Skip to main content
Become a member
Donate
Shop
Venue hire
Search
Royal Museums Greenwich
Main navigation
Menu
Royal Museums Greenwich
Search
Close
Plan your visit
Back
Plan your visit
Getting here
Eat & drink
Facilities & access
Family visits
Group visits
School visits
Cutty Sark
Cutty Sark
Open daily 10am - 5pm
Last entry 4.15pm
Adult: £20 | Child: £10
Members go free
Free
National Maritime Museum
National Maritime Museum
Open daily 10am-5pm
Last entry 4.15pm
Free entry
Booking recommended
Free
Queen's House
Queen's House
Open daily 10am - 5pm
Last entry 4.15pm
Free entry
Booking recommended
Royal Observatory
Royal Observatory
Open daily 10am-6pm
Last entry 5.15pm
Adult: £20 | Child: £10
Members go free
What's on
Back
What's on
Planetarium shows
Exhibitions
For families
Member events
Talks and tours
National Maritime Museum
Exhibitions
Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition
See the world's greatest space photography at the National Maritime Museum
In Greenwich
Events and festivals
Black History Month
Celebrate the stories and perspectives Black communities past and present this October
Cutty Sark
Events and festivals
Cutty Sark concert: Fairport Convention
Don't miss your chance to see Fairport Convention underneath the copper hull of Cutty Sark - this will be a night not to be missed!
Stories
Back
Stories
Art at the Queen's House
Our Ocean, Our Planet
Guide to the night sky
Museum blog
Beads of sunlight: photographing an annular solar eclipse
Ryan Imperio's spellbinding image of our Sun earned him the top prize in Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024
Zeenat Mahal: the exiled queen
Senior curator Victoria Lane explores the stories behind a newly acquired miniature of the last Mughal Empress
A stellar duo: two young astrophotographers shooting for the stars
Meet the youngest entrants in Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024: brothers Benjamin and Joshua Lawler
Collections
Back
Collections
Conservation
Research
Donating items to our collection
Collections Online
Search our online database and explore our objects, paintings, archives and library collections from home
The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
Come behind the scenes at our state-of-the-art conservation studio
Caird Library
Visit the world's largest maritime library and archive collection at the National Maritime Museum
Learn
Back
Learn
School trips and workshops
Self-guided school visits
Online resources and activities
Booking an on-site schools session
Booking a digital schools session
Young people and youth groups
Support us
Back
Support us
Become a member
Donate
Corporate partnerships
Become a patron
Leave a legacy
Commemoration and celebration
Cutty Sark
National Maritime Museum
Queen's House
Royal Observatory
Become a member
Donate
Shop
Venue hire
Search
Beta
Back to All Results
Explore our collection
Objects
Library
Archive
Search our collection
Filters…
Search
Language
Select…
Language
Language
English
German
Apply Filter
Format
Select…
Format
Format
Cartographic material
Monograph/Item
Projection
Serial
Apply Filter
Type
Select…
Type
Type
Bibliography
Catalogue
Handbook
Apply Filter
Published Year
Select...
195
1648
1698
1848
1862
1884
1895
1901
1938
1945
1954
1955
1956
1960
1964
1965
1966
1967
1970
1972
1973
1974
1980
1983
1984
1986
1993
1995
1996
1997
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2100
2500
Author / Maker
ISBN
Subject
Book Title
Series
Journal Title
Keywords
showing 354 library results for '
sword
'
Sort by
Relevance
Title
Title (desc)
Author
Author (desc)
Date
Date (desc)
Stringbag : the Fairey Swordfish at war /David Wragg.
"This is a narrative account of the operations of the Fairey Swordfish throughout World War Two. The most famous of these was the attack on the Italian fleet at Taranto, crippling three battleships and damaging several other ships as well as the seaplane base and an oil storage depot. The Swordfish played a prominent part in the Battle of Matapan and in the sinking of the Bismarck. Less happily, Swordfish were used in the unsuccessful and ill-prepared raid on the Germans at Petsamo and in the abortive attack on the battle cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau during the Channel Dash in 1942."--Provided by the publisher.
2004. • BOOK • 1 copy available.
940.544.9(42)
Alone on a wide, wide sea : the story of 835 naval air squadron in the Second World War
"This is the history of 835 Naval Air Squadron told by one of its surviving commanding officers. [...] Many people now feel that the work of the Merchant Navy in the Second World War has seldom been given the recognition it deserves; for without the merchant vessels which continually battled their way through the stormy waters of the Atlantic, Britain would soon have been starved of essential supplies. 835 Squadron, flying mainly from the aircraft-carrier Nairana, spent much of the war defending our Atlantic and Russian convoys from the attacks of German U-boats and aircraft. Barringer has gathered together a wealth of first-hand accounts by the crew of the Nairana and other members of the squadron and these give his story a compelling sense of immediacy."--Provided by the publisher.
1995 • BOOK • 1 copy available.
940.544.9(261.1)
British military medals : a guide for the collector and family historian /Peter Duckers.
"This second edition of Peter Duckers [sic] best-selling British Military Medals traces the history of medals and gallantry awards from Elizabethan times to the modern day, and it features an expert account of their design and production. Campaign and gallantry medals are a key to understanding - and exploring - British and imperial military history, and to uncovering the careers and exploits of individual soldiers. In a series of succinct and well-organized chapters he explains how medals originated, to whom they were awarded and how the practice of giving medals has developed over the centuries. His work is a guide for collectors and for local and family historians who want to learn how to use medals to discover the history of military units and the experiences of individuals who served in them."--Provided by the publisher.
2020. • BOOK • 2 copies available.
Arms Fair 1973, Stockport
Stockport and District Arms Collectors Society
1973 • PAMPHLET • 1 copy available.
623.444.2
Ship decoration : 1630-1780 /Andrew Peters.
This book is a detailed comparative study of the decorative work - figurehead, topside ornamentation and stern gallery design - carried by the ships of the major maritime states of Europe in the zenith of the sailing era. It covers both warships and the most prestigious merchant ships, the East Indiamen of the great chartered companies. The work began life in the year 2000 when the author was commissioned to carry out research for an ambitious project to build a full-size replica of a Swedish East Indiaman, which produced a corpus of information whose relevance stretched way beyond the immediate requirements of accurately decorating the replica. In tracking the artistic influences on European ship decoration, it became clear that this was essentially the story of the baroque style, its dissemination from France, and its gradual transformation into distinct national variations in Britain, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden. It is an inherently visual subject and the book illustrates developments with numerous photographs of contemporary ship models, paintings and plans, as well as the author's own interpretive illustrations of details. As the first major work on the topic for nearly a century, it will be of obvious appeal to ship modellers and historians, but with comparative examples drawn from architecture and sculpture, it also makes a broader contribution to the history of the applied arts.--Back cover.
2013. • FOLIO • 1 copy available.
745.51(26)"16/17"
Forgotten songs and stories of the sea : A treasury of voices from our maritime past /Caroline Rochford
"Stirring tales of heroism at sea have been engrained in the annals of maritime history since time immemorial. Christopher Columbus's discovery of the New World, Queen Elizabeth I's defeat of the Spanish Armada, and Horatio Nelson's victory at Trafalgar are just some of Britain's most memorable naval triumphs. But what about the lesser-known tales from our seafaring past? The Victorian who invented a swimming machine in order to cross the English Channel; the capture of a 'real-life' mermaid; the lost pirate treasure of Alborâan; the ghost of a murdered sailor who still haunts the streets of Portsmouth; and the daring explorers who vanished into the blue yonder, leaving behind nothing but a cryptic message in a champagne bottle - these are just some of our quirky naval stories that have been chronicled in verse and archived in newspaper clippings, and forgotten with the passage of time. Historian and genealogist Caroline Rochford has compiled 200 traditional songs and stories into this book, which offers an exciting, entertaining and eye-opening glimpse into our long lost maritime past."--Provided by the publisher.
2016 • BOOK • 1 copy available.
784.4
Crusoe, castaways and shipwrecks in the perilous age of sail / Mike Rendell
Rendell, Mike
2019. • BOOK • 1 copy available.
656.61.085.3"1571/1862"
The fatal fortress / the guns and fortifications of Singapore 1819-1856 /Bill Clements.
"The Fall of Singapore in February 1942 was arguably the greatest disaster suffered by the British Empire. Between 1923 and 1938, the Singapore naval base had been upgraded with some of the largest coast guns ever installed. The guns' design and incorrect siting have since been blamed for the humiliating debacle. The Fatal Fortress traces the history of Singapore's fortifications and guns from the city's foundation in 1819 to the demise of coast artillery in the British Army in 1953. It also follows the development of artillery through the Victorian era of muzzle-loading guns to the introduction of the large breech-loading guns of the twentieth century. The author argues that it was not the siting of the guns that brought about the fall of Singapore, but an overall failure in command and control and a lack of suitable ammunition. The book is illustrated with a large number of photographs, drawings and plans, and contains a gazetteer describing all the batteries and forts, both existing and demolished. There is also an annex giving the details of the guns that were installed in Singapore."--Provided by the publisher.
2016. • BOOK • 1 copy available.
623.1/.3(592.3)
The lost story of the Ocean Monarch : Fire, family & fidelity /Gill Hoffs
"The Ocean Monarch was only a few hours out of Liverpool on 24 August 1848 when a cabin passenger shouted "Fire!" and all hell broke loose. Bound for Boston with almost 400 people on board, the emigrant ship was soon ablaze with little chance of putting the flames out. People watched helplessly from their cottages along the Welsh coast as some ships ignored the travellers' plight while others raced to their aid. On the 170th anniversary of the disaster Gill Hoffs reveals the full story of this forgotten wreck, including tales of French royalty, an American artist, and a courageous stewardess who gave her life to save her fellow travellers. Discover what happened to the passengers and crew, including: James K. Fellows, a kindly American jeweller trying to get home to his family; Jotham Bragdon, the first mate who fled the wreck then returned to shore a hero; Mary Walter and her mysterious 'family', escaping danger in London only to find greater peril lay at sea. Follow the murder trial of a crew of rescuers and find out the real fate of their 'victim' - and whether the mysterious Irish toddler 'Kate' found her family again."--Provided by the publisher.
2018. • BOOK • 1 copy available.
656.61.085.3OCEAN MONARCH
Pirates and privateers in the 18th century : the final flourish /Mike Rendell.
"Pirates and Privateers tells the fascinating story of the buccaneers who were the scourge of merchants in the 18th Century. It examines their lifestyle, looking at how the sinking of the Spanish treasure fleet in a storm off the coast of Florida led to a pirate's gold rush; how the King's Pardon was a desperate gamble - which paid off - and considers the role of individual island governors, such as Woodes Rogers in the Bahamas, in bringing piracy under control. The book also looks at how piracy has been a popular topic in print, plays, songs and now films, making thieves and murderers into swash-buckling heroes. It also considers the whole question of buried treasure - and gives a lively account of many of the pirates who dominated the so-called 'Golden Age' of Piracy."--Provided by the publisher.
2018. • BOOK • 1 copy available.
341.362.1"17"
Seeking sanctuary : a history of refugees in Britain /Jane Marchese Robinson.
"Seeking Sanctuary explores the history of people looking for refuge in this country. It starts with those protestant refugees fleeing oppression and persecution from Catholic Spain who ruled the Netherlands in the 16th century. It traces successive waves of peoples in the context of why they fled. At various times this was due to religious persecution, political upheaval, war and ethnic cleansing."--Provided by the publisher.
2020. • BOOK • 1 copy available.
305.9069140941
The Spanish Civil War at sea : dark and dangerous waters /Michael Alpert.
"The Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939 underlined the importance of the sea as the supply route to both General Franco's insurgents and the Spanish Republic. There were attempted blockades by Franco as well as attacks by his Italian and German allies against legitimate neutral, largely British, merchant shipping bound for Spanish Republican ports and challenges to the Royal Navy, which was obliged to maintain a heavy presence in the area. The conflict provoked splits in British public opinion. Events at sea both created and reflected the international tensions of the latter 1930s, when the policy of appeasement of Germany and Italy dissuaded Britain from taking action against those countries' activities in Spain, except to participate in a largely ineffective naval patrol to try to prevent the supply of war material to both sides. The book is based on original documentary sources in both Britain and Spain and is intended for the general reader as well as students and academics interested in the history of the 1930s, in naval matters and in the Spanish Civil War."--Provided by the publisher.
2021. • BOOK • 1 copy available.
946.08145
From hunter to hunted / Bernard Edwards.
"In the early stages of the Second World War, Donitz's U-boats generally adhered to Prize Rules, surfacing before attacking and making every effort to preserve the lives of their victims' crews. But, with the arming of merchantmen and greater risk of damage or worse, they increasingly attacked without warning. So successful was the U-boat campaign that Churchill saw it as the gravest threat the Nation faced. The low point was the March 1943 attack on convoys SC122 and HX229 when 44 U-boats sank 22 loaded ships. The pendulum miraculously swung with improved tactics and technology. In May 1943 out of a force of over 50 U-boats that challenged ONS5, eight were sunk and 18 were damaged, some seriously. Such losses were unsustainable and, with allied yards turning out ships at ever increasing rates, Donitz withdrew his wolf packs from the North Atlantic. Expert naval author and historian Bernard Edwards traces the course of the battle of the Atlantic through a series of thrilling engagement case studies."--Provided by the publisher.
2020. • BOOK • 1 copy available.
940.451.6"1939/1943"
The hunt for Blackbeard : the world's most notorious pirate /by Craig Cabell, Graham A. Thomas, Allan Richards.
"Edward Teach - 'Blackbeard'-is one of the legends of the so-called 'golden age of piracy'. There have been so many accounts of his short, bloody career that it is hard to see him and his times in a clear historical light. This new study looks for the man behind the legend, and it gives a vivid insight into the nature of piracy and the naval operations that were launched against it. The narrative focuses on the roles played by the Governor of Virginia Alexander Spotswood who masterminded the pursuit of Blackbeard, and Lieutenant Robert Maynard of HMS Pearl who led the pursuit and finally cornered Teach and his crew and, after a vicious fight, saw him killed.In vivid detail it reveals how the hunt for Blackbeard was orchestrated, how he was tracked down, and the parts played in the drama by the larger-than-life leading characters in this extraordinary story. This freshly researched study of the pursuit of the notorious pirate and his crew - and of the final fight in which Blackbeard lost his life - makes compelling reading."--Dust jacket.
2012. • BOOK • 1 copy available.
341.362.1
Anzac : the landing /Stephen Chambers.
The Anzac legend was born on the shores of Gallipoli during the historic morning of 25th April 1915. Landing on a hostile beach, under the cover of darkness, the Anzacs moved inland rapidly, but the response of the Ottoman forces was equally quick. The outcome of the campaign was arguably sealed during the first day, when the door for an Anzac victory was closed. With the order to dig, dig, dig and to stick it out, a stalemate was secured from the clutches of almost total disaster. After the Australians and New Zealanders received their baptism of fire, they became a stubborn thorn in the sides of the Ottoman army. Futilely after eight gruelling months of fighting, the campaign came to an end with the complete evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula. Failure did not mar the actions and sacrifice of the Anzacs who bestowed a powerful legacy, as well as being a landmark in the birth of modern Turkey. Almost a century later, with all the veterans now sadly gone, their legacy still survives in Anzac Day and with the ever increasing numbers of pilgrims who visit the battlefield today.
2008. • BOOK • 1 copy available.
940.455(496.1)
The Great War at sea : the opening salvos :contemporary combact images from the Great War /[Bob Carruthers].
"This powerful collection, depicting the events of the Great War at sea, showcases the work of the contemporary combat artists and illustrators from the Great War era. The result is a stunning and vivid graphic record of life and death on the high-seas from 1914-18, as reported to contemporary audiences at a time when the events of the Great War were still unfolding. During the Great War artists and illustrators produced a highly accurate visual record of the fleeting moments the bulky cameras couldn't reproduce. These works form a body of war reportage that are as valid as the written word. Today, the work of the combat illustrators and the official war artists from the Great War era is overlooked by historians in favour of photographs, but these illustrations are nonetheless important, as they provide a contemporary record of hand-to-hand fighting, trench raids, aerial dogfights, sea battles, desperate last stands, night actions and cavalry charges."--Provided by the publisher.
2015. • BOOK • 1 copy available.
7.044"1914/1918"
Skagerrak : the Battle of Jutland through German eyes /Gary Staff.
"In January 1916 Vizeadmiral Scheer took command of the High Sea Fleet. This aggressive and pugnacious leader embarked upon a vigorous offensive program which culminated in the greatest clash between dreadnought capital ships the world had seen. Although outnumbered almost two to one, Vizeadmiral Scheer conducted a provocative operation on 31 May 1916. Who would prevail: the massive preponderance of British heavy calibre cannon, or the aggressive tactics of the street fighter Scheer? Manning the ships of both sides were the technically skilled and talented seamen who were prepared to carry out their duties loyally and courageously until the very end. Over 8,500 men perished in less than 10 hours of fighting, a horrendous loss, even by World War One standards. This book gives voice to many of the German Navy participants, from a German perspective, on this tumultuous battle fought over 100 years ago. These men gave their all and are gone now, but not forgotten."--Provided by the publisher.
2016. • BOOK • 1 copy available.
940.456(489)
The sailors behind the medals : Waging war at sea 1939 - 1945 /Chris Bilham
"The story of the Royal Navy in the Second World War is an epic, consisting both of dramatic battles such as the River Plate and Matapan, and drawn-out campaigns such as the escort of convoys to Malta and northern Russia. The author examines the careers of twenty-three sailors who took part in these actions which resulted in the award of their medals. He illustrates a cross-section of the war-time Navy long-service regulars, volunteers, recalled veterans of the Great War, Hostilities Only ratings. They served in nearly every kind of warship and in all the main theatres of the war and their individual acts of gallantry under extreme conditions make for inspiring reading. The author also examines the medals that were awarded for gallantry."--Provided by the publisher.
2017 • BOOK • 1 copy available.
355.134.2(42)
The Kaiser's U-boat assault on America : Germany's great war gamble in the first World War /Hans Joachim Koerver.
"A deeply researched and engaging account of the use of U-Boats in the First World War. The focus touches on both diplomatic and economic aspects as well as the tactical and strategic use of the u-boats. The book also examines the role played by US president Woodrow Wilson and his response to American shipping being sunk by U-boats and how that ultimately forced his hand to declare war on Germany."-Provided by the publisher.
2020. • BOOK • 1 copy available.
940.451.6(43:73)"1914/1918"
Depth charge : mines, depth charges and underwater weapons, 1914-1945 /Chris Henry.
"The history of weapons and warfare is usually written from the point of view of the battles fought and the tactics used. In naval warfare, in particular, the story of how these weapons were invented, designed and supplied is seldom told. Chris Henry, in this pioneering study, sets the record straight. He describes how, to counter the extraordinary threat posed by the U-boats in the world wars, the Royal Navy responded with weapons that kept open the vital supply routes of the Atlantic Ocean. He also celebrates the remarkable achievements of the engineers and inventors whose inspired work was essential to Britain's survival."--Provided by the publisher.
2021. • BOOK • 1 copy available.
940.545941
The Royal Marines on the Western Front / Daniel J Mclean.
"From the mud of the Somme to the raid on Zeebrugge, the Royal Marines fought in almost every element of the Great War on the Western Front. Today they are known world-wide as an elite commando fighting force, but that has only been their role since 1940, a fraction of their period in existence. Until 1923 they existed as two corps - the Royal Marine Light Infantry and the Royal Marine Artillery - and both served with distinction along the western front in the great war. This book examines and explains the engagements in which they were involved, the equipment used and the organisation and training undertaken in hitherto unseen detail, drawing on a wide variety of sources to give an accurate picture of their contribution to the war in France and Belgium."--Provided by the publisher.
2021. • BOOK • 1 copy available.
940.41241
Alistair MacLean's war : how the Royal navy shaped his bestsellers /Mark Simmons.
"It is no coincidence that many of Alistair MacLean's most successful novels were sea stories. In 1941, he was called up after volunteering for the Royal Navy and served as Ordinary Seaman, Able Seaman, and Leading Torpedo Operator. For the majority of his service, he was on HMS Royalist, a modified Dido-class light cruiser, seeing action in the Arctic, and operations against the German battleship Tirpitz. The ship then deployed to the Mediterranean taking part in Operation Dragoon the invasion of the South of France and later in operations against German occupied Greek Islands in the Aegean. After which MacLean and Royalist were deployed to the Indian Ocean and operations against the Japanese in Malaya, Burma, and Sumatra. His wartime experiences coupled with exceptional literary skill resulted in the runaway success of his first novel HMS Ulysses (1955) followed by The Guns of Navarone (1957) and South by Java Head (1958). These three blockbusters cemented his position as one of the most successful and highly paid authors of the era. While not a whole life biography, Mark Simmon's book provides a fascinating insight into Maclean's war service and subsequent works, which deserve enduring popularity."--Provided by the publisher.
2022. • BOOK • 1 copy available.
Hellenistic and roman naval wars, 336 - 31 BC / John D. Grainger.
"The period covered in this book is well known for its epic battles and grand campaigns of territorial conquest, but Hellenistic monarchies, Carthaginians, and the rapacious Roman Republic were scarcely less active at sea. Huge resources were poured into maintaining fleets not only as symbols of prestige but as means of projecting real military power across the Mediterranean arena. Taking the period between Alexander the Great's conquests and the Battle of Actium, John Grainger analyzes the developments in naval technology and tactics, the uses and limitations of sea power and the differing strategies of the various powers. He shows, for example, how the Rhodians and the Romans eschewed the ever-larger monster galleys favored by most Hellenistic monarchs in favor of smaller vessels. This is a fascinating study of a neglected aspect of ancient warfare."--Provided by the publisher.
2020. • BOOK • 1 copy available.
930
Tracing your British Indian ancestors : a guide for family historians /Emma Jolly.
"Tracing Your British Indian Ancestors gives a fascinating insight into the history of the subcontinent under British rule and into the lives the British led there. It also introduces the reader to the range of historical records that can be consulted in order to throw light on the experience of individuals who were connected to India over the centuries of British involvement in the country. Emma Jolly looks at every aspect of British Indian history and at all the relevant resources. She explains the information held in the British Library India Office Records and The National Archives. She also covers the records of the armed forces, the civil service and the railways, as well as religious and probate records, and other sources available for researchers. At the same time, she provides a concise and vivid social history of the British in India: from the early days of the East India Company, through the Mutiny and the imposition of direct British rule in the mid-nineteenth century, to the independence movement and the last days of the Raj."--Provided by the publisher.
2012. • BOOK • 1 copy available.
929.1072054
First
Prev
…
Page
7
Page
8
Current page
9
Page
10
Page
11
…
Next
Last
Loading filters
Royal Museums Greenwich
Close
Search
Want to search our collection? Search here.
Back To Top