Originally published in 1945, this book is a collection of biographies of seven officers of the Royal Navy that served during World War II, written by Commander Kenneth Edwards. “As the war has progressed naval actions have become more and more integrated, more comprehensive and more obviously attuned to the overriding strategy. The isolated actions of a guerre de course have been yielding pride of place to gigantic and closely linked operations. One might draw the analogy of the Napoleonic Wars, in which the frigate actions gradually gave way to the movements of the great fleets which culminated in the Battle of Trafalgar. In such circumstances it is inevitable that the exploits of the individual, however important, gallant and picturesque, should become to a great extent merged in the record of the great commander.”—Cmdr. Kenneth Edwards
Originally published in 1943, this is a unique collection of accounts relating to 19 distinguished Royal Navy Admirals and Captains of the Second World War Royal Navy. Written in the midst of World War II by Royal Navy Commander Kenneth Edwards, each contemporary portrait is filled with fascinating details. From the grey ships accompanying the convoys in the Atlantic to the seaborne Royal Navy Marines the struggle at sea during the Second World War is brought to life. An essential book for all R.N. historians to add to their collection!
The Grey Diplomatists of the title were the sea grey battleships, cruisers and destroyers of the Royal Navy, who sailed around the globe to keep the Pax Britannica in the fraught years between the First and Second World Wars. Although Europe had exhausted itself after the hecatomb of World War I there were still many hotspots of conflict around the globe, and the ships of the Royal Navy were despatched to keep the peace and protect British interests. From the civil war in Russia, unrest in Turkey, revolt in Cyrus and rising tensions between France and Italian colonial possessions in Africa, the sea grey fleets of the Royal Navy attempted to diffuse these conflicts. Written by Commander Kenneth Edwards who was serving in the fleets at the time this volume provides a view a forgotten period between the Great Wars.
‘Operation Neptune’ was the codename for the naval component of the invasion of France in June 1944. The complete invasion codename was ‘Operation Overlord’, and ‘Neptune’ was phase one of a much bigger plan. Nevertheless, the task of safely landing 160,000 men with all of the supporting equipment was an operation on an unprecedented scale. The operation, planned by a team under Lieutenant-General Frederick Morgan, was the largest amphibious invasion in world history and was executed by land, sea, and air elements under direct British command with over 160,000 troops landing on 6 June 1944. Of these, 73,000 were American troops, 61,715 British and 21,400 Canadian. To achieve the successful landings, 195,700 Allied naval and merchant navy personnel in over 5,000 ships were involved. The invasion required the transport of soldiers and material from England by troop-laden aircraft and ships, the assault landings, air support, naval interdiction of the English Channel and naval fire-support. The landings took place along a 50-mile stretch of the Normandy coast divided into five sectors: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. The planning required for such a mammoth undertaking was vast, and all to be maintained under the strictest secrecy. The fact that the Germans were caught by surprise is incredible, and a great debt of gratitude is owed to the men and women who worked so hard to bring off the greatest sea-borne invasion in history. This book, written only one year after the invasion by a senior British naval officer who was closely involved, provides the detail behind the conception, planning and successful execution of ‘Neptune’. Richly illustrated throughout.
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