BOOK REVIEW: 'Captain Elliot And The Founding Of Hong Kong: Pearl Of The Orient'
August 17, 2018 nzcrownminesLeave a comment
Title: Captain Elliot And The Founding Of Hong Kong: Pearl Of The Orient
Author: Jon Bursey
Rating Scale (1: very poor, 10: excellent): 8 ½
In the Author's Note at the front of this volume, the author, when alluding to the establishment of Hong Kong, notes that '…I have been struck…both by the critical nature of [Charles] Elliot's role and by the comparative lack of recognition accorded him subsequently as a person and for his work. I have sought in this book to describe his life…the challenges that faced him, and to set them in historical context'. He also states that 'It has been my intention to cover the whole of Elliot's career as thoroughly as sources permit'. It is an effective summary.
An Acknowledgements section placed after the Contents page thanks those individuals and organisations who contributed to the volume. It is followed by the previously mentioned Author's Note. Within that section (and in addition to the statements already noted), the author also details the efforts he made to ensure accuracy of the narrative and to provide modern-day equivalent-values for mid-Nineteenth Century currency. A Maps section follows. This contains four full-page maps relevant to the narrative. A List of Illustrations appears next. This replicates the captions for the 36 images appearing within a 16 page section placed at the centre of the volume. A Prologue section then precis' what is to follow. The main part of the work then follows. Consisting of nineteen Chapters, these are in turn sub-divided to three Parts. These trace Charles Elliot's life, with Chapter One (Forbears, Father and Family) providing ancestral background. The remaining Chapters detail Elliot's career, while simultaneously providing background to the various events in which he played a part. Such is their detail, these 'backgrounds' are in themselves worthy of scrutiny. An Epilogue placed after Chapter 19 summarises and reviews Elliot's life and his accomplishments. Three Appendices follow that Chapter. Where appropriate, the book uses End-notes to provide addition information. These are numeric, sequential and Chapter-specific, with the relevant citations being placed in a dedicated Notes and References section after the Appendices. A Bibliography follows and is in turn followed by an eight-page Index; the volume's final section. As already noted, the book contains both Illustrations and Maps.
There is no doubt that this is an excellent and well-researched volume. For this reviewer however it was let down by inconsistencies in its Index. Random Index searching during the reviewing process for items such as Pax Britannica (page xvii) and Royal Botanic Gardens and Kew (both on page 213), found entries for neither. What else may also have been omitted is not known. In addition, the English East India Company (page xviii) appears within the Index as East India Company. Which title is correct? There is no way of knowing. Numerous quotes appear within the volume. Some are referenced, some are not (the quotes on page 165 being but two examples of such practices). In the absence of relevant citations to prove their authenticity, unreferenced quotes have little research value, a detail which may reduce the volume's value as a research tool. Curiously, many quotes do not commence with a capital letter. In apparent defence of this practice the author states that 'For the sake of authenticity I have reproduced spelling punctuation and syntax…as they appear in the original odd though they may sometimes seem including the apparently random use of capital letters'. Whether this statement applies to the aforementioned quotes is unclear, but the presence of capitalised and non-capitalised quotes within the volume, does the narrative no favours.
This volume is well written and researched. Being biographical in nature it may appeal to readers seeking a straight 'adventure' story. It may also be useful to historians interested in the Nineteenth Century Royal Navy. Historians researching British Imperial Policies and actions during the same century may well find it worthy of their attentions, while those seeking in-depth historical data on locations such as China, the 'British' Caribbean and the Republic of Texas may also find it of interest.
On a Rating Scale where 1: very poor, 10: excellent, I have given this volume an 8 ½.
BOOK REVIEW: 'British Destroyer's & Frigates: The Second World War And After'
Title: British Destroyer's & Frigates: The Second World War And After
Author: Norman Friedman
Rating Scale (1: Very Poor, 10: Excellent: 7
Naval vessel-types have a very distinct hierarchy. At the top are the aircraft carriers (the Queen Bees; if you will); at the bottom, the Worker Bees; the destroyers and the frigates; the vessels that (at least in the opinions of their crews) do the actual work. This is their story; specifically, it is the story of the development and evolution of the destroyers and frigates used by both the Royal Navy and the Commonwealth navies it is affiliated to.
The story is a complex one and in the course of its narrative the reader is introduced to the multitudinous issues which effect and contribute-towards warship design. The numerous non-naval influences which must also be considered (especially in regards to 'matters political'), are also discussed.
Although the Contents list indicates the Introduction is the first section to appear after it, a single-page List Of Abbreviations holds that honour. There is however no reference to its existence on the Contents page. That detail notwithstanding, the Introduction provides a multi-page summation of the material that appears within the Chapters which follow. A single-column Acknowledgements subsection placed within this section thanks those who assisted with the volume's creation. The Introduction is followed by the 15 Chapters which comprise the bulk of the volume. The Chapters narrate the development of the two vessel- types over the 1939-2006 period covered by this volume. It should be noted however that, for purposes of continuity, the volume's narrative actually commences before World War II. Within the individual Chapter, each page consists of two columns of print. Footnotes are used within each Chapter to provide additional information. These are numbered consecutively within each Chapter, with the citations (where used) appearing at the foot of each column. Where necessary, subsections within an individual Chapter provide additional elaboration on a specific part of the larger narrative within that particular chapter. Their existence is not however acknowledged on the Contents page. A single-page Bibliography follows the final Chapter and is itself followed by an eight-page section titled Data Tables. This section contains specifications for the vessels referred to within the volume. The information is presented in columnar and tabulated form. Relevant notes appear at the end of each individual section. These are not however in Footnote format but rather occupy the width of the individual section. Abbreviations are used throughout the section. Of these, a small number also appear on the previously-mentioned List Of Abbreviations (in one instance [DCT] with a different meaning). The majority are however, section-specific, and their meanings are listed in a column appearing at the head of the section, A List of Ships section follows. This provides construction and paying-off details (or, if not relevant, the vessel's fate) of every destroyer or frigate constructed by British dockyards from 1936 onwards. It also uses abbreviations (albeit in a smaller quantity) and these are placed at the front of the section. An Index completes the volume. This book contains numerous descriptively-captioned monochrome Photographs from a variety of sources, together with plans and profile drawings of individual vessels. Tables are used for comparative purposes where required. Concept paintings have been utilised where relevant to the narrative while photographs of armaments and electronic antennae are included where necessary. There is no reference to the existence of any of these (photographs, tables etc.) on the Contents page, although the Index does state that 'Page references in Italics refer to illustration captions'..
The volume is well-written, researched and eminently readable. It is likely to appeal a variety of readers and may well become a standard reference work on its subject. The potential readership could include both naval personnel, and those with a general interest in the Royal Navy.. Those with a more general interest in naval and maritime matters are also likely to find this volume of interest. 'The many photographs and drawings are likely to be invaluable to both ship modellers and to marine artists with an interest in British naval vessels.
In this regard, and because of the likelihood of 'high use' by its purchasers, this reviewer did wonder if the volume should perhaps have been printed in a 'hard cover' format; if only to prolong its cover life.
For this reviewer, this volume is let down by the 'small details. The result is a 'Good' book; it could have been a 'Great' book.
On a Rating Scale (1: Very Poor, 10: Excellent, I have given it a 7.
BOOK REVIEW: 'The Malayan Emergency and Indonesian Confrontation: The Commonwealth's Wars 1948-1966'
Title: The Malayan Emergency and Indonesian Confrontation: The Commonwealth's Wars 1948-1966
Author: Robert Jackson
Ask the average person what they know about Britain's 'Small Wars' and they will invariably mention India and Africa, perhaps even the Falklands. Ask them if they know anything about the Malayan Emergency and they may say that they had heard of it (perhaps from a relative serving there) but beyond that, they know little. Ask about 'Confrontation' and the response will usually be; 'Never heard of it'. This book goes a long way to remedying that oversight.
The Preface of this volume summarises its contents succinctly: 'Between 1948 and 1966, British Commonwealth forces fought two campaigns in South-East Asia; the first against Communist terrorists in Malaya, the second against Indonesian forces in Borneo'. As they both occurred within the same geographical area and within 18 months of each other, it has suited this author to group these two conflicts together They were however two separate and largely-unrelated entities, with what became known as the Malayan Emergency occupying the larger part of the narrative. it is on that basis that this volume will be reviewed. Despite that minor detail, the volume is an excellent narration of the 'Malayan' wars. It could become a standard reference work on its subject.
When describing the Malayan Emergency, the author introduces the reader to the various causes of the conflict, the protagonists and the military actions that were taken. These are presented clearly and in a well-written and readable style. The 'Emergency was the first time after World War II in which the British military machine made serious use of aircraft in its military operations. Due to its uniqueness, several chapters have been devoted to both describing and analysing this aspect of the operation. A chapter on Psychological warfare as it was applied to the 'Emergency is also provided, Conversely the British Commonwealth-Indonesian military conflict now known as the Confrontation is the subject of only a single chapter.
A Preface at the beginning of the volume summarises its subject. This is followed by 15 Chapters. To provide an all-important background, Chapter One introduces the reader to 'Malaya: The land and the people'. This is followed in turn by seven Chapters (No.'s 2-8) which outline the causes of the conflict, its development, the various military operations which occurred and the circumstances which contributed to its final outcome. Chapters 9-12 provide details of how air power was used in the conflict, while Chapter 13 is devoted specifically to Psychological Warfare as it was applied to the 'Emergency. Chapter 14 presents the author's conclusions about that conflict and its place in history, while Chapter 15 is devoted entirely to the Indonesian Confrontation of 1962-1966. Two Appendices follow. The first records naval operations that occurred during both the 'Emergency and Confrontation. The second, the various Commonwealth military and aviation units deployed during the 'Emergency. A Bibliography follows the Appendices, while an Index concludes the volume. Two Maps are provided. These show the relevant 'combat areas' discussed within the book. The volume contains no photographs.
This reviewer could find little to fault in this volume, although some photographs showing the terrain being fought through could perhaps have provided context for the narrative. He wonders though, if the author's description of the Avro Lincoln as a 'Medium Bomber' (P.69) might raise some eyebrows amongst former Lincoln aircrew who were told that their aeroplane was in fact a 'Heavy'.
Those with an interest in either Post-World War II British military history, Royal Air Force operations in Asia, or military operations in the (British) 'Far East' may find this volume of value, as could former service personnel who participated in the conflicts it describes.
Book Review: 'Battleships of the World: Struggle for Naval Supremacy 1820-1945'
March 17, 2017 March 17, 2017 nzcrownminesLeave a comment
Reviewer: nzrownmines
Title: Battleships of the World: Struggle for Naval Supremacy 1820-1945
Author: John Fidler
Although the large and heavily armed naval vessel known as a Battleship is now only seen in museums, and then only rarely, there was a time when they were symbol of national pride and a yard-stick by-which international importance was measured. This volume tells their story.
The Battleship (and its associate, the Battlecruiser) was the end-result of an evolutionary process by which sail-powered warships had become progressively larger and larger. This occurred over several centuries, with such vessels reaching their zenith in the mighty 'Ships of the Line' which were built in the early years of the Nineteenth Century. Sail-power might have 'peaked' with such vessels, but the advent of metal hulls and reliable mechanical propulsion, ensured that naval development did not, and over time, the 'big-gun' naval vessels became ever larger. This work chronicles this growth and is well-written and easy to read. Logically, it commences with the introduction of steam-power into naval vessels and concludes with the advent of the aircraft carrier – the battleship's nemesis and, ultimately, its replacement. Between these two events, the development of metal hulls, mechanical propulsion machinery, guns of increasing size and political machinations are covered in impartial detail. Unsurprisingly, and as it was the largest user of the type, there is a preponderance of information about the battleships and battlecruisers used by the Royal Navy. The end of World War II was also the end of the battleship as a viable military unit, and although the work nominally ends in 1945, a final chapter provides a postscript beyond that date. It outlines the fates of those vessels which managed to survive that conflict, and provides details those that ultimately made it into preservation.
The volume consists of 13 Chapters, with these being prefaced by an Introduction which gives a two-page precis of both the Royal Navy's large warship history and of the battleship type in general. A Bibliography lists additional titles which a reader might find of interest, while an Index provides details of Admirals, ships, and events. The work is profusely illustrated, with images appearing on most pages, where they frequently illustrate the text on the same page. However, with few exceptions, the images are not sourced. There is also no reference to their existence on the Contents page, although the inside page of the volume's dust-jacket does state that it is 'Illustrated with over 100 images and an eight page colour section…'
The dust-jacket reference to '…An eight page colour section…' concerns a group of images which can only be described as being 'Magnificent' and which depict various battleships of the Royal Navy in all their Imperial splendour. Those appearing opposite page 56 are especially impressive. However, with no prior indication of their existence, this reviewer literally found them 'by accident', a situation which he finds unacceptable in a volume purporting to be a serious and authoritative history of its subject.
The matter of the un-notated images notwithstanding, this volume is likely to appeal to a variety of readers. These could include those with a specific interest in 'Battlewagons' and very large heavily-armed warships, naval history; the various navies which used such vessels, and general military history. Warship modellers may also find the photographs a useful resource.
On a Rating Scale where 1: Very Poor, 10: Excellent, I would give it a 7.
BOOK REVIEW 'The Fatal Fortress: The Guns and Fortifications of Singapore 1819-1956'
January 13, 2017 January 13, 2017 nzcrownminesLeave a comment
Title: The Fatal Fortress: The Guns and Fortifications of Singapore 1819-1956
Author: Bill Clements
According to well-held popular opinion, the fall of the British possession of Singapore to the Japanese in 1942 was largely the result of 'The guns facing the wrong way; out to sea, when thy should have faced 'inland'; towards the (then) British colony of Malaya (now Malaysia)'. But was this in fact the case?
In this well-written and exhaustively-researched volume, Bill Clements seeks to clarify the situation. His narrative consists of two parallel themes; 'Political' and 'Military'; the former providing 'the reasons why', the latter, the military response.. The tale that results is one of conflicting orders, evolving and changing international policies, self-important experts, technological development and unnecessary expense. An inability to think beyond very fixed perceptions, also contributed to what eventuated. The miracle is that despite all the foregoing, some of the heavy artillery on Singapore was in fact able to contribute to its defence. The unfortunate aspect is that these guns could have done so much more. The facts are presented objectively and in impressive detail. The post-World War II era is also covered. A subsection in the final chapter lists what remains of the fortifications in 2016 and would be a useful guide for any visitor wishing to view what little is left.
The main part of this work consists of 11 Chapters, and three Appendices. Several chapters contain subsections which relate to specific topics within the larger chapter. End-notes are used throughout the book and these are listed in a separate Notes section at the back of the book. A Glossary, Bibliography and Index are also provided. Although Maps and Photographs appear throughout the volume, the Contents page carries no indication of their existence.
For this reviewer, this volume was something of a mixed bag. As already noted, it is well written and researched, the author's enthusiasm for his subject being very evident. The facts are presented in an objective way and the technical details are both comprehensive and informative. There are however some serious omissions in respect of the volume's format. Several chapters contain subsections intended to provide additional information not covered within the main body of that chapter. Their existence (and that of both maps and photographs) is not noted in the Contents section. As a result, should a specific subsection, map or photograph be required, frustrating and time-consuming searching has to be undertaken. As this Reviewer expects the Contents page of a work to accurately reflect what is within its pages, such omissions are unacceptable.
There can be no doubt that this work is authoritative, the quality of the information it contains being such that it may become the standard reference on the subject of Singapore's defences between 1819 and 1956. Purchasers seeking details about the ordnance used during this period will no doubt find it very useful. Military historians seeking a more generalist overview of the island and the battle which resulted in its surrender, are also find likely to find it helpful. Students of World War II, Japanese military history and the history of British South East Asia are also likely to find it informative.
In precis, this work is a well-researched and written history of both Singapore Island and the guns that were intended to defend it when it formed part of the British Empire. As such, it is of high historical value. Unfortunately, the omission of important information from the Contents page, together with the existence of unrecorded maps and photographs within the work itself, serves to reduce the volume's value. Were that it was not so.
On a Rating Scale (1: Very Poor, 10: Excellent), I would give it a 7.