Able Seamen : The Lower Deck of the Royal Navy 1850 to 1939

Author(s): Brian Lavery

Nautical

Brian Lavery returns with the second volume of his engaging social history of the Royal Navy's 'lower deck', exploring the world of the seamen (as opposed to the officers of the quarterdeck). Following on from Royal Tars (covering the years 875-1850) it now precedes the third volume All Hands (covering the years from 1939). In Able Seamen the author addresses a range of issues central to the evolution of the seaman through 89 years of change, including 'Jacky' Fisher's sweeping reforms and the concept of the 'new seaman'; the rise of stokers, artificers and engineers and the traditional seaman's 'crisis of identity' as the navy moved from sail to steam. The 'lower deck' also had to deal with the changing social structure of the Navy; the great demands made on the Service throughout the British Empire; the move from broadside batteries to sophisticated turretsand fire-control systems; the modernization and standardisation of signals and telegraphy; the rise of 'small ships' as a destroyer fleet was created to fulfil new strategic requirements; and the creation of the submarine service.
Brian Lavery also highlights the repercussions of the First World War and the grand fleet engagement at Jutland; the expressions of discontent (such as the infamous Invergordon mutiny), and the lead-up to the Second World War. Readable, engaging and authoritative, this book chronicles an important stage in the history of the Royal Navy and illuminates the inherent adaptability of the lower deck, as new technologies demanded increased professionalism, specialization and training.

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A fascinating account of the evolution of the seaman through 89 years of change.

Lavery draws extensively on the memoirs of naval ratings to provide a lively and colourful portrait of naval life International Journal of Maritime History The book is a must for anyone seeking to contextualise the life of an ancestor who served in the Royal Navy during this period. Interesting and enjoyable, this is another excellent book by one of the United Kingdom's finest maritime historians. -- GH Bennet BBC History Magazine The numerous battles in which the Royal Navy engaged are cited and the major ones described in adventurous detail, including all of the victories and gaffes that occurred during those momentous times. Social customs existing during time "out to sea" and "in port" are also fascinating reading; in particular, Lavery describes numerous mutinies, including causes and effects, all of which evolved into the 20th-century code of discipline, a mammoth change from the almost primitive state existing in the Royal Navy's earliest days. Photographs and an appendix are added to enhance the story Lavery tells so well and which includes many other comprehensive aspects of this huge topic. This is a book for all interested in the military to enjoy, an accurate, fascinating book that would serve as an excellent, reliable source for researchers. Historical Naval Society

Brian Lavery is one of Britain's leading naval historians and a prolific author. A Curator Emeritus at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, and a renowned expert on the sailing navy and the Royal Navy, in 2007 he won the prestigious Desmond Wettern Maritime Media Award. His naval writing was further honoured in 2008 with the Society of Nautical Research's Anderson Medal. His recent titles include Royal Tars (2010), We Shall Fight On The Beaches (2009), In Which They Served (2008), Churchill's Navy (2006), and the Sunday Times bestseller Empire of the Seas (2010).

General Fields

  • : 9781844861408
  • : Conway
  • : Conway Maritime Press Ltd
  • : 0.806
  • : September 2011
  • : 240mm X 165mm X 40mm
  • : United Kingdom
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Brian Lavery
  • : Hardback
  • : Hardback
  • : 359.00941
  • : 359.00941
  • : 368
  • : 368
  • : 16 colour and 40 black and white illustrations
  • : 16 colour and 40 black and white illustrations