Tony Bridgland

This, the follow-up to Naval Atrocities in World War 2, is an anthology of shameful incidents at sea, causing outrage on both sides. The sinking of the Lusitania was the trigger of these events, which were played out, at least initially, while an anguished and undecided America looked on. Later in the War, the Hospital Ships, carrying wounded troops home from the theatres of war, became controversial targets for U-Boats. The treatment of U-Boat crews by Allied navies was itself at times hugely controversial. At the end of it all, the world's first ever War Crimes Trials were held at Leipzig in farcical conditions.

Naval Atrocities of the First World War

Outrage at Sea

War broke out in 1899 between the British and South African settlers of Dutch descent, the Boers, or Afrikaners as they are usually called today. Despite previous clashes, the British seriously underestimated their opponents. Although dressed in battered civilian clothes and made up entirely of volunteers, Boer troops were all mounted on horses and had very up-to-date German rifles.An even more unpleasant surprise than the mounted riflemen were the Boer artillery units. They were the only Boer troops to wear uniforms, were organized on a full-time basis, and were equipped with excellent German field pieces. The British artillery soon found itself out-gunned and out-ranged.Some British officers, however, were capable of adapting to the new conditions in South Africa. Royal Naval vessels anchored off the Cape had powerful, long-range cannons. It was decided to try bringing these guns ashore and mounting them on improvised carriages for field use. Naval infantry brigades had served in some previous campaigns, and proved capable of accompanying the army as gun crews, their straw hats and naval leggings identifiable in many wartime photographs.Although they were depicted in many wartime drawings and photographs, no serious study of the naval artillery has ever been done. Tony Bridgland has spent many years researching the topic and has produced a study of the technical problems involved in this unique operation, as well as a colourful narrative of naval personnel pressed into hazardous service far from the sea.

The Royal Navy in South Africa, 1899–1900

Field Gun Jack Versus the Boers

Anne Morgan

"Sir John Norton-Griffiths was one of a breed of adventurer, pioneer, entrepreneur and soldier whose like is very seldom seen. Having learnt his trade and made his fortune mining the rich seams of south Africa, he turned his expertise to more deadly use in the Great war. He led the gallant miners who burrowed deep under enemy lines with devastating effect.He went on to wreak havoc on the Danube. Always a controversial figure, he died (or was he murdered?) in mysterious circumstances. This is the story of a true maverick who was a formidable force and legend wherever he went."

The Norton-Griffiths Story

Tunnel-master & Arsonist of the Great War

War broke out in 1899 between the British and South African settlers of Dutch descent, the Boers, or Afrikaners as they are usually called today. Despite previous clashes, the British seriously underestimated their opponents. Although dressed in battered civilian clothes and made up entirely of volunteers, Boer troops were all mounted on horses and had very up-to-date German rifles. An even more unpleasant surprise than the mounted riflemen were the Boer artillery units. They were the only Boer troops to wear uniforms, were organized on a full-time basis, and were equipped with excellent German field pieces. The British artillery soon found itself out-gunned and out-ranged. Some British officers, however, were capable of adapting to the new conditions in South Africa. Royal Naval vessels anchored off the Cape had powerful, long-range cannons. It was decided to try bringing these guns ashore and mounting them on improvised carriages for field use. Naval infantry brigades had served in some previous campaigns, and proved capable of accompanying the army as gun crews, their straw hats and naval leggings identifiable in many wartime photographs. Although they were depicted in many wartime drawings and photographs, no serious study of the naval artillery has ever been done. Tony Bridgland has spent many years researching the topic and has produced a study of the technical problems involved in this unique operation, as well as a colourful narrative of naval personnel pressed into hazardous service far from the sea.

The Royal Navy in South Africa 1899-1900

Field Gun Jack Versus The Boers

This is the remarkable story of what were known by the British as 'Q' Ships and by the Germans as 'Decoy Raiders'. Disguised as harmless merchant ships, they could be transformed in moments into powerful killers and were used by both sides in the First World War. The book describes the extraordinary lengths that both sides went to ensure secrecy and deception. Voyages often lasted several years without returning to port. Owing to the nature of the game, evidence regarding their work is hard to come by but Tony Bridgland has produced a fascinating piece of detective history.

Sea Killers in Disguise

Whilst researching his earlier book Sea Killers in Disguise, the author unearthed a rich stem of incidents at sea which happened during the two World Wars that shocked and surprised him. This book is the result of further in-depth study covering the Second World War. It reveals a long catalogue of atrocities perpetrated not just by Germany and Japan but, sensationally, by the British and her Allies.Thanks to Tony Bridgland's meticulous research, into a wide variety of incidents at sea, makes for vivid and compelling, if uneasy, reading

Tony Bridgland

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