Cindy Vallar's Blog - Posts Tagged "british-royal-navy"

The Reaper by Michael Aye

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


After preventing pirates from capturing a convoy of East India Company ships, Captain Gilbert Anthony finds his life and career in the Royal Navy forever altered. Newspapers tout his bravery and honor throughout the kingdom. A grateful EIC honor him with gold coins and a ceremonial sword. The king bestows on him a knighthood. And his father entrusts him with training his half brother, Midshipman Gabriel Anthony, to become a naval officer. This last task also involves inheriting Gabe’s uncle, who seems to be Gabe’s protector, but Dagan is a skilled topman with sharp eyes, which make him as asset aboard Gil’s ship.

On his father’s death, Gil becomes the Earl of Deerfield, but the Admiralty has need of him far from England’s shores. Colonial grievances have been mounting and the possibility of war looms. A more immediate threat, however, are the pirates preying on merchant ships in the Caribbean and off the coast of America. With his recent success against such rogues, the Admiralty thinks he’s the best one to confront this menace. To aid in this endeavor Gil assumes command of HMS Drakkar, one of the realm’s largest frigates captured in 1759 from the French. Gabe will serve as the senior midshipman, and among the other gentlemen joining the crew are a young boy named Mr. Davy and Fourth Lieutenant Witzenfeld.

Soon after the frigate sails for Antigua, Witzenfeld reveals his true character – a cruel tyrant with a temper and a vulgar mouth to match. He continually persecutes Davy, which brings the lieutenant into contention with Gabe. Problems escalate, forcing Gil to find a tactful way to deal convince the crew that they can trust him while demonstrating no favoritism or permitting abuse.

A second complication comes when they sight two schooners plundering a barque. One woman who survives the attack is Lady Deborah McKean, to whom Gil finds himself attracted – a thought that irks him since she just witnessed the murder of her husband, as well as the brutal rapes and murders of the other women aboard the merchant ship. Turning his attention to his purpose for coming to the West Indies, Gil gathers what scant information he can of the attack, leaving him with more questions than answers. That trend continues after further encounters with the pirates, including rumors of a fifty-gun black ship with black sails. Might there be someone ashore in league with the pirates? Why do they rarely leave survivors, even those who might garner high ransoms? Or is there a more nefarious purpose behind the attacks? When a coded letter falls into Gil’s hands, he acquires vital information that might lead to answers . . . if they can decode the message.

First issued in 2005, The Reaper is the first book in The Fighting Anthonys series and this new edition has been revised. Readers are quickly drawn into this high seas adventure, rife with action and interwoven with romance. It even includes some original poetry by Aye. While no decisive indication of the time frame is provided, it occurs sometime after the Battle of Quiberon Bay (November 1759) and July 1775 when the epilogue takes place. If there is any drawback at all in the story, it is that it ends too soon, but The Reaper definitely snares the reader into wanting to read the second volume, HMS Seawolf. It is indeed a worthy addition to the growing collection of nautical fiction.




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On The Lee Shore by Philip K. Allan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A summons from the Admiralty signals the end of Captain Alexander Clay’s convalescence after being wounded in a sea battle in the Caribbean. Upon his arrival in London, he learns of the discontent rippling through the Royal Navy. The ranks are dissatisfied with their pay – which hasn’t been raised in over a century – poor rations, and no leave when ships are in port. Such disgruntlement can’t be swept under the rug either, for the crew of HM Frigate Titan took matters into their own hands. They locked up the officers and refused to obey any orders from their captain, accusing him of murder and misuse. The First Lord has decided that he needs an intelligent officer with dash to assume command of this warship and Clay is just the man.

When Clay first steps aboard the 36-gun vessel, he sees only hostile faces. Many are angry. Some are contemptuous, others indifferent. His orders are to restore order and discipline aboard Titan, but he prefers menial labor and constant drilling to achieve this, rather than the lash as his predecessor favored. Clay also permits music and other lively entertainment among the men when they’re off duty. Regardless of these easements, there are those who remain discontent. One is an officer who favors the stricter enforcement of Titan’s former commander. Among the ranks, there is a cadre of men led by Richard Sexton, an Irishman and an avid adherent of the United Irishmen. He’s not above using trickery and violence to achieve his goals, which includes once again taking control of the ship.

A few officers and a handful of men, however, know Clay and transferred with him to the Titan. Those of the lower decks discover how the United Irishmen communicate with each other when posted to different ships. They also are determined to prevent Sexton and his group from succeeding in their endeavor, especially when a message is intercepted that informs those on board the Titan that the ranks have staged a mutiny, based in Spithead, that has essentially brought the navy to a standstill at a time when they can least afford one.

Titan is one of a squadron a warships, under the command of Commodore Sir Edward Pellew, that is blockading the French navy port of Brest. Clay is tasked with making daily sails close to port to check on the comings and goings of the fishing fleet, the French navy, and any other intelligence that might be of interest. The more havoc he can cause, the better, but his daring, unconventional sorties require officers and crew to work in unity. Complicating each plan are the dangerous waters in which they patrol and the dirty weather that frequently hampers and endangers them. When a particularly violent storm scatters the fleet, Clay and his men must make the French continue to think the whole squadron remains on blockade. But the danger aboard remains and it only requires a single match to ignite.

On the Lee Shore is the third entry in the Alexander Clay series and is filled with action and peril that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Allan provides a unique perspective of the Spithead Mutiny, splitting his depiction between the points of view of the officers and the men. He deftly intertwines avarice, corruption, and mutiny, while spicing these with glimpses into the everyday lives of sailors and their personal lives both at sea and at home. There’s even a bit of romance, as Clay and Lydia Browning are finally reunited.




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How to Survive in the Georgian Navy: A Sailor's Guide by Bruno Pappalardo

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Divided into ten chapters, How to Survive in the Georgian Navy introduces readers to a wide range of topics concerning life in the Royal Navy during the reigns of George I, II, III, and IV. When the War of the Spanish Succession ended in 1715, Britain possessed more naval ships than any other European nation. Her merchant trade was expanding to encompass the entire world and the ships carrying imports and exports required protection, which necessitated a naval presence in the far reaches of the British Empire. This, in turn, required both financial backing and a good infrastructure to support the ships and crews stationed in these distant ports and waters.

Chapter one focuses on the navy’s personnel, officers and ratings alike, and what they did aboard the ships. The next chapter is concerned with how these men joined the Royal Navy. War necessitated a large number of men, but in times of peace, far fewer were needed. For example, at the time that the wars with France ended in the early nineteenth century, 145,000 men served in the Royal Navy. The majority (126,000 to be precise) soon found themselves unemployed.

It was important that a ship’s crew work together; rules and regulations provided for the smooth running of the ships and, as a result, sometimes required men to be disciplined. This is the topic of chapter three: Crimes and Punishment: Discipline in the Georgian Navy. The flip side of this was the need to not only feed the crew and allow them periods of downtime, but also to maintain their health. The latter was particularly important since the majority of deaths stemmed from disease or accident. For example, one in thirty-one men died each year as a result of these two culprits between 1792 and 1815, whereas one in 403 succumbed in battle. These are the topics discussed in chapters four and five: Victuals and Time Out: Food, Drink and Recreation in the Georgian Navy, and Keeping a Healthy Crew: Medicine in the Georgian Navy.

During an eighty-one year period, beginning in 1714, the navy lost 1,027 ships. More than half of these foundered; the rest were the result of wrecking, fire, colliding, or mutiny. While chapter nine specifically examines “Mutiny in the Georgian Navy,” chapter six explores “A Matter of Survival: Storms, Shipwreck and Fire on Board Ship.” Chapter seven discusses naval expeditions of a scientific nature, whereas chapter eight concerns warships and sea battles. The latter includes firsthand accounts of the battles of Cape Passaro (1718), at Finisterre (1747), and of Quiberon Bay (1759). Most such accounts come from a ship’s officers, but the author also includes one written by an ordinary seaman who was aboard HMS Orion during the Battle of the Nile in 1798.

The last chapter talks about “Women at Sea in the Age of Sail.” Often seen as bad luck, the historical record mentions that in 1379, the French attacked during a bad storm. The sailors blamed the sixty women who were aboard and tossed them into the roiling sea. Some were of questionable character, but others were members of the upper crust. Between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries, they could be found on navy ships, sometimes to entertain the men who weren’t allowed shore leave. Other times women actually worked in some semi- or unofficial capacity, or found themselves aboard because they were fleeing from enemy troops. A minority chose to disguise themselves in male attire and join the navy.

The epilogue discusses the Georgian navy’s legacy during a critical period in history. As Pappalardo writes, “aided by both the technological advances of the equipment and techniques and the attitude, training and skill of the men of the Royal Navy . . . gained Britain undisputed supremacy of the seas for the next century and firmly established Britain as a leading global power.” (136)

Interspersed throughout the 144 pages are black-and-white illustrations. The endpapers are in full color. The front depicts the two halves of the world; the back is a painting of Admiral Earl Howe’s victory over the French fleet on the Glorious First of June 1794. The use of a very small font size is the only drawback, but to use a larger one would have necessitated making a book of either greater dimensions or additional length. This volume also contains a Timeline of Major Naval Battles and Events, a bibliography, and an index.

Pappalardo, Principal Records Specialist (Naval) at The National Archives in London, packs a wealth of knowledge into this pocket-sized, hardback book that is entertaining and informative. The narrative is both a historical introduction to the Royal Navy between 1714 and 1820, and a collection of contemporary, illustrative quotations from the officers and men who served aboard British warships or in administrative capacities. How to Survive in the Georgian Navy is an excellent overview for those unfamiliar with this period of British naval history, or an exceptional summary for those seeking to reacquaint themselves with it.




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All Hands on Deck: A Modern-Day High Seas Adventure to the Far Side of the World by Will Sofrin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In 1969, two events occur that get little media coverage. Shipwrights in Nova Scotia build a replica of a British Royal Navy frigate from the eighteenth century. A novel by Patrick O’Brian, an author not widely known, is published. The ship will be christened Rose; the book, the first in a nautical series, is entitled Master & Commander.

Fast forward to the fall of 2001. A young man returns from Europe after 9/11 uncertain what he will do next. In France, he could afford to spend $300 on champagne; now, he’s in Newport, Rhode Island, working on a tall ship for minimal pay. It’s not the work he wants to do, but his choices are limited. The vessel is a full-rigged ship with a length of 179 feet and 30.5 feet at her widest point amidships. The tallest of her three masts rises 130 feet above the water. Unlike the day she was launched, she is shabby and of questionable seaworthiness. Her name is Rose, and he is Will Sofrin. By the time she’s ready to set sail, he joins the crew as a deckhand and ship’s carpenter. He is familiar with sailing, but has never sailed aboard a tall ship before. The remaining crew consists of men and women, some experienced hands and others with little to none. Her captain is Richard Bailey, “a legend in the tall ship community” and the man who saved the frigate from the scrapyard. (23)

During the next three months – a timeframe that doesn’t allow much wiggle room – he and the others must make the frigate ready for a voyage that will take her from the Atlantic Ocean, across the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal, into the Pacific Ocean, and north to California. Rose has been purchased to be a prop in a new movie by Twentieth Century Fox. She will become HMS Surprise for Peter Weir’s Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Along the way, they battle rough seas, gale-force winds, boredom, and low morale. They live in less-than-desirable conditions, and encounter problems that can spell disaster for the ship and themselves.

Sofrin includes technical drawings, tables, and black-and-white photographs to help us better understand the ship and to get to know her crew. Measurements are provided in feet and meters. When using nautical language, he explains these terms in everyday terms to which we can relate. One example is when they find themselves encountering sustained winds of sixty knots and waves twenty to thirty feet high: “It felt like being in a pinball machine, bouncing from one hard surface to the next.” (106)

From start to finish, All Hands on Deck takes us on a stunning and personal journey. Contrary to our romantic notions of sailing aboard a wooden ship, Sofrin offers a frank and honest account of his experiences and his shipmates, as well as tying up loose ends once the ship is delivered. At the same time, he compares his life aboard Rose with what it was like for Royal Navy seamen in the late eighteenth century. He also recounts Patrick O’Brian’s story and how he created his characters, Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin. In small, but memorable, ways, we experience what Sofrin experiences and it is a voyage we are unlikely to forget.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Sofrin.html)




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Leeward by Katie Daysh

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The time: August 1798. The place: Aboukir Bay, Egypt. This novel opens with a nail-biting, edge-of-your seat, you-are-there moment during the Battle of the Nile when the flagship of the French navy explodes. Neither you nor the captain of HMS Lion escape unscathed. His wounds are deep and abiding, physical and traumatic. Astute readers also perceive the first glimmer that Leeward will not be your typical British Royal Navy tale set during the Age of Nelson. And this debut novel will not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for those who venture into this maelstrom of manipulation, deception, courage, and love, will be richly rewarded.

Accepting a new post in the Caribbean is not Captain Hiram Nightingale’s preference, but two years have passed since his injuries during the Battle of the Nile, and his father and father-in-law think it is for the best. Granted, Admiral Nightingale always thinks he knows what is best for his son. Sir William Haywood has promised to help Hiram walk the fine line between ship and shore, seamanship and politics, in this assignment. Except upon his arrival, he discovers plans have changed and he has new orders. He is to take command of HMS Scylla and pursue mutineers aboard a rogue navy ship as powerful as his own.

Old emotions of doubt and terror surface, but he soon finds that being captain is second nature to him. Still, there are problems he must deal with – a first lieutenant who questions his commands, friction between two of his lieutenants, a despondent crew – but he manages to do his duty and slowly gains the loyalty of his men . . . or at least most of them. Disaster strikes after they capture a Spanish prize, which results in a mockery of an ad hoc court martial, and the revelation of two secrets, both of which should have been disclosed before he took command of Scylla. Now, he may lose his ship and innocents aboard the rogue warship may die as a result.

Daysh is adept at weaving picturesque and fresh phrases that perfectly capture the moment. One example is “Time congealed into thick molasses.” (18) From time to time, she entwines chapters of backstory with those that take place in 1800. Initially the reason for this is unclear, but each incident provides glimpses into past events that shaped Nightingale to be the man he is, as well as the scars these left that continue to haunt him in the present. There are many emotions with which readers will empathize. Those seeking adventure experience enormous waves, tempests at sea, fire, amputation, treachery, manipulation, and sea fights. Decisions made may surprise, but they showcase how staying true to oneself and being resolute in one’s decisions are the only ways to move beyond the past and begin anew.




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(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Daysh.html)