HMS Sheffield: The Life and Times of 'Old Shiny'

by Ronald Bassett

This book tells the story of the great Royal Navy cruiser HMS Sheffield, affectionately known as Old Shiny, before, during, and after World War II. The lives of the common sailors at sea in wartime are realistically portrayed, and a mass of operational history is provided.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Ronald Leslie Bassett is a British writer and novelist. He wrote numerous works of historical fiction, sometimes under the pseudonym of "William Clive". He received many awards for his medical and pharmaceutical writing.

Reviews

[Rob Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining story

It is a very good author that can tell a story of a ship which becomes animated in the readers mind. The ship takes on a life of its own. Ronald Bassett has achieved this with his factual, yet witty, and at times very humorous account of the history of the Town class cruiser Sheffield.
I highly recommend this book. It is an excellent read.

[John McNair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truthfully, one of the best books I've ever read, and I've read a lot in just about 60 years. Immensely enjoyable and written in an easy style that I found a pleasure to follow. Ron Bassett had a way with words and a humorous turn of phrase that is delightful to read. As for the topic, I thought at first I would find it factually a tad dry as it is a biography in a way, but the narrative he stitched together was anything but. I think what sold me especially was how he was able to turn, in the latter part of the book, and inevitable sad tale of Shielfield's demise into something very positive. I was grateful for that, as I admire the ship her her many crew.

[Spad53 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read The Tinfish Run which I didn't like a lot. So I felt that I ought to give Ronald Basset credit where it's due, and that is for this book. This was a super book, it's easy to-read style, with lots of tales form the lower decks. I think he's invented some of the characters, but it works very well in this one. One of the best books I've read about a warship.

[Jonno · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complete and engrossing read on one of the Royal Navies most illustrious ships during WWII. I've been wanting to read about the Sheffield for a few years now as my grandfather was Chief Stoker on her before the outbreak of war.

[Graham Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb account of life in a cruiser during WWII. Engrossing. I knew conditions in smaller ships was dire but it seems even the Cruisers got bashed around. The time in the Mediterranean was particularly eye opening.

[Bert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book

A great book about a truly great warship named after a great city. It was a pity the Sheffield councillors and city elders did not appreciate the seamen and ship more.

[Chris Mortensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent telling of HIS Shiny

Well written account of naval warfare in WW2 in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Had no idea this cruiser participated in so many crucial battles.

[M P Thurber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting perspective

Very interesting to read the history of one particular ship at war as opposed to the history of famous and unknown sailors.

[J Hamilton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well researched book spoilt by political bias.



Writer has a clear. Left wing political agenda which spoils the literary experiance.

Will avoid other works of his in future.