Nicholas Blake (2) (1966–)

This is a rather interesting take on the British Navy of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Instead of being a history of battles or campaigns, it instead partly focuses on the activities of a fictional ship of the line, HMS Splendid, in 1810 during a single day. While the ship is fictional, every activity described by the author is based upon actual events; there are a massive amount of end notes provided. There are also many details provided in the text from factual accounts of show more the period. Additionally the author cites many other sources to fill out the information for which he may not have primary sources.

It is a rather slow read as the book is chock full of details and nuances; the amount of feed needed for a sheep, how much a candle weighs, the length of a hammock, etc. It is not for the more causal reader, but if you are really interesting in the minutia of this subject, the book is for you. show less

This edition of Transactions of the NDS provides an excellent picture of early naval aviation and its role in the defence of HM Dockyards. Articles include Royal Naval Air Stations around the British coast, particularly those at Calshot, Lee-on-Solent and The Solent. Anti-Zeppelin Experiments are covered and historian Philip MacDougall writes on how Lord Trenchard, in the early years of the RAF, suppressed Royal Navy's Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishments as there was a fear that, in show more the years after the First World War, the RAF feared its being abolished and returned to Navy and Army control. What a great story early naval aviation is! show less