This title covers the memories of the men and women who served at or around the Royal Navy's famous anchorage in the Orkney Islands in both world wars, first published in 1968. Ships sailed from Scapa Flow to the Battle of Jutland in the First World War and in Russian convoys in the Second. This book looks at the home of the British Grand Fleet in the First World War, and watery grave of German Fleet.It includes the voices from two world wars, of the men who served on big and small ships who manned lonely batteries, and of the Wrens and other servicewomen who were stationed there: the miseries of the journey north, the sea-sickness on the Pentland Firth crossing, the bleak isolation of Scapa, its implacable winds and glorious sunsets, the camaraderie and good humour.Also described is the loss of the Hampshire, with Kitchener aboard, in 1916, and the explosion that destroyed the Vanguard and over 700 men with her. In 1939 a German submarine slipped into Scapa Flow and destroyed the Royal Oak at anchor. But the main action of the war was seen on Russian convoys.
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About the Author:
Malcolm Brown was for many years a BBC documentary producer; in 1966 he co-produced with Patrica Meehan the highly successful film Scapa Flow, which led to the first publication of this book in 1968. Since 1989 he has been a freelance historian at the Imperial War Museum, and is now best known for his books on military subjects, including Tommy Goes to War, Verdun 1916, The Imperial War Museum Book of the First World. Patricia Meehan spent several years as a welfare worker in postwar Germany. She began a long career in TV in the United States before joining the BBC, where she became a documentary producer specialising in contemporary history. Since leaving the BBC she has been a full-time writer. Her most recent books, The Unnecessary War and A Strange Enemy People, deal with aspects of British and German relations before and immediately after the Second World War.
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- PublisherNon Basic Stock Line
- Publication date2007
- ISBN 10 1862274096
- ISBN 13 9781862274099
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages288
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