A Merchant Fleet at War

A Merchant Fleet at War

During a war, which was at last to draw into its vortex practically the whole human racethe issue depending, first and foremost, on sea powerthere was little time or opportunity or, indeed, inclination on the part of British seamen to keep a record of their varied activities. The very nature of many of the incidents recorded in the following pages precluded the preparation of detailed reports at the time. Nor can we forget that many of the officers and men, to whose resource, courage, and devotion this volume bears testimony, have joined the great silent army of the dead to whose exploits the freedom of conscience of every man and woman in the British Empire, as well as their state of material comfort, bear witness. This book has been written under not a few difficulties, and it owes whatever merit it possesses to many individualscaptains, officers, engineers, pursers and other ministers to British sea-powerwho have assisted in its preparation, whether by recounting incidents in which they took part, by placing written records at my disposal, or byviii lending photographs from which the illustrations have been prepared. I would especially emphasise that the illustrations have been made from photographs of all sorts and shapes, taken by all kinds of cameras, though for the most part of pocket size. Many of the pictures were snapped under dull and forbidding skies, and some were secured in the very presence of the enemy in mad pursuit of his piratical policy. Some of these pictures were soaked with sea water, and other were recovered from destruction at the last moment. The value of the illustrations lies not so much in their perfection as in the knowledge that they were taken on active service. Finally a word should be said, perhaps, of another difficulty which confronts any one who endeavours to tell the story of what merchant sailors did during the Great War. These men dislike publicity and their modesty disarms the inquisitor. Like their comrades of the Royal Navy, they are content if they can feel that they have done their duty. They would leave it at that. But were silence to be maintained, later generations would be robbed, for the progress of humanity depends, in no small measure, onix the manner in which the memory of great deeds is preserved, and handed down from age to age. No man can live unto himself. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 65761
Author: Hurd, Archibald
Release Date: Jul 4, 2021
Format: eBook
Language: English