Author: Morris Beckman
Publisher: The History Press
ISBN: 075247278X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 165
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Book Description
Following the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk in 1940, Britain was at her most vulnerable. France had capitulated and the Germans had control of ports from the Arctic to the Mediterranean. Nazi U-boats were at Britain's doorstep, and in that year alone they sunk 204 ships, a gross tonnage of 2,435,667. Britain stood alone against Germany and a vital lifeline was the supplies carried by the civilian Merchant Navy, defended only by the thinly stretched Royal Navy. Winston Churchill conceded that his greatest fear was the slaughter of merchant seaman, who worked in harsh conditions, were often poorly fed, and were always at the mercy of the Kriegsmarine. In Flying the Red Duster, Morris Beckman tells the story of his experiences as a merchant seaman during the Battle of the Atlantic, part of the civilian force which enabled Britain to avoid capitulation to Nazi Germany. Based on his wartime diary - the unique document now held at the Imperial War Museum - this work allows the reader unique access to a time which is fast slipping from living memory.
Author: D. D. Rocca
Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
ISBN: 1035802376
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 281
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Book Description
I stood in front of the headstone which read ‘Rita Rocca Nee Tomlin (15/6/1942 - 21/10/2020)’ and thought, ‘Is this all there is? Her name on a headstone with mine to follow.’ I remembered a warm May Day in 1948, when we both kneeled at the same altar waiting for a priest to give us our first taste of Jesus. She, in her white dress, was wondering if the day would yield enough for a new doll and pram, while I wondered if mine would yield enough for roller skates and maybe a new football. I recalled the honeymoon in Jersey in 1963, Miss World at the Royal Albert Hall in 1980, and the ball that followed at the Savoy Hotel. I said, “Sorry girl, I can’t give you a Taj Mahal, but I will write a book, which will hopefully make us more than just names on a tombstone.”
Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 876
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Author: W. G. Burn Murdoch
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 412
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Author: Christopher Morley
Publisher: Garden City, N.Y. : Doubleday, Doran
ISBN:
Category : American literature
Languages : en
Pages : 1130
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Author: Basil Lubbock
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 336
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Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 346
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Book Description
Popular Mechanics inspires, instructs and influences readers to help them master the modern world. Whether it’s practical DIY home-improvement tips, gadgets and digital technology, information on the newest cars or the latest breakthroughs in science -- PM is the ultimate guide to our high-tech lifestyle.
Author:
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Category : Adventure stories
Languages : en
Pages : 696
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Author: Andy Millar
Publisher: Pen and Sword
ISBN: 147387808X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 371
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Book Description
On a calm, tropical afternoon in the South Atlantic Ocean in April 1942, a British tramp steamer, the SS Willesden, was shelled, torpedoed and sunk by a German raider, the KMS Thor. The Willesden was carrying 47 officers and crew, and a cargo of vital war supplies destined for Britains 8th Army in North Africa. Five of Willesdens crew were killed in the attack. Among the survivors was Second Mate David Millar, who along with his crewmen was rescued by the Germans and interned on a succession of prison ships, before being handed over to the Japanese. Badly wounded, David spent the rest of the war as a POW in a camp at Fukushima, north of Tokyo.The Thor was also responsible for sinking two other steamers, the SS Kirkpool and SS Nankin. Their survivors, including 38 women and children, were dispatched to the same POW camp.What is remarkable about this story, apart from its inherent drama, is that these civilian POWs numbering more than 130 in all were officially listed as Missing at Sea: their presence in the camp remained a closely guarded secret. This meant that it was many months in some cases, years before the fog of mystery surrounding their disappearance lifted, and family and friends knew whether their loved ones were dead or alive. Lost at Sea tells the little-known story of these survivors. It is a tale of honour between enemy naval commanders; of suffering, courage and endurance, as months of imprisonment turned to years; and of the powerful relationships that form when people are forced together in life-threatening circumstances. Greatly enhancing the poignancy of this story is the fact that David Millar was the authors father.
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Category : American poetry
Languages : en
Pages : 312
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