved south for D-Day. He then transferred to Zest in mid-1945.

MASON, Alfred Grossmith. Arctic Warriors: A Personal Account of Convoy PQ18. 224p., illus. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Maritime, 2013. ISBN: 9781783030378.

The author was Navigation and Gunnery Officer on the ss Empire Baffin. This account is based on his contemporary diary.

MALLALIEU, J. P. W. Very Ordinary Seaman. 278p. London: Gollancz, 1944.

The fictionalised account of the author’s five months in a destroyer notably on the Murmansk run. A classic account of life on the lower with a notably strong account of how disparate and often selfish individuals shake down to become a cohesive team.   

LLEWELLYN-JONES, Malcolm. The Royal Navy and the Arctic Convoys: A Naval Staff History.  viii, 194p., illus. London: Routledge, 2007. ISBN: 0714652849.

First issued by the Historical Section of the Admiralty as a confidential internal study in 1954, this grew out of the earlier Battle Summary No. 22 compiled by Commander J. Owen issued in 1943 to cover the convoys run to North Russia in the last half of 1942 and early 1943. That wartime Battle Summary was finally revised and expanded by Commander L.J. Pitcairn-Jones to include all the main convoys run from August 1941 until the end of the war. This has a new introduction.

BENNETT, G.H. Hitler’s Ghost Ships: Graf Spee, Scharnhorst and Disguised German Raiders (Britannia Naval Histories of World War II). 216p., illus. Plymouth: University of Plymouth Press, 2012. ISBN: 9781841023076.

Combines three of the British official battle summaries: The destruction of the Graf Spee at the River Plate (Battle Summary 26); the sinking of the Scharnhorst at the Battle of the North Cape (Battle Summary 24); and some eight actions with German raiders in 1940-41(Battle Summary 13). The whole is linked with a good introduction.

FRENCH, John. Catalina Over Arctic Oceans: Anti-Submarine and Rescue Flying in World War II. 180p., illus. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation, 2013. ISBN: 1781590532.

A long and varied career is described with relish.

LUND, Paul, & LUDLAM, Harry. PQ17 - Convoy to Hell: The Survivor’s Story. 240p., illus., index. London: Foulsham, 1968. ISBN: 0572006284.

A dramatic account of the convoy based on a wide collection of survivors' reminiscences. Lund was in the escort trawler Lord Austin. Reprinted in 2010 as I Was There on PQ17 the Convoy to Hell: Through the Icy Russian Waters of World War II. ISBN: 057203542X.

TAYLOR, J. E. Northern Escort. 128p., frontis. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1945.

A participant's fictionalised account of four days on the Murmansk run.

BEITZELL, Robert. The Uneasy Alliance: America, Britain and Russia, 1941–1943. xiv, 404, xviip., bibliog., index. New York: Knopf, 1972. ISBN: 0394441931

A view of the often acrimonious relationship of which the Arctic convoys were a part. Concentrates on the major conferences between the heads of government.

BROWN, Peter C. Voices From the Arctic Convoys. 219p., illus., index. Stroud: Fonthill Media, 2014. ISBN: 1781552843.

Some thirty brief oral reminiscences from a mixture of naval and merchant participants.

A good account taking full advantage of ULTRA information and enlivened with survivors’ stories.

A historical and technical analysis of convoy JW55B and the events leading to the action, in the first of what was to prove an excellent series.

An account of perhaps the last fleet action involving only capital and lesser surface ships and in which the Scharnhorst was sunk.

The last surface duel between battleships in the history of naval warfare is ably described and Admiral Fraser's reputation enhanced.

After the disaster of PQ17, PQ18 proved a relative success. A good workmanlike history.

A highly sentimentalised account of lower deck life on the A/A cruiser Pozarica. The author took part in the murderous battle as one of her crew and describes this well and professionally.

Aimed at younger readers, it is nonetheless useful as it is based on a previously unpublished diary by an Armed Guard Ensign on the s.s. Troubador.

A most controversial book about a controversial convoy and the subject of litigation. As always, the author has discovered a formidable array of sources. A revised second edition was published in 1980 (ISBN: 0718304772) .

GEROUX, William. The Ghost Ships of Archangel: The Arctic Voyage That Defied the Nazis. 337p., illus. New York: Viking, 2019. ISBN: 9780525557463.

         A dramatic account of PQ17 based on personal accounts, which focuses on four of the ships in the convoy. During the height of the attacks on July 5, the armed trawler Ayrshire escorted the merchantmen Silver Sword, Ironclad and Troubadour, in a dash directly into the ice barrier. Once anchored, the ships’ crews painted their superstructures white to camouflage the vessels. Then, moving slowly along the ice edge and skirting the eastern extremes of the Barents Sea, the four ships eventually made port.

CROWDY, Terry. Formidable: Arthur Flint's War Against Tirpitz and the Kamikazes. 256p., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Maritime, 2023. ISBN: 9781399087667.
The wartime story of the author’s grandfather, Arthur Flint, from the Battle of Matapan to the landings in North Africa, Sicily and Salerno, to the Arctic hunt for Tirpitz, then Formidable steamed east to Sydney in 1945 and joined the British Pacific Fleet, fighting alongside the Americans at Okinawa and the final assault against Japan. Profusely illustrated with contemporary images.
 

BOYD, Andrew. Arms for Russia & The Naval War in the Arctic, 1941–1945. 576p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Seaforth, 2024. ISBN: 9781399038867.

A fresh view of the war in the Arctic from a major author. Well researched and fluently written it offers new perspectives on the importance of the convoys.

SMITH, William. Allied Convoys to Northern Russia, 1941–1945: Politics, Strategy and Tactics. 256p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Maritime, 2024. ISBN: 9781399054737.

        Explores the not well known and often neglected area of the wider political, diplomatic and military factors which governed the campaign.

KENYON, David. Arctic Convoys: Bletchley Park and the War for the Seas. 336p., bibliog., illus., index. New Haven, CT: Yale U.P., 2023. ISBN: 9780300269444.

A good new account of these important battles which emphasises the role of signals intelligence.

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.

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.

PARKER, Charles Joseph. Red Duster to White Ensign: My Life at Sea in Peace and War. xiv, 112p., illus. Spiderwize: Peterborough, 2018. ISBN: 9781912694747.

Written in the 1970’s and as edited by his son in the 1990’s, this is his autobiography. He joined the Merchant Navy in 1921, aged fifteen. In 1940 he transferred to the RN where he served as a Steward. He was first on the minelayer Port Napier until her grounding and sinking that November. In March 1941 he joined the AMC Laconia, but when she was returned to the Merchant Navy as a troopship in September 1941, he joined the A/A ship Alynbank until the end of 1943, first on Arctic convoys and then in the Mediterranean. In May 1944 he joined the carrier Speaker briefly for six months then finally joined the LSI Keren where he served until discharged in 1946.

BEAN, Charles. The Life & Love of a Seafaring Man. [4], 136p., illus. Hobart, Tasmania: [author], c.2004.

         A very anecdotal autobiography and set of poems. He served on Honeysuckle in the Atlantic and Arctic and later as a frogman in the Indian Ocean and Pacific. Full of tall tales and exciting action.

An interesting account which also covers his return voyage in which he was sunk in the s.s. Richard Bland in RA53 in March 1943.

REEVES, M. C. Russian Convoys Sept. 1941 – May 1945 (NHSA Monograph 47). 13p, illus. Garden Island, NSW: Naval Historical Society of Australia, 1995.

 A lecture given to the Society which focuses on the role of the cruiser Berwick. Reprinted in 2002 as Monograph 147.

BLOND, Georges. Ordeal below Zero: The Heroic Story of the Arctic Convoys in World War 2. 199p., illus. London: Souvenir, 1956.

Concentrates on the convoys between PQ16 and PQ18, on JW51B and on the X-craft attack on the Tirpitz (Operation Source) plus a brief account of the Scharnhorst action. Reprinted in 1987 by Firecrest and by Souvenir Press in 2018.

BURGHAM, Allen Russell. Wearing Wings: the War Memoir of Lt. Cmdr Allen Russell Burgham, DSC, MID, CD RNZNVR (Ret’d), RCNVR (Ret’d). e-book. 40p., illus. [n.p., c.2010].

The brief memoir of a New Zealander who joined up in 1941 and served with distinction on carriers in the Atlantic and Arctic.

KITCHINGHAM, William J. Bluenoses, Bears and Bandits: Sea Service to Commandos. An Account of Some Events in the Service Life of the Author. (Royal Marines Historical Society Special Publication No 43). [3], 125p., illus. Southsea: Royal Marines Historical Society, 2015. ISBN: 9781908123121.

Aged 17 he enlisted in the Marines in 1941. After training, in 1943 he was posted to a special detachment acting as orderlies for the Prime Minister and Chiefs of Staff. He visited Canada and the USA with Churchill. Now a Corporal he joined Jamaica at the start of 1944 and served on Arctic convoys. After almost a year he left the ship when she went to refit. Early in 1945 he formed part of the Marine detachment which accompanied and guarded Churchill at the Yalta Conference. In March he joined Duke of York and sailed with her for service in the Pacific. After the war he moved to the Royal Marine Commandos where he served out his active and happy career.

MANN, Chris & JÖRGENSEN, Christer. Hitler’s Arctic War: The German Campaigns in Norway, Finland and the USSR 1940-1945. 224p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military, 2016. ISBN; 147388456X.

A well-illustrated general history which includes coverage both of the Norwegian campaign and the Arctic convoys, as well as the land campaigns in Finland and Russia.

OMMANNEY, Francis D. Flat-Top: The Story of an Escort Carrier. 63p., illus. London: Longmans Green, 1945.

A propaganda account of life aboard a “Woolworth” carrier on an Arctic convoy. The author was the Meteorological Officer when she sailed north.

THOMAS, Leona J. Through Ice and Fire: A Russian Arctic Convoy Diary 1942. 216p., illus. Stroud: Fonthill, 2015. ISBN: 9781781554401.

A short history taken from her father’s papers. It records his service on Ulster Queen  in 1942 when she took part in PQ15 and PQ18 as well as QP12 and covers time spent in Archangel.

92p., bibliog., illus. Baltimore: PublishAmerica, 2010. ISBN: 1451201567. A memoir by an American merchant seaman survivor of the convoy.

A reporter’s account of a bloody Arctic convoy in which Garland was damaged by air attack.

Diary of service by a leading steward on the trawler Daneman, in Norway, home waters, and above all the Arctic. Covers 1940-43.

The story of a young merchant seaman. He sailed in the New Westminster City on PQ13 and was badly injured in a bombing raid on Murmansk. The book tells of his dreadful experiences, of an abortive attempted return on Edinburgh, and his final return, now handicapped.

A naval reservist, he served on the armed yacht St. Sunniva, on Cardiff, and on Lapwing on which he was sunk in the Arctic. Also covers more generally the fate of Hebrideans lost in the war at sea.

A photographic record.

A thoroughly competent and scholarly modern operational history of the convoys.

After PQ18 when Arctic convoys were briefly suspended, 13 merchantmen were sailed independently in Operation FB. This is their story. Has many fact-rich appendices.

The story of a "typical" Russian convoy aimed "to awaken people to the job the [American] merchant marine is doing. "

The story of the cruiser Edinburgh from sailing east with PQ14 to her last gallant action in Arctic waters. Also looks at the fate of the survivors.

A nicely told tale of one ship and its experience and sinking in RA64 while carrying some escaping Norwegians. Reconstructed from diaries, oral history and official reports.

A good overview of World War II naval operations in this area. After setting the stage by describing arctic conditions and Allied and Axis strategic considerations, the book goes on to cover the Battles of Narvik, the PQ17 convoy disaster, the sinking of Scharnhorst and Tirpitz, and the Battle of the Barents Sea.

On 11 December 1944 Cassandra was badly damaged by U 365 with 62 of her crew lost, while escorting convoy RA62 back from Murmansk. She was towed back there at three knots or less over four days in an epic of salvage. Reproduces accounts of survivors. Reached a third edition in 2002.

A good general history which focuses on QP13 and PQ17.

Aimed at an American audience, this little book, with drawings by Gordon Grant, gives a highly dramatised account of a Russian convoy.

Based largely on the accounts of survivors, this tells the story of the American Merchant Marine’s participation. It is full of atmospheric detail but is careless with fact. For example, the QP series of convoys is always referred to as PQ, while the Japanese are credited with sinking Renown and Repulse.

Campbell spent two years as Captain (D) of the 3rd Flotilla, whose M Class destroyers were a mainstay of the Arctic escorts, while Macintyre was a stalwart of the Atlantic battle. Their experience is used to give one of the best descriptions of the Arctic convoys and all the major associated battles.

A popular account of the Arctic convoys of which more than half is devoted to PQ17, PQ18, and JW51B.

A comprehensive and clear account of these bitter battles, with a clear British perspective.

The senior officer of the close escort of PQ17 gives his view of the convoy through an examination of the operational signals.

An attempt at a fresh view of the convoys concluding that the sacrifice was undeniable but that the cargoes delivered were little valued by Stalin.

An operational history, probably the best available, beautifully and lucidly written.

Gives a good account based on oral testimony.

A grandson of Captain Brundle recounts the epic tale of her voyage, torpedoing and recovery. A somewhat fragmented account.

The author served as a Leading Writer with the Naval Party at Polyarnoe and was the founder member of the North Russia Club. A mix of anecdotes, songs, signals and potted facts.

Describes how in 1990 he sailed his yacht to Murmansk. this trip is interspersed with memories of his experience on Lancaster Castle, escorting an Arctic convoy in March 1945.

Some thirty accounts giving an American perspective, largely from the merchant marine.

The strategic and political background to the Russian convoys.

A considerably updated version of the admiral’s earlier work below, making full use of subsequent revelations. This new work is different in style and much more of a reference book.

Essentially a reference book. It lists all the sailings to and from Russia both of numbered convoys and individual sailings. Full details of the composition of each convoy are given along with a brief account of its passage. Well illustrated.

The battle surrounding convoy JW51B. On New Year’s Eve 1942, a small force of destroyers and two cruisers held off the Hipper and Lutzow with great gallantry and saved the convoy. US subtitle, The Defeat of Hitler’s Navy. Reprinted by Alison in 1988 (ISBN: 1590131029).

Edinburgh was sunk in action in the Barents Sea in 1942, while carrying a fortune in gold from Russia. The first quarter of the book describes the career and end of the cruiser, the rest the daring and difficult recovery of the gold in 1981.

A good detailed account arguing convincingly on the importance of the convoy.

The short career of Trinidad, written by a member of her crew. Her service was entirely in Northern waters and the Arctic. While escorting PQ13, she torpedoed herself with a rogue torpedo in trying to finish off the German destroyer Z 26. After some temporary repairs in Russia she made a break for home but had to be sunk by her escort after being hit by German bombers.

A good general account of the Arctic convoys and the battles surrounding them.