Survivors: British Merchant Seamen in the Second World War - Hardcover

Bennett, G. H.; Bennett, G. Harry; Bennett, Roy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1852851821 ISBN 13: 9781852851828

Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic, 2003

Synopsis

Winning the Battle of the Atlantic was critical to Britain's survival in the Second World War. The British Merchant Navy suffered enormous losses of both ships and men, particularly in the early years of the war. Sailing through U-boat wolf-packs across the Atlantic, or on the perilous routes to Malta and Murmansk, took a special kind of courage. Ships often sank within minutes of being torpedoed. Survivors is the history of this epic struggle. It is a graphic account of how the ships were attacked and sunk, how crews reacted, how they attempted to launch their lifeboats and how they ended up swimming or clinging to debris, or making long voyages in lifeboats or on rafts. Death might come at any stage, yet the will to live and the resourcefulness and skill of the seamen enabled a surprising number to survive.

"There was a terrific smash and everything was pandemonium on deck. The wheel house collapsed on top of me and I was trapped by the concrete slabs which had fallen on me and pinned me to the deck. I think that the ship sank in about thirty seconds after breaking in two ... Although I was trapped, I could see everything over my head. The stern burst into flames and I saw flames forward. I could see the water coming up and coming over my head. The ship hit the bottom and turned over, the debris was thrown off me and I was released and I came to the surface."--Sinking of SS Abukir, 28 May 1940

About this title

About the Author:

G H Bennett is Reader in History and Head of Humanities at the University of Plymouth.

Review:

"The Bennetts' book is extensively referenced, with more than 30 pages of notes and bibliography alone, and well illustrated.""If you have any merchant seamen in your family, this thorough history can only increase your admiration and respect."

Author article in the BBC History Magazine (Historiographer)

"The Bennetts' book is extensively referenced, with more than 30 pages of notes and bibliography alone, and well illustrated.""If you have any merchant seamen in your family, this thorough history can only increase your admiration and respect." (Sanford Lakoff)

About this edition

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 1852851821
• ISBN 13: 9781852851828
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 304