Archive Results For: WW1
Letters from the First World War
The author quotes from a small collection of letters from British naval officers in the 1914-16 period. Dominant themes are weary boredom on patrol in inhospitable seas and frustration over the little engagement with the enemy, tempered only with the realisation of being better off than their countrymen in the trenches. There is disappointment with […] Read More
Filed under: Atlantic | WW1 | English Channel | North Sea | Mediterranean | Jutland
Subjects include: Manpower & Life at Sea
The Rise and Fall of the Monitor 1862-1973
The monitor displayed a process of evolution from Ericsson’s original concept through the big British monitors of the World Wars to the Zippos of Vietnam. Because it was capable of development, the monitor was important in the evolution of the battleship and other surface combat types. The monitor meantime, continues to have an independent existence […] Read More
Filed under: Atlantic | Baltic | WW1 | English Channel | North Sea | WW2 | Crimean War | Post WW2 | American Civil War | Mediterranean | Other (Twentieth C) | Other (Nineteenth C)
Subjects include: Battles & Tactics | Navies | Shipbuilding & Design | Weapons
Veteran Warships of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 in World War II
A number of naval vessels which were involved in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 remained in service, particularly in training and auxiliary roles, long enough to participate in the Second World War. This happened because between the world wars in the USSR on the one hand shipbuilding had declined and in Japan on the other […] Read More
Filed under: WW1 | Interwar | Post WW2 | Other (location)
Subjects include: Historic Vessels, Museums & Restoration | Navies
Mediterranean Strategy and Anglo-French Relations 1908-1912
This article details the delicate discussions, one should not use ‘negotiations’, between Britain and her putative and capricious ally, France, during the period leading towards WW1, regarding each countries defence strategy in the event of hostilities being initiated by a third party – most likely from the Third Alliance, between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. The […] Read More
Filed under: WW1 | English Channel | Mediterranean | Other (Twentieth C)
Subjects include: Strategy & Diplomacy
The Navy at Cambridge, 1919-1923
WW1 interrupted the education of significant numbers of young men who served in the armed forces. At the cessation of hostilities the Royal Navy decided to do something to redress the matter. In early 1919, 400 junior officers commenced a six-month course at Cambridge, followed by some 800 over the next four years. The Admiralty […] Read More
Filed under: WW1 | Other (Nineteenth C) | Other (location)
Subjects include: Administration | Navies
The Barquentine Raymond and Her Owner-Master
Captain James Murdoch’s autobiography describes his life, during the late 1800s – early 1900s, as one of the last of the owner-masters of a square-rigged sailing vessel. He went to sea aboard his father’s brig the Mayfield in 1890, as Boy and subsequently worked his way up to Mate. At the age of 20 he […] Read More
Filed under: WW1 | English Channel | North Sea | Irish Sea | Other (Nineteenth C)
Subjects include: Biography | Merchant Marines | Ship Handling & Seamanship
The Loss of the Victoria
In 1959 a book was published on the subject of the loss of the Victoria. Apart from the events of the collision and subsequent court-marshal, the book’s main theme was the contrast in personalities of the two flag-officers. The author went out of his way to whitewash Tryon, and blacken the character of Markham, saying […] Read More
Filed under: WW1 | North Sea | Mediterranean | Other (Twentieth C) | Other (Nineteenth C)
Subjects include: Miscellaneous | Navies | Ship Handling & Seamanship
Note: ‘Gallant Gentlemen’
This Note provides a biographical profile of Admiral Sir Walter Cowan, who had a very colourful career. He joined the Royal Navy in 1884, served in Africa in the 1890s, commanded a battle cruiser at Jutland, commanded the North American station after the war, became A.D.C. to the King in 1930, and retired in 1939, […] Read More
Filed under: WW1 | WW2 | Other (Nineteenth C) | Other (location)
Subjects include: Biography
Ships of India, 1834 – 1934
This article discusses the vessels of the Indian Navy as the ships of the East India Company were called after 1834. The Company was moving from sail to steam and the specification, construction and service career of several ships are described. Contributions to hostilities in China and the Crimea are recorded. The East India Company’s […] Read More
Filed under: WW1 | Interwar | Opium Wars | Crimean War | Other (Twentieth C) | Other (Nineteenth C) | Indian Ocean | East India Company
Subjects include: Navies | Shipbuilding & Design
The Lighter Crimes of the French Bluejackets
In the course of the Great War I was brought into close relations with the French Naval Officers. One of these with a sense of humour had kept a record of minor offences against good order and discipline committed by French bluejackets. The cases he selected were amusing, not only for the naïve wording of […] Read More
Filed under: WW1 | Mutiny & Discipline | Other (location)
Subjects include: Manpower & Life at Sea | Navies