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Silent Grey Ironclad: The Ship Behind H. G. Wells’ Thunder Child

HMS Thunder Child is one of the most famous fictitious warships in English literature.

The Battle of Navarino and an interesting find

Among the manuscripts held by the Caird Library and Archive is a file containing Lieutenant John Harvey Boteler's observations of the Battle of Navarino. However his account contains much more information than simple notes on his role.

British colonial life in the East Indies: the diaries of Lady Dorothy Fullerton

The personal diary of a Royal Navy commander's wife offers a striking insight into the lives of the British ruling classes in 1920s India and Sri Lanka.

How much does a ticket to space cost? The future of 'space tourism'

There are plenty of companies offering (very expensive) flights into space. But how close are we to true space tourism?

The 'Operation Chariot' plan

This month we look into Archive and Library item ADL/Q/72, papers relating to the award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant R.T.C. Worsley DSC, RNVR, for bravery while serving as a Gunnery Officer aboard MGB314, in March 1942 participating in Operation Chariot

The Five Women who made it into “Letters to W.S. Lindsay from Men of his time’’

William Schaw Lindsay (or W.S. Lindsay) was British merchant and ship owner. He was a liberal MP for Tynemouth and North Shields, as well as Sunderland.Many of his papers and correspondences were purchased by the National Maritime Museum in 1988. The collection consists of nearly all of the papers Lindsay left to him family.

The Royal Humane Society and the gift of lifesaving

In 1909, naval seaman Thomas Bouttell risked his own life to save a passenger who was fleeing a ship that was ablaze off the coast of Malta. For his bravery, he was awarded with the Royal Humane Society's Stanhope Gold medal, which was donated to the National Maritime Museum some 60 years later. The accompanying certificate is part of the Caird Library's manuscript collection.

New discoveries from the wrecks of HMS Erebus and Terror

Archaeologists exploring the shipwrecks of HMS Erebus and Terror have recovered over 350 objects from the lost Franklin expedition.

The Quay to Knowledge: Life in the Caird Library

Library Assistant Shane McMurray reflects on his role and reveals what it's like to work in the Caird Library.

Dealing with self-isolation: a desert island guide from the real Robinson Crusoe

Think you're struggling with social distancing? At least you haven't started singing to goats... Curator Jeremy Michell uncovers the remarkable real-life story of island isolation which inspired Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe.