Pen & Sword Books

The remarkable story of Harry Furness, a young British sniper who fought from D-Day to Germany.Growing up in a working-class family in Manchester, Harry Furness joined the army in 1939 at the age of 16. Having always been captivated by the stories of First World War snipers, he immediately volunteered for sniper training when the army began to recruit soldiers in 1941. He did exceptionally well, qualifying as a marksman whilst a pre-war army cadet and was quickly promoted to lance corporal.Just prior to D-Day, he was promoted to corporal in the Green Howards Regiment and landed at Gold Beach on 6th June 1944. Together, he and his comrades began a hard fight across North-West Europe, gradually moving through Northern France, Belgium, Holland and eventually into Germany as they pushed the Germans back towards the Rhine.The manifold dangers and occasional humour of Harry Furness’s experiences of war come across in a very matter-of-fact but compelling way in the dozens of previously unpublished letters, personal interviews and images that make up Martin Pegler’s fascinating, moving biography of Furness and his extraordinary life.

“A compelling read.” — Aeroplane MonthlyTwenty-five-year-old Bob Keddie died on 16 May 1942 when his Catalina flying boat disappeared over the Norwegian Sea. He had been on a reconnaissance patrol for the protection of convoys carrying vital supplies to the Russians. No trace of him, his nine crew members, or his aircraft was ever found.For Diana, his young wife who was four months pregnant, the disappearance brought an abrupt and agonising end to a two-year love story, innocent and intense, played out mostly in letters overflowing with tenderness and anticipation for a future free of war.Diana Ladner, a beautiful aspiring actress of nineteen, had met the dashing Bob Keddie at a performance of The Beggar's Opera in London in March 1940, a year on from his formative winning streak at the Cresta Run in St Moritz. Bob wrote in his diary of ‘a fascinating face’, warning himself to ‘let her pass while you can …’. They were married eight months later.We've All Life Before Us: A Love Story of the Second World War is a collection of letters and diaries that, on the one hand, charts in fascinating detail Bob Keddie’s progression through every stage of RAF training to his fateful command of a Catalina at RAF Sullom Voe, and on the other, tells the complete, beautifully intimate and unguarded story of love between two young people, from shy, eager beginnings, keen to impress, to unbridled longing and rage at the war for keeping them apart.

The British Atlantic locomotive flourished in the first decade of the nineteenth century especially on the relatively level stretches of the East Coast mainline. This book describes the design, construction, history, operation and performance of the Great Northern, Great Central, North Eastern and North British Atlantics and the London Brighton & South Coast engines that were developed from the GN design. More unusual were the Lancashire & Yorkshire ‘Highflyers’ which were some of the earliest and also included are the most powerful of all, Churchward’s Great Western Atlantics (converted to 4–6–0s later) and his three French Compounds. Most had been replaced by 4–6–0 and 4–6–2 designs by the 1920s and were withdrawn before the Second World War, though a few lingered to the post-war period and just reached the era of British Railways, though only the Brighton Atlantics survived longer. The last of all, 32424 Beachy Head, was withdrawn in 1958 and has been recreated for the Heritage industry. The book concludes with a brief look for comparative purposes at some of the most influential Atlantics on the rest of the world’s railways.

There are nearly 80 million visits to the Royal Parks every year, making them the most popular destinations in the capital. In 1956, author, poet and critic, Richard Thomas Church (1893–1972) wrote The Royal Parks of London, which was published by The Ministry of Public Building and Works as a guidebook at a cost of 3s 6d net. Many years has passed, and these parks continue to thrive, with new additions, events and celebrations. However, any visitor today will be overwhelmed by the beauty of these historic spaces that boast royal palaces, boathouses, bandstands, lodges, gatehouses, ornamental gardens, sculpture, public art, memorials, places for repose and refreshments. Today the Royal Parks as a charitable organisation is responsible for the care and maintenance of a large collection of historical built assets, comprising primarily of monuments, structures and buildings within the parks, and associated boundaries.This book will take you on a journey from Greenwich Park, the oldest of the Royal Parks, via Hyde Park, St James’s Park, Green Park, Regent’s Park, Bushy Park, Kensington Gardens to the largest of the royal parks — Richmond Park. It is hoped that the reader will gain a greater understanding of how these parks came about, but also to widen the visitor’s knowledge of some of the more unusual aspects of London’s Royal Parks, and to simply encourage the visitor to meander at will among them — the best way to discover the many pleasures within London’s Royal Parks.

The sinking of the RMS Titanic on the night of 14/15 April 1912 remains one of history’s most tragic maritime disasters. Striking an iceberg in the North Atlantic during its maiden voyage, the ship left countless heart-breaking stories of lives lost or changed forever.Greater Manchester, in England’s northwest, had strong ties toTitanic, with over thirty local people involved as passengers and crew, most of whom perished. Titanic: The Greater Manchester Connections recounts their stories. John Clarke, a Manchester-born band member, famously played on as the ship sank. Joseph Hyman, a Russian Jewish passenger who survived, later opened a kosher delicatessen in Manchester named “Titanic's.”Chemist Adolphe Saalfeld carried 65 perfume samples aboard to break into the American market. Although he survived, his perfumes were lost until recovered in 1985. Thomas Hart missed the voyage after his discharge book was stolen, inspiring the card game scene in James Cameron’s 1997 film Titanic.The captains of two ships involved in the aftermath—the Carpathia and Californian—hailed from Bolton. The Titanic tragedy offers a glimpse into late Victorian and Edwardian society. Though the ship rests at the bottom of the Atlantic, its stories and legends continue to captivate worldwide.

A British tank soldier’s memoir detailing his perilous WWII journey, fierce battles, frontline experiences, and the liberation of Europe.What was tank warfare like for an ordinary conscripted British soldier in the Second World War? Arthur Ibbotson was a Grenadier Guardsman whose training and battles from Normandy to Northern Germany (1943–45) help provide an answer.He trained using the 30-ton M4 Sherman tank but after being flown into Normandy, he instead joined the crew of a 15-ton M5 Honey reconnaissance tank. Despite its diminutive size and small gun, he drove daily into enemy territory, coming close to death on five occasions.His first combat involved capturing 100+ POWs, described here in detail for the first time. This was followed immediately by Operation Market Garden, where his tank periodically led the 50,000 men of 30 Corps. He defended the supply route against repeated German attacks and dealt with friendly fire from the US 101st, neither topic often covered in histories of the battle. Unlike the common portrayal of Market Garden as a disaster, Arthur regarded it as a victory, a perspective discussed in detail. Later, the Battle of the Bulge required a relocation back to Belgium, an often-overlooked British action.Before crossing into Germany, he was issued with an ultra-modern M24 reconnaissance tank. While learning the vagaries of this technological wonder, he encountered more near-death situations, including a hit from a Panzerfaust and the death of a close friend that was killed by a mine over which Arthur had just driven. Explaining why he had gone through so much; he liberated a concentration camp days before the war’s end and spent his final service returning the country to peace.

In 1495, William, Viscount Beaumont, was declared unfit to take care of himself and given into the care of a guardian, due to unspecified mental health problems. Notably, his treatment was very kind, and runs contrary to many of our ideas of late medieval attitudes to mental illnesses.Using William's example as well as other well-recorded cases, such as that of Henry VI, this book examines mental health and mental illnesses in late medieval English society. It looks at how mental health was understood in that society by examining both medical texts written at that time as well as sources commenting on specific cases. By doing so, it shines a light on what superstitions and myths existed about mental health.The book also examines how mental illnesses were treated. This is achieved by studying the treatments suggested in contemporary sources and those recorded to have been performed on mental health patients. Equally, the different theories about mental ill-health and its causes, the attitudes there were towards those afflicted with mental health problems, and how different sections of society reacted to it are detailed. The significance of religion and the church and what part they played in both the understanding of mental health and the treatment of mental illnesses is explored in detail.

On 17 July 1940, Oberst Josef Kammhuber took command of the Luftwaffe’s 1 Nachtjagddivision after his release from French captivity. He was tasked with combating RAF bombers, which were increasingly threatening Germany during the Battle of Britain. Kammhuber’s strategy, the Fernnachtjagd (long-range night fighter missions), focused on targeting bombers while they were vulnerable during takeoff and return to bases.Kammhuber believed that converted German bombers like the Dornier Do 17Z and Junkers Ju 88, flown by experienced crews, would be ideal for these missions. The first claims from Fernnachtjagd occurred on 23 July 1940, when Luftwaffe pilots mistakenly shot down a Bristol Blenheim, thinking it was a Vickers Wellington. These night missions continued over the next few years, with varying success.By 1942, the campaign shifted to a “stopgap” phase, and the introduction of the Messerschmitt Me 210 and Me 410 marked further changes in the tactics and aircraft used. While Fernnachtjagd operations had some impact in 1941, by 1944, their effectiveness had diminished. Notably, during the Allies' Berlin raid on 19 February 1944, the Luftwaffe claimed more RAF bombers than the entire Me 410 campaign achieved in 14 months.

Presents a compelling case for Lechmere as Jack the Ripper, challenging long-held theories with modern analysis.Investigating Charles Lechmere: Was he Jack the Ripper? takes readers on a journey back to the chilling Autumn of 1888, when the streets of London were gripped by fear as Jack the Ripper stalked his victims through the shadows of the East End. But amidst the fog of history and speculation, one new name comes to light: Charles Lechmere.In this meticulously researched book, Neil Norman unveils a compelling case for Lechmere as the infamous Ripper, challenging conventional wisdom and overturning decades of speculation. Drawing on modern profiling techniques and historical context, the author paints a vivid portrait of late Victorian London, where poverty and desperation provided fertile ground for a killer to thrive.With its blend of historical insight, forensic analysis, and relentless pursuit of the truth, this book is a must-read for anyone fascinated by the enigma of Jack the Ripper and the dark underbelly of Victorian society. With hundreds of suspects put forward over the decades, could the Ripper have been hiding in plain sight all along?

A gripping account of the Allied capture of key Channel ports and the prolonged siege of Dunkirk during WWII.As the Allies broke out of Normandy in June 1944 and pushed into France and the Low Countries they soon found that their supplies lines became more and more extended. They needed a proper working port on the Channel that would enable them to bring in more men and materiel to fight the Germans in Europe and alleviate their supply issues. Antwerp was the prize they were after but the Germans had it covered so other ports needed to be captured as a matter of urgency. This is the story of the capture of Dieppe, Le Havre, Boulogne and Calais and the Siege of Dunkirk that the Allies decided to do while they concentrated on capturing and bringing only the port of Antwerp. It was a siege that was to last until the end of the war.

Have you ever played a video game and wondered how it was made? Do you have an idea for a game but don’t know how to create it? Maybe you’re curious about the skills needed to land a job as a video games developer?This book breaks down the tools and techniques behind making games, providing practical advice to help you create experiences that grab players and transport them to worlds of mystery and adventure.Packed with examples and tips, Designing Video Games details each step in the process:* Thinking up and evaluating ideas.* Turning ideas into designs.* Understanding your audience.* Creating game content.* Using psychological techniques.* Fixing common development problems.* Polishing, marketing, and releasing games.Yes, you absolutely have what it takes to make great video games. This book will show you how.

Final Fantasy Villains celebrates and analyzes the major villains of the series, all the way from the original princess-kidnapping Garland to the sociopathic Annabella Rosfeld. While other wikis might give dry chronicles of their actions, this book tells us who they are, where they come from, and what motivates them. Are they the heroes of their own stories? What did the original designers intend? In the absence of official intent, what might their backstories be, given what we see on screen? The book even deep dives into some of the more obscure villains, like the opera-crashing Ultros and the school bully Seifer. It also looks at some characters traditionally thought of as heroes in villainous lights, such as Cecil during his dark knight phase and Kain when he succumbs to his jealousy.Each major villain’s write up contains at least one image, including the suplexed phantom train from Final Fantasy VI, and a humorous caption. All sixteen of the main line titles are covered, in addition to one bonus chapter on Final Fantasy Tactics. The author writes about these characters with a mixture of tongue-in-cheek levity and more serious analysis where appropriate, connecting them to some of the emotions that make us all human.

A powerful collection of firsthand German wartime testimonies, capturing the human cost of World War II with unflinching honesty.Fighting for Hitler intricately weaves together the personal stories of German historical witnesses across thematic chapters, covering diverse facets of the wartime experience. From the frontlines of battle to the harrowing conditions in POW camps, these narratives are enriched with personal documents and photographs, vividly providing the human face of history.This book is more than just a chronicle of events; it is a profound exploration of human suffering and memory. Each testimony contributes to a larger mosaic, unveiling the emotional and psychological landscapes of those who endured one of history's darkest periods.Included are stories from the Eastern Front, from the invasion of Poland to Operation Barbarossa and the fierce fighting at Stalingrad. The book also contains accounts from those who served in the Kriegsmarine, depicting life on a battleship and gripping U-Boat battles. The book goes on to cover D-Day, the fall of the Reich, and stories of survival in POW camps across the globe. The author's dedication to impartial presentation allows these stories to resonate on their own, providing a rare and invaluable perspective on the past. Years of painstaking research, translation, and editing have transformed this book into a treasure trove for scholars and general readers alike. It serves as a vital preservation of a generation’s voices, fostering a deeper understanding of how the Third Reich's profoundly impacted ordinary lives.By presenting these accounts in their unaltered and honest form, the author ensures that the true essence of these experiences is captured and conveyed.

Uncovers the vital yet often hidden roles women played in households, industries, and paid employment throughout history.A History of Women's Work explores the often overlooked contributions of women throughout history, particularly in a patriarchal society where men have dominated the historical record. While men were more likely to leave traces — through wills, leases, and civic duties — women laboured behind the scenes, performing crucial yet unpaid tasks for their families and communities. In many households, women supported their husbands’ work, ran home-based industries, or sought paid employment despite societal restrictions. This book delves into three main areas of women’s work: household tasks, home industries, and paid employment outside the home. Through case studies and practical research tips, it sheds light on the lives of these women, encouraging readers to uncover their own female ancestors' stories and contribute to a richer understanding of women’s history.

Experience the life and death struggle of close combat in thick jungle by a soldier who blended with the shadows and led the way into some of the most dangerous places in Vietnam."…we'd feel 10 feet tall and bulletproof on the LZ, and we'd walk among the LZ's regulars knowing we were elite. It didn't matter if they saw us that way, it was enough that we knew we were bad-ass motherfuckers in the baddest place in the universe. I understood how inane that macho-thinking was but as I soared high above the jungle with the cool air in my face I was as caught up in it as the rest of them."One of the most dangerous occupations during the Vietnam War was walking point, a role Ed Mann took on and specialized in. He served a tour of duty in Vietnam as an infantry soldier in the famed 1st Air Cavalry Division from June of 1969 to June of 1970.Mann was wounded several times, receiving several decorations including the Silver Star, while experiencing the extreme hardships of the war with his fellow soldiers. He would continue to walk point for his entire tour, becoming more like the jungle as the days turned into weeks and months.Mann acknowledges the way it was changing him during his time in Vietnam — «I was repulsed by the senselessness and savagery of the war and I was saddened by the price it exacted but I was seduced by it too; proud to be performing an important role in a deadly fight for survival and lured by the adrenaline rushes.»An intensely immersive, gritty, and tension-filled account of his experience that will transport you to the war in the jungle in a way that sets it apart from other Vietnam memoirs.

Despite the vast amount of work written and published about London, there has never before been a full-length book covering the history of that part of the Thames Valley before the arrival of the Romans. Beginning in the Cretaceous Era, which ended 66 million years ago, Prehistoric London examines the geology of this part of Britain and explains why this particular section of the Thames proved to be the ideal location for a city. It describes, too, the animals and people who were attracted to the area by the conditions there.From the time of the dinosaurs, through to the Iron Age and the Roman invasion in 43 AD, this is a comprehensive account of London before London. It is the story of the land, and those who dwelt there, before anybody had thought of founding a city on the banks of the Thames. In addition to being a history book, though, Prehistoric London is also a lively guidebook which explains how to explore modern London and find such things as Iron Age hillforts and a site where anybody can dig sharks’ teeth from the sand of a 55-million-year-old seabed.This book will reveal the backstory of London and show readers what was happening in the capital long before a single stone was laid of the city we know today.

Whether you're just beginning your genealogical journey or have been tracing your family tree for years, Tracing your Staffordshire Ancestors provides a comprehensive roadmap to uncovering your family history in the heart of England.Delve into a variety of historical records, from the well-known census and parish registers to the less-explored realms of manorial court rolls, tithe apportionments, and records from the potteries. Each chapter focuses on a specific type of record, providing clear instructions on where to find it, how to interpret it, and the unique insights it can offer into your family's past. With vivid examples of real Staffordshire people brought to life through these records, you'll see how each piece of the puzzle can reveal more about your ancestors.Beyond the archives, learn how to enhance your research with visits to local museums, utilise social media and DNA testing, and understand the significance of Staffordshire’s surnames and traditional occupations. Tracing Your Staffordshire Ancestors is an invaluable resource for anyone with ties to this historic county. With its practical advice, expert guidance, and real-life examples, it's the perfect companion for bringing your family's history to light.

Soldier, journalist and centenarian: a triple badge of honour, especially for a woman. Introducing Rena Stewart (1923–2023), a remarkable, 100-year-old Bletchley Park Girl who translated Hitler’s will and blazed a trail for women at the BBC. The Story of Rena Stewart narrates Rena’s fascinating tale, in her own words, and is a testament to a life that was seriously well lived.On graduating from St Andrews University in 1943, Scottish linguist Rena and her friend Agnes decided to ‘do something about the war’. They signed up for the Auxiliary Territorial Service and were posted to Bletchley Park, where Rena processed secret German messages. At the end of the war, Rena and her Bletchley chums were sent to Germany, to translate the statements of captured Nazi officers. There, she and another friend, Margery, were also given a top-secret task: to translate Hitler’s personal will.Career woman Rena had, however, always wanted to work in the media. On her return to England, she managed to secure a position as a lowly clerk at the BBC World Service. She worked her way up from there, including spending ten years listening in to Russian Cold War broadcasts. Finally, she became the first female Senior Duty Editor in the World Service newsroom. ‘My greatest achievement,’ she declared with pride, ‘has been getting people to recognise that a woman can be as good a journalist as a man’.Alongside Rena’s story, this book delves into the lives of her closest Bletchley friends and uncovers intriguing historical mysteries from her remarkable century of life.

The second volume of a series on a glossary of codebreaking, WW2 Codebreaking Events and Organisations, brings to the reader an easily understandable account and listing, of those organisations involved in collecting and analysing military intelligence principally during the second world war. A listing of key events or occurrences is provided which moulded the direction of codebreaking and gathering of enemy intelligence. Whilst Bletchley Park was the HQ of codebreaking activities in wartime, numerous organisations became involved in a support role, and this became critical when more advanced enemy encoding machines were introduced by the Nazis. The evolution of certain organisations over time, can be tracked to a degree, by reading the glossary in depth.The entries are cross-referenced to enable the reader to research as much or as little as they want, to dip-in to the glossary, to use it as a basis for further study, or just to learn a little more about the people and organisations that helped us win the war with our allied friends.

A revealing account of how Churchill’s early battles with fascism and extremism shaped modern geopolitics.“Remarkably ambitious in scope, Harte manages to knit together a social and cultural history of these years, including how Churchill both influenced the world and was defined by the issues of the day. Harte wants to show when and where the ‘scrawny little twenty-year-old second lieutenant became a global leader.’ The question is not a new one, but it never fails to fascinate.” — **International Churchill Society**Churchill’s Enemies describes Winston Churchill’s main challenges when he was out of office from 1929–1939. They were the rise to dictatorship of Benito Mussolini in Italy and the adaptation of his fascist system by the Nazi Party in Germany. It also explains the relevance of Hitler’s collaboration with the Mufti of Jerusalem in the Middle East, who spread Nazi ideology in Jerusalem, Gaza, and Lebanon — and how, step by step, the two European dictators destroyed democracy.This account of the first half of Winston Churchill’s life should help readers to understand how today’s world crisis began. The Cairo Conference was the West’s first attempt to bring the Arab world into the twentieth century by solving the Middle East crisis in 1921. It also shows how Churchill changed from an ambitious young politician to an elder statesman, as a consequence of his experiences in the changing world with all its complexities, paradoxes and ambiguities — and how his decisions still impact world politics today. The major menaces with which he was confronted throughout his political career were the chaos caused by Islamist terrorists in the Middle East from 1918 and the spread of communism and fascism when he was Minister for War and then Colonial Secretary. The author described the first two threats in his previous book, Churchill’s Challenges.