Tag: WWII
-
HMS King Alfred – the RNVR’s wartime training site
During the Second World War, HMS King Alfred in Hove, Sussex, became the nerve centre for training officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR). In this blog, I’ve pulled together some intriguing facts that reveal the importance of this unique establishment. HMS King Alfred plays a key role in my new book – For Those…
-
Six curious facts about the Battle of the Atlantic
The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous campaign of the Second World War, lasting from 1939 to 1945. While most people know it involved German U-boats and Allied convoys, there are some fascinating details that rarely make it into the history books. In 2024, I signed a five-book deal with historical fiction specialist…
-
The role of the WRNS – the Women’s Royal Naval Service
The Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS), affectionately known as the Wrens, holds a distinguished place in British military history. As the women’s branch of the Royal Navy, the WRNS played a vital role in both World Wars and continued to serve with distinction until its integration into the Royal Navy in 1993. As I discovered…
-
Operation Dynamo: The evacuation from Dunkirk, 85th anniversary
In the annals of British military history, few events have captured the imagination and spirit of resilience quite like Operation Dynamo. Referred to by Churchill himself as a “Miracle of deliverance,” this audacious evacuation of Allied troops from the beaches of northern France in 1940 turned what could have been a catastrophic defeat into a…
-
The Wavy Navy: Seven key things to understand about the RNVR in World War II
The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) played a pivotal role during World War II, contributing significantly to the Allied war effort. But the initials might mean nothing to some people in the 21st century. The RNVR was established in 1903 to supplement the Royal Navy with trained volunteers. By the time World War II erupted,…
-
The first Japanese Kaiten suicide submarine mission: Attack on USS Mississinewa
Eighty years ago today, on 20th November 1944, the Pacific theatre of World War II witnessed a harrowing and unprecedented event: the first successful Japanese Kaiten suicide submarine attack. This tragic chapter unfolded at Ulithi Atoll in the Caroline Islands, marking a desperate and deadly tactic employed by the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Kaiten, translating…
davidclensy.com 