Library Results | Royal Museums Greenwich

Jackspeak : a guide to British naval slang and usage /Rick Jolly and Tugg. Jolly, Rick 2011. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 800.865:656.61English

British vessels lost at sea, 1914-1918 1977 • BOOK • 1 copy available. 656.61.086.2:940.545

Captain Kidd and the war against the pirates / Robert C. Ritchie "The legends that die hardest are those of the romantic outlaw, and those of swashbuckling pirates are surely among the most durable. Swift ships, snug inns, treasures buried by torchlight, palm-fringed beaches, fabulous riches, and, most of all, freedom from the mean life of the laboring man are the stuff of this tradition reinforced by many a novel and film. It is disconcerting to think of such dashing scoundrels as slaves to economic forces, but so they were - as Robert Ritchie demonstrates in this lively history of piracy. He focuses on the shadowy figure of William Kidd, whose career in the late seventeenth century swept him from the Caribbean to New York, to London, to the Indian Ocean before he ended in Newgate prison and on the gallows. Piracy in those days was encouraged by governments that could not afford to maintain a navy in peacetime. Kidd's most famous voyage was sponsored by some of the most powerful men in England, and even though such patronage granted him extraordinary privileges, it tied him to the political fortunes of the mighty Whig leaders. When their influence waned, the opposition seized upon Kidd as a weapon. Previously sympathetic merchants and shipowners did an about-face too and joined the navy in hunting down Kidd and other pirates. By the early eighteenth century, pirates were on their way to becoming anachronisms. Ritchie's wide-ranging research has probed this shift in the context of actual voyages, sea fights, and adventures ashore. What sort of men became pirates in the first place, and why did they choose such an occupation? What was life like aboard a pirate ship? How many pirates actually became wealthy? How were they governed? What large forces really caused their downfall? As the saga of the buccaneers unfolds, we see the impact of early modern life: social changes and Anglo-American politics, the English judicial system, colonial empires, rising capitalism, and the maturing bureaucratic state are all interwoven in the story. Best of all, Captain Kidd and the War against the Pirates is an epic of adventure on the high seas and a tale of back-room politics on land that captures the mind and the imagination."--Provided by the publisher. 1986 • BOOK • 1 copy available. 92Kidd

First victory, 1914 : HMAS Sydney's hunt for the German raider Emden /Mike Carlton. "When the ships of the new Royal Australian Navy made their grand entry into Sydney Harbour in October 1913, a young nation was at peace. Under a year later Australia had gone to war in what was seen as a noble fight for king, country and Empire. Thousands of young men joined up for the adventure of having 'a crack at the Kaiser'. And indeed the German threat to Australia was real, and very near - in the Pacific islands to our north, and in the Indian Ocean. In the opening months of the war, a German raider, Emden, wreaked havoc on the maritime trade of the British Empire. Its battle against the Australian cruiser HMAS Sydney, when it finally came, was short and bloody - an emphatic First Victory at sea for the fledgling Royal Australian Navy. This is the stirring story of the perilous opening months of the Great War and the bloody sea battle that destroyed the Emden in a triumph for Australia that resounded around the world. In the century since, many writers have been there before Mike Carlton. Most were German, some of them survivors of the battle, others later historians, and they have generally told the story well. British accounts vary in quality, from good to nonsense, and there have been some patchwork American attempts as well. Curiously, there has been very little written from an Australian point of view. This book is - in part - an attempt to remedy that, with new facts and perspectives brought into the light of day."--Provided by th epublisher. 2013. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 940.459(94)

Islamic seapower during the age of fighting sail / Philip MacDougall. "Studies of the "Age of Fighting Sail" have tended to focus on the British or American navies, or sometimes on those of France or Spain. However, there were also at this time very significant navies built by the Islamic powers: the North African Barbary states, whose ships, allegedly pirates, plagued Mediterranean shipping and raided even as far as Cornwall and the south coast of Ireland; the Ottoman Empire, which built the largest sailing warship ever; the navies of Arabian and Indian rulers and of Persia, which were forces to be reckoned with in the Indian Ocean; and more. This book presents a comprehensive survey of Islamic seapower from about the beginning of the seventeenth century until the middle of the nineteenth century, charting the rise and fall of different Islamic navies. It focuses on strategy, examining the development and implementation of naval policy and exploring the technology that supported it. It considers the wars Islamic navies participated in, covers all the areas in which Islamic navies operated, and relates Islamic naval power to wider international power politics. The book highlights in particular the importance of the large Ottoman navy, which influenced and gave a lead to other Islamic naval powers."--Provided by the publisher. 2017. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 355.02(5)

Privateering : patriots and profits in the War of 1812 /Faye M. Kert. "During the War of 1812, most clashes on the high seas involved privately owned merchant ships, not official naval vessels. Licensed by their home governments and considered key weapons of maritime warfare, these ships were authorized to attack and seize enemy traders. Once the prizes were legally condemned by a prize court, the privateers could sell off ships and cargo and pocket the proceeds. Because only a handful of ship-to-ship engagements occurred between the Royal Navy and the United States Navy, it was really the privateers who fought-and won-the war at sea. In Privateering, Faye M. Kert introduces readers to U.S. and Atlantic Canadian privateers who sailed those skirmishing ships, describing both the rare captains who made money and the more common ones who lost it. Some privateers survived numerous engagements and returned to their pre-war lives; others perished under violent circumstances. Kert demonstrates how the romantic image of pirates and privateers came to obscure the dangerous and bloody reality of private armed warfare. Building on two decades of research, Privateering places the story of private armed warfare within the overall context of the War of 1812. Kert highlights the economic, strategic, social, and political impact of privateering on both sides and explains why its toll on normal shipping helped convince the British that the war had grown too costly. Fascinating, unfamiliar, and full of surprises, this book will appeal to historians and general readers alike."--Provided by the publisher. 2015. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 341.362.1(73)"18"

Hunt the Bismarck : the pursuit of Germany's most famous battleship /Angus Konstam. "In the spring of 1941, the Bismarck was one of the most powerful warships in the world, and the single greatest threat to both the Royal navy and the vital Atlantic convoys that the navy sought to protect. Having entered service in the summer of 1940, she was well armed, with eight 15in. guns as well as a powerful array of lighter weapons, and her armoured protection had earned her the reputation of being unsinkable. For nine m onths she remained in port as a latent threat to Britain's vital maritime lifeline whilst Germany's U-boats caused devastation in the Atlantic, sinking hundreds of thousands of tons of Allied shipping. However, although the Battle of the Atlantic was going favourably for the Germans, they lacked sufficient U-boats to have a truly decisive effect on the war. More resources were required, and those at hand included the mighty Bismarck. Consequently, throughout the early months of 1941, both the Axis and the Allied naval powers began to prepare themselves for the inevitable sortie of the Bismarck into the Atlantic. Finally, in May, she slipped her anchors in Gotenhafen Bay, set to break out into the Atlantic Ocean and devastate Atlantic convoys - but the Allies were ready for her. In the Bismarck's way was the Royal Navy's Home Fleet based in Scapa Flow, reinforced by screening forces covering the routes from the North Sea into the North Atlantic. The greatest naval conflict in the Battle of the Atlantic was about to begin. Drawing on a wealth of first-hand accounts and extensive research, this fast-paced narrative from renowned naval historian Angus Konstam tells the story of Bismarck's epic and final voyage."--Provided by the publisher. 2019. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 940.545943

Hero of the fleet : two world wars, one extraordinary life : the memoirs of centenarian William Stone /William Stone. "William Stone died on 10 January 2009 aged 108. He received a hero's funeral. Born in rural Devon, he joined the navy during the First World War, travelled the globe just before the British Empire's light began to fade and saw action in some of the most significant sea battles of the Second World War. Afterwards, he returned to Devon to run a barber's shop, an altogether more peaceable existence. As time passed, he became one of a dwindling number of men still alive who had served in the Great War. This meant that for some of the most momentous anniversaries clocked up recently - including the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War - William was a guest of honour. This autobiography bridges two wars and encompasses the remarkable episodes and adventures. It was an ordinary life lived in extraordinary times. He died at a time when the navy is attempting to embrace new ships that bear scant resemblance to those that William knew and face the challenges of a world that shrinks with every bold technological advance. His was a different kind of boldness. This is his astonishing story." 2009. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 940.45941092

HMS Cumberland : a classic British cruiser in war and peace /by Patrick Boniface "HMS Cumberland was laid down when Great Britain truly ruled the waves, by the time she decommissioned in 1959, Britannia's rule over the oceans had almost gone. Her story in many ways mirrors the changing fortunes of the Royal Navy from the time of Empire through the savagery of World War Two and into the nuclear era. She served in all theatres of the war and was present as the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee was scuttled at the end of the Battle of the River Plate in 1939. Later she would serve with distinction in the Arctic convoys, the Mediterranean, European theatres and in the closing stages of the Second World War in the fight against Japan. A period as a trials ship followed in peacetime."--Provided by the publisher 2006. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 623.822.3(42)

Bitter ocean : the dramatic story of the Battle of the Atlantic, 1939-1945 /David Fairbank White. From 1939 to 1945 the Battle of the Atlantic, World War Two's most decisive battle, raged across the Atlantic Ocean. Bitter Ocean is the story of how countless Allied troops perished at the hands of the German U-boats as they fought to keep vital supplies flowing. But how, ultimately, the German's couldn't defeat the combined force of the British Navy and U.S shipbuilding technology. 2007. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 940.545.9

Admiral William A Moffett : architect of naval aviation "Naval aviation historian William F. Trimble provides a clear and detailed portrait of the man who took on the challenge of forming an aeronautical bureau within the U.S. Navy in 1921 and then nurtured the early development of naval aviation. Describing Admiral William A. Moffett as one of the first high-ranking naval officers to appreciate the importance of the airplane and the effect it would have on the fleet, the author contends that the admiral's strong background as a surface officer gave him a credibility and trust with his superiors that others could not match. The author attributes Moffett's desire to keep aviation as part of the fleet, along with his diplomacy, tenacity, and political and military knowledge, to the success of the infant air arm during its formative years. [...] The book is equally candid about the admiral's shortcomings, including his heavy-handed support for airships, a technological dead end that squandered millions and led to Moffett's death in 1933 when he went down with the airship Akron during a storm."--Provided by the publisher. 1994 • BOOK • 1 copy available. 623.7

British war memorials / Mark Quinlan. A study of British War memorials, remembrance and memorialisation. Memorials have been selected for detailed examination on the basis that they are representative or unusual examples, or are of national importance. The memorials include some in stained glass and other formats and commemorate those who served or were killed in war or conflict. Memorials from the early 19th century, the Crimean War, Boer War, the First World War and Second World War as well as many other campaigns, are included. Overseas memorials, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force memorials, and memorials to those awarded the Victoria Cross and George Cross, are also covered. Memorials are described in detail and illustrated with photographs. Brief biographies of memorial sculptors and designers are provided. Appendices include cabinet papers relating to the provision of national memorials on battlefields, the Report of the National Battlefields Memorial Committee, extracts from the Journal of the Royal Society of Arts covering the formation of the War Memorials Advisory Council in 1944, and relevant legislation. 2005. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 725.945(41)

Project Hula : secret Soviet-American co-operation in the war against Japan Russell, Richard A 1997 • PAMPHLET • 2 copies available. 355.358(47:73)"1942/1945"

Lincoln's admiral : the civil war campaigns of David Farragut An account of the naval campaigns led by US Navy Admiral Farragut during the American Civil War. The author focuses almost exclusively on Farragut's Civil War career. However, the book does open with a detailed chapter outlining Farragut's naval experience prior to the Civil War. The book contains detailed chapters regarding Farragut's famous engagements during the Civil War, such as New Orleans in 1862 as well as Mobile Bay in 1864. The book contains a series of black and white photographs taken in the Civil War, as well as maps of battles. The author has also included a detailed bibliography with a wide range of texts for further reading. 1997 • BOOK • 1 copy available. 355.49"1861/1865"(73)

Dr John Rae A biography of John Rae (1813-1893). Born in Orkney, Rae qualified as a surgeon working for the Hudson's Bay Company in Ontario, Canada. He developed a reputation for stamina and his use of snowshoes, learning to live off the land while travelling long distances, adopting and learning the ways of indigenous Arctic peoples. Rae went on to explore the Gulf of Boothia and made three voyages along the Arctic coastline from 1848-1851. In 1854, back in the Gulf of Boothia, he obtained credible information from local Inuit peoples about the fate of the Franklin Expedition which had disappeared in 1848. His report to the Admiralty included evidence that cannibalism had been a last resort for some of the survivors. Franklin's widow Lady Jane Franklin was outraged and recruited many important supporters, including Charles Dickens, to condemn Rae for daring to suggest Royal Navy sailors would have resorted to cannibalism. Rae's reputation was ruined and although he had discovered the final link in the North-West passage, he was shunned by the establishment at the time and his achievements never recognised. The text is supported by photographs, detailed notes and a bibliography. 1985 • BOOK • 1 copy available. 910.4(987)"18"

John Scott : Nelson's secretary and friend, 1764-1805 / a personal account by John Maynard "Scott may be known for his death on the Victory at Trafalgar, but his remarkable life also deserves to be known. Born in 1764 where the Spey runs into the Moray Firth, the son of a tenant farmer on the Gordon Estate, he moved to London and gained business experience before entering the Navy as a purser in 1789. Progressing from modest sloops to major ships, he also served as secretary to three different Admirals, winning their trust and affection, before joining the Victory as Nelson?s secretary in 1803. His letters to his wife Charlotte show his deep affection for his family, as well as revealing insights into the way Nelson won the hearts and loyalty of those who served under him. This story is both heartwarming and heartbreaking." 2023 • BOOK • 1 copy available.

HMS Ark Royal : zeal does not rest : 1981-2011 /Alistair Graham and Eric Grove. "HMS Ark Royal, probably the most famous warship in the world and a name that is intertwined with the 500-hundred year history of the Royal Navy itself from Drake's Armada to the Gulf War. The book tells the story of the fifth ship to bear the name Ark Royal told through the eyes of the twelve Royal Naval Captains who commanded her."--Back cover. 2011. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 623.82ARK ROYAL

The Admiralty chart : British naval hydrography in the nineteenth century Ritchie, G S 1967 • BOOK • 2 copies available. 528.47(42)

Astronomie pratique : usage et composition de la connaissance des tems Francoeur, L-B 1830 • RARE-BOOK • 3 copies available. 520

The Abingdon waterturnpike murders : a true-life tale of crime and punishment "On October 8th 1787, a man is robbed and murdered on his way home from Abingdon's Michaelmas Fair. The story of the subsequent inquiry is revealed in some two dozen documents, retained by chance by the local magistrate responsible. As events unfold, the reader is treated to rare insight into a wide-ranging, well organised criminal underworld, and the distinct likelihood of a deliberate miscarriage of justice. In addition, many notable aspects of late eighteenth-century life are revealed: the colour and excitement of a traditional country fair, the perilous lives of river boatmen, the brutal notoriety of prize-fights,the severity of service in the county militia, the lawlessness of London's suburbs, the all-pervading influence of alcohol and brewing, the gruesome allure of public executions, and the peculiar regime of the 'wooden world' of the Georgian Navy. These and many other extraordinary, emotive, and shocking aspects of eighteenth-century life are uncovered in a book which will appeal to anyone interested in murder mysteries, the law, or the local history of Oxfordshire and Berkshire in general."--Provided by the publisher. 2003 • BOOK • 1 copy available. 343.611(410.117)"1787"

An American battleship at peace and war : the USS Tennessee "The U.S.S. Tennessee was no ordinary ship. When she set sail in 1920 it was touted as the most powerful ship in the world. Massive steel armor more than a foot thick and a dozen 14-inch guns made her a match for anything afloat. More than 10,000 men served aboard her during the two peaceful decades that followed. When the Tennessee went to war in 1941 she was obsolete but survived the attack on Pearl Harbour and saw action in a number of battles: Tarawa, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Saipan, Surigao Strait, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. She was one of only two battleships to earn a Naval Unit Citation for action during World War II. In telling the story of the Tennessee, Jonathan Utley looks beyond events aboard ship. Whether he's writing about gunnery and engineering competitions, the impact of aviation, sports, or even venereal disease, Utley views shipboard life against a panoramic historical backdrop. Tennessee's story reveals much about the navy, the nation, and the world during the years between the two world wars--the Golden Age of the battleship."--Provided by the publisher. 1991 • BOOK • 1 copy available. 623.821.2(73)"19"

Pirates : an illustrated history /Nigel Cawthorne. An erudite explanation of everything piratical, this book portrays the pirates, their weapons, their ships, their victims, and the historical background to all the saltwater tales of both pirates and navy. The exploits of the most famous pirates are also recounted here, from the cold-hearted ruthlessness of Blackbeard to the derring-do of Bartholomew Roberts, whose views were summed up by his motto: "A merry life, and a short one." 2013. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 341.362.1

Atlantic Container Line 1967-2017 : A 50 year journey of innovative excellence /Philip Parker Atlantic Container Lines (ACL) is the longest continually operating container line in existence. This book records its creation and growth over its first 50 years, during which time containerisation revolutionised the shipping industry; ACL was the first European carrier, and the second overall, to embrace the concept with dedicated container ships. The vessel Atlantic Conveyor was one of the first merchant vessels requisitioned as part of the Royal Navy Task Force during the Falklands conflict. The book contains details of the ACL vessel fleet with extensive colour photos. 2017 • FOLIO • 1 copy available. 347.792ATLANTIC

British military and naval medicine, 1600-1830 / edited by Geoffrey L. Hudson. "Standing armies and navies brought with them military medical establishments, shifting the focus of disease management from individuals to groups. Prevention, discipline, and surveillance produced results, and career opportunities for physicians and surgeons. All these developments had an impact on medicine and society, and were in turn influenced by them. The essays within examine these phenomena, exploring the imperial context, nursing and medicine in Britain, naval medicine, as well as the relationship between medicine, the state and society"--Back cover. 2007. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 61"16/1830"

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