December 2013 - January 2014: Published Elsewhere

I've been doing some more writing elsewhere, another book review on the Second World War Military Research Group (http://secondworldwaroperationsresearchgroup.wordpress.com/) this time on Richard Doherty's book on British Armour of the Second World War.

Richard Doherty, British Armoured Divisions and their Commanders, 1939-1945. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military, 2013. Index. Bibliography. Illustrations. Appendix. Hbk 270 pp.

Reviewed by Alexander Clarke, PhD Candidate, King’s College London

While ostensibly characterised as a naval historian, I could have specialised in two alternative areas. Firstly, the Roman Empire with a specific focus on the pre-Marian Republican Legions, their battles, campaigns and commanders, or second, the history of Armoured Warfare. Therefore, it should be no surprise that Liddell Hart’s A Greater than Napoleon: Scipio Africanus is a very well-thumbed member of my bookshelves and as such provides an interesting counterpoint to this work although it does not feature in Doherty’s bibliography – a not unexpected occurrence but something noticeable.[1]

Whilst not always an indicator of content, it is nice when a book is visually attractive; in this case it really is. The front cover is taken from an excellently atmospheric painting, by David Rowlands, of the 1^St Royal Tank Regiment’s Cruiser Mk I and II tanks fighting the Italian’s at Beda Fomm. Within the covers, Doherty sets out a bold thesis, to re-write a common misconception as to the quality, capability and culpability of British Armour in the Second World War as exemplified by Beale’s Death by Design.[2] Doherty does this well providing a clear guide through a very complex part of history with a writing style that is naturally authoritative and factual, in a way that does not overwhelm or force conclusions but instead carries them along through a thought process. Whilst like any thought process there are eddies, and currents which do not always take the quickest or most straightforward route, the reader is never bored and if like me will not be able to put it down.

for full review please go to http://secondworldwaroperationsresearchgroup.wordpress.com/2013/12/31/book-review-british-armoured-divisions-and-their-commanders-1939-1945/ 

p.s. apologies I have been having computer troubles and am currently awaiting new parts to fix my own, I had all my worked backed up baring this months blog posts, so they are going to be delayed...although I sincerely doubt anyone was waiting with baited breath. Happy to New to everyone, I hope the resolutions that will benefit you come to fruition and the ones that won't fall by the wayside.

Published Elsewhere this month

I've been doing some writing on sites other than my own... A book review on the Second World War Military Research Group (http://secondworldwaroperationsresearchgroup.wordpress.com/) on the Peter Hone's edited book on the Battle of Midway

Thomas C. Hone (ed.), The Battle of Midway: The Naval Institute Guide to the US Navy’s Greatest Victory. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2013. Illustrations. Chronology. Appendices. Notes. Bibliography. Index. Illustrations. Hbk. 360 pp.

Reviewed by Alexander Clarke, PhD Candidate, King’s College London

They say never judge a book by its cover; however, we all do to some extent. The cover of this book does not disappoint. A beautiful descriptive painting wraps around the work in style. Further reading of the book suggests that the cover turns out to undersell its contents. This is a compilation text, with each chapter providing different authors’ perspectives on a part of the preparation for, its events, or the effect of the Battle of Midway. It provides perspectives from both sides of the battle as well as academic opinion. Sourced from Proceedings and Naval History, the publications of the US Naval Institute, the chapters replicate the high standards extent in these publications. Compiled under themes, chapters appear under section headings that act as a quick reference guide for readers. Despite this approach the book’s flow does not feel ‘bitty’, which many compilation books do, and this speaks to the hard work that Hone has put into arranging and editing the contributions.

 

for full review go to:

http://secondworldwaroperationsresearchgroup.wordpress.com/2013/11/23/book-review-the-battle-of-midway-the-naval-institute-guide-to-the-us-navys-greatest-victory/ 

 

and a Piece for the excellent British Naval History (http://www.britishnavalhistory.com/) on the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm's propeller fighters of the post-Second World War 1940s and 1950s.

Alexander Clarke of King’s College London provides our first article on the Fleet Air Arm. He asks whether the Royal Navy’s propeller powered attack fighters during the dawn of the jet age the relics of a world war or a capability overlooked? This essay is a study of Fleet Air Arm Propeller aircraft, focusing on those that entered service from 1946-1958 and their operational records

The light fleet Carriers, Triumph, Theseus, Glory and Ocean were at war in Korean waters with outdated piston-engined aircraft expected to battle with the new menace of Communist jet-engined aircraft.” [i]

These words come from the biography of the First Sea Lord and Admiral of the Fleet Caspar John, compiled/written by his daughter from notes he had made. This is the sort of statement which has fed the common misconception of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) is that after the Second World War was over; it froze and continued to operate the same aircraft it did at the end of the war until it finally began to convert to jet aircraft with the introduction of the Hawker Sea Hawk in 1953. [ii] In reality it didn’t, and neither were jet aircraft immediately appropriated as a panacea – the same year as the Sea Hawk entered service, the turboprop engined Westland Wyvern joined the fleet air arm to replace the Blackburn Firebrand.[iii][iv] Whilst piston engined aircraft continued in use for roles such as airborne early warning – but that is the end of the period.[v]

for full paper please go to http://www.britishnavalhistory.com/peaking-obsolesence-forgotten-innovation/