Me new book arrived this morning

[olbod]

The Cruel Sea by Nicholas Monsarrat.
My original copy fell apart from use a few years ago so i thought it time to get a new copy.
Top stuff.

The movie The Cruel Sea with Jack Hawkins has always been my favourite war film. I had it on VHS and a few years ago I got it on DVD.
I watch it at least once a year.

As an aside my Aunty Dianne married an English submarina, Arthur Trivett ( Trev ) just after the war.
He and his two brothers Henry and Eddie were all in the submarine service.
Trev was sunk three times in his subs but survived.
When I was a kid I loved to listen to their tales about submarines.
All the boys gone now. RIP.
Needless to say that my second favourite war movie is Das Boot.
I have it also on DVD.

Below is a pick of Dianne with the three brothers.

[Boris_law]

Enjoyed all of Monsarrat's books, many that he wrote were about his love of the sea and his life experiences as a very capable naval officer in the RNVR.

[S3ute]

Hello from Bulawayo.

The adventures of the Compass Rose were certainly good reading - I also have a battered copy on my bookshelf back in Brisbane.

I found it one day in a pile of old books at CSIRO's (former) Narayen Research Station out west of Mundubbera when I was looking for something to read. This would have been about 1995. It had a stamp in it from the Eidsvold State School Library and appears to have been borrowed some time in the mid-1960s.

I did ring them to see if they wanted it back, but was told that it was likely written off and to enjoy it - I did indeed.

It brought some memories back of a stay in Launceston hospital many years ago after some minor surgery where I found myself sharing a recovery ward with an older fellow who had originally come from Canada. He had been in the Merchant Navy in the convoys to Murmansk and had some really interesting tales to tell - especially of winter conditions and what it was like to be under U boat attack.

Cheers

[bob10]

Many RANVR Officers & men served on the Corvettes in the Battle of the Atlantic, some with Monserrat, I believe, Bob


Battle of The Atlantic(part 1) The flower class Corvettes - YouTube

[bob10]

Here's a version of " The Cruel Sea " I bet you haven't heard, Bob


Nicholas Monsarrat's 'The Cruel Sea', adapted for radio. - YouTube

[jonesfam]

Go Hornblower!
When a hero had faults.
Jonesfam

[S3ute]

Go Hornblower!
When a hero had faults.
Jonesfam

Hello again.

There is a new book out on the life of Sir Edward Pellew who (the author argues) was the greatest frigate Captain the RN ever had.

Apparently, the inspiration for the Hornblower books and more than likely Jack Aubrey.

Rose to head of the Admiralty, but had plenty of faults - lack of bravery and fighting skill wasn't one them however.

Cheers,

[jonesfam]

Do you have the name of the book & author.
I would be very interested.
Jonesfam

[bob10]

Sir Edward Pellew, Bob


Admiral Edward Pellew: The true history of this most novel Captain | Jane Austen Centre (http://www.janeausten.co.uk/admiral-edward-pellew-the-true-history-of-this-most-novel-captain/)

[olbod]

The Cruel Sea is my favourite book of naval fiction but my favourite author is Douglas Reeman.
I have all his books and most of them are getting pretty tattered.

[ramblingboy42]

Olbod, have you read the Master Mariner...in 2 books by Monsarrat?

[olbod]

Olbod, have you read the Master Mariner...in 2 books by Monsarrat?

No.
I never ever considered that Monsarrat might have written other books.
DOH.
It might now be a nice surprise with additions to my library.
I will check it out later today.

Thanks.

[olbod]

So, I just ordered NM's book, Three Corvettes.
Looks like an interesting read.

[S3ute]

Do you have the name of the book & author.
I would be very interested.
Jonesfam

Hello again.

I am presently in southern Zimbabwe and fighting a really poor internet connection - so my apologies for taking a while to respond to your request for the title of the book on Sir Edward Pellew.

It is - The Life and Exploits of Britains Greatest Frigate Commander - and the author is Stephen Taylor. You can find a review here:

Commander: The Life and Exploits of Britain's Greatest Frigate Commander by Stephen Taylor (http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/aug/31/commander-stephen-taylor-review)

Arguably, if he had died in battle rather than in bed of old age he probably would have been more an icon. Nevertheless, there is a group of islands off the Australian coast called the Sir Edward Pellew Group - named from memory by Matthew Flinders.

Cheers,