Pen & Sword Books

Explore the Welsh hills, uncovering Dylan Thomas's legacy, rebellion history, and a landscape filled with cultural and personal significance.Embark on a mesmerizing journey through the Welsh hills, where each step unveils a tapestry woven with history, culture, and personal connection. Traverse the poetic landscapes that inspired Dylan Thomas, wandering through the Uplands where he was born and raised, and losing yourself in the tranquillity of Cwmdonkin Park, where Thomas's childhood adventures breathed life into his timeless works. Then, immerse yourself in the timeless charm of Laugharne, where Thomas found solace in his writing shed and echoes of his poignant verses still linger among the picturesque scenery.As you wander through Pontarddulais, a landscape steeped in the tumultuous history of the Rebecca Riots, you'll be transported back to a time of dissent and defiance. Follow the path from Coed Bach Park to St Telio's Church, where gravestones whisper tales of rebellion, and pause at the Fountain Inn, a silent witness to the love and courage of Daniel Lewis and Elizabeth. Venture into the heart of Wales, where rugged mountainsides and haunting forests hold secrets untold. In 'Walking Welsh History', every trail is a journey of discovery, offering a glimpse into the soul of a nation shaped by its past.

With the era of British Railways’ transition from steam to diesel and electric influencing the country-wide fleets of trains beyond the 1970’s, the Southern proved no exception to such, integrated within its flotillas of commuter electric trains. Southern Region motive power was territorial, thanks to the requirement for electric trains to remain within the live third rail network. Remaining pockets of non-electrified routes provided the last bastions of diesel-electric units and locomotive hauled trains, not only in Dorset, Sussex and Hampshire but also especially along the South West mainline to Exeter. Although with a limited range of Class 33, 47, 50 and 73 locomotives serving the passenger sector in the 1980’s, there remained interesting passenger workings to note such as that along Weymouth Quay or through the rural tranquillity of Devon’s countryside to Barnstaple. Railfreight ensured a wider variety of locomotives within in the Region. Standard colours of B.R. blue and grey livery may have been monotonous but the bright and clean Network SouthEast colours were welcomed, along with the much needed emphasis on running clean and punctual services as part of the Network SouthEast ethos. Brand new fleets of trains in the Southern area continue to offer the railway enthusiast and photographer the chance to study the impact of privatisation in the modern railway. Fortunately we have several preserved lines in the Southern area which perfectly capture the character of the traditional Southern branch line in the days of heritage diesels.

The Revolutionary period was marked by upheaval for France and its army. The early Republic’s military comprised former Royal Army members and revolutionary volunteers, reflecting diversity in their uniforms. Despite the chaos, records were meticulously maintained, and Paul L. Dawson examined thousands of documents from the Service Historique Armée du Terre in Paris to detail the uniforms worn before Napoleon’s rise.Soldiers’ clothing followed strict regulations, with each item assigned a specific lifespan. Regular inspections assessed uniform conditions, and unserviceable items were returned and replaced. Repairs were logged, and soldiers bore the costs of replacements. A regiment’s clothing officer managed equipment purchases for enlisted men, while officers supplied their own uniforms. The regimental council ensured purchases met quality standards, recorded in a Register of Uniforms.Inspection returns and registers provide unprecedented insights into Revolutionary army uniforms, much of which was previously unpublished. Though not all regiments’ data were found, Dawson’s research offers the most accurate depiction to date. His book combines detailed records with illustrations and photographs of rare surviving items, giving readers a unique visual and historical perspective on soldiers’ appearances during this transformative era.

“An incredible story of courage and commitment under fire.” — Bear GryllsThe Pilgrim is the book the MOD tried to ban. It is a rollercoaster of an autobiography of Colin Maclachlan, known for his appearances on shows like Channel 4’s SAS: Who DaresWins and Channel 5’s Secrets of the SAS.His autobiography starts with his troubled childhood and escape to the military where, as a fifteen year-old boy, he grows up and matures into the SAS soldier we now recognise. Early chapters describe physical, mental and sexual abuse and Colin could easily have ended up in a home but despite the odds and with the help of both the Children’s Panels, NSPCC and some diligent schoolteachers, Colin escaped to the army. Colin had to get special permission to join the army at only fifteen years of age and goes from being a young vulnerable and damaged boy to a capable soldier through preparation for the first Gulf War and joining the oldest and most senior infantry regiment in the British Army, The Royal Scots. From operations in Northern Ireland to being the Queen’s Butcher to Colin’s first TV cameos on Soldier Soldier and Gladiators, Colin’s stories and anecdotes are both exhilarating and hilarious.Colin then describes the arduous SAS selection process, the hardest and most gruelling military selection process in the world. Colin describes in some detail what most have never even heard in this secretive world where Colin goes from a course of 196 down to just a handful in six months! The reader is then taken on a never seen before description of life as an SAS operator. Daily life in an operational squadron and the operations, missions and training involved all described in detail. Colin was part of Mountain Troop, D Squadron who were to be involved in some of the most high-profile and dangerous missions in SAS history.

During the Second World War countless millions of men and women, both in the armed forces and civilian life, found themselves in life-or-death situations with the odds stacked against them. Inevitably in the vast majority of cases their experiences and the outcomes will never come to light but when they do, we can only feel inspired.In this thought-provoking book the author has unearthed numerous diverse accounts which make fascinating reading. It covers individuals fighting in jungles, deserts, on and below the seas, in mountains, valleys and plains, prison camps, in battles in the sky, or as fugitives hunted in enemy territory. In almost every corner of the world, in innumerable conditions of extreme adversity, our forbears confronted an unavoidable choice — escape, survive or die.This superb collection of stories shows us the resilience and stoicism that we need to face the ultimate challenge. The most powerful force of democratic countries, is the determination and self-sacrifice of ordinary individuals to endure and fight for their families, their country and freedom.Survivors’ personal accounts in **Escape, Survive — or Die** have the power to inspire and sustain us, in the never ending struggle for liberty just as the Ukrainians fighting the Russian invasion are doing so gallantly today.

During the Second World War, the Wehrmacht recruited foreigners from diverse regions, including the USSR, the Balkans, North Africa, and the Middle East. Among these were many Muslim volunteers. Hitler’s Muslim Allies delves into their recruitment, motivations, actions, and the consequences of their service to Nazi Germany.The book explores the rise of Arab nationalism in North Africa and the Middle East, as well as nationalist aspirations in the Balkans and the former USSR. It highlights Arab volunteers from North Africa and the Middle East who served in the German Army from 1941–1945.A detailed account is provided of several unique units, including the Bosnian Muslim 13. Waffen Gebirgs Division der SS Handschar, chronicling its recruitment, combat history, and disbandment. The Kaukasischer Waffen Verband der SS (1944–1945), composed of Muslim Caucasian volunteers, is also examined.

A wide-ranging history of English towns and cities covering al aspects, political, social, cultural and economic. Towns are vital spheres of national life and 'important forcing houses for modernisation and modernity'. And it is impossible to tell national history without understanding the experience of towns and cities. Each will be covered in all aspects including physical structure, social experience, cultural standing and contribution, and environmental impact. The book will be accessible and 'a good read' for general readers but will also attract attention of academics and students of urban history, historical geography and urban studies.The study will cover towns and cities of the Romans to the Middle Ages, the Tudors and Stuarts, in early modern history 1700–1800, in modern history 1800–1900 and town and cities to 1950 to today, and in future.

This is the history of Britain’s munitions industry in the First World War. It begins with the shortages caused by an expanding army required to fight in trenches, then shows how the country was organised, with the expansion of private companies and the introduction of state owned factories. It also explains how new laws regulated industry.The narrative describes how production was initially estimated, until experience illustrated how the armed services’ demands could be met. It also looks at the problems caused by unchecked enlistment, which took no account of men’s skills, and the attempts to recall key workers from the armed services.The story continues with the raw materials, such as coal, which was dug by one million miners, and the huge amounts of iron ore imported from Spain. Learn how Britain’s steel industry struggled to make enough forgings for shells, while many more were imported from North America. See how manufacturing issues were resolved, while battlefield experience led to modifications being made. Also see how the nation’s chemical industry expanded to produce enough explosives before working out how to make large amounts of lethal gases.Learn how the war required the relations between the government, the employers, the unions, and the workforce to change; in some cases, forever. See how diluting production allowed the workforce to increase and how tens of thousands of women entered the factories. Also hear how various issues caused widespread industrial unrest at times, as the cost of living rose and the rules became stricter. On a positive note, a desire to improve production increased awareness of health and safety, as well as the benefits of positive welfare.The story ends with a nation being pushed to its limits suddenly demobilising, leaving everyone wondering what the future would hold for them.

The intelligence war between Germany and the Soviet Union, ignited by Operation Barbarossa on 22 June 1941, was fiercely contested over four years. Neither side was prepared for the scale of the conflict, and both quickly developed methods to assess and counter each other’s military intentions.This book explores the intelligence strategies of Stalin’s SMERSH and Hitler’s Abwehr. SMERSH coordinated three independent counter-intelligence agencies within the Red Army, while the Abwehr was Germany’s military-intelligence service. Focusing on key battles like Stalingrad and Kursk, the book examines how both sides competed for intelligence advantage.The Soviets excelled in strategic deception, manipulating German decision-making. Early in the war, they used counterintelligence to deceive the Germans, notably during their surprise counteroffensive at Moscow in December 1941 and their hidden tank formations in 1942. German intelligence chief Gehlen underestimated Soviet deception and overestimated German superiority, which hindered effective analysis.Meanwhile, the Soviets deployed agents behind German lines and employed terror tactics to destroy German operations. The pivotal battle of Stalingrad revealed the Germans' intelligence failures, and their subsequent losses marked a turning point. By the war's end, Soviet counterintelligence had become a critical weapon, reshaping the intelligence landscape and significantly impacting the outcome of the war.

COIN — counterinsurgency — is a major element in international relations — both historical and 'IR theory' — and in military history. It was a vital component in the Cold War and decolonisation. COIN is now widely contrasted with 'Big War' theory in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war and proxy-war with NATO, but is still a global phenomenon.Dhofar as a mis-ruled province of 'medieval' Oman, saw insurgency initiated by the Dhofar Liberation Front (DLF) and its successors organizations including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman and the Arabian Gulf (PFLOAG). These were supported variously by China, the USSR and other Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt and Iraq, but the insurgency was defeated by a combination Omani, British, Iranian and Jordanian forces. The COIN win in Dhofar prevented the spread of Communism on the Arabian Peninsula, thereby protecting British Middle Eastern influence and the vital Gulf oil supply to both the UK and wider Western economic bloc. The war and associated counterinsurgency (COIN) campaign can be considered a unique or 'sui generis' military 'success', with revolutionary forces overcome in a difficult and often brutal campaign involving British forces including its elite SAS Regiment, along with Jordanian and Iranian military aid.The study covers much more than the Dhofar campaign and contrasts the Omani example with other British COIN operations in major decolonising territories and 'Emergencies' (1945–1999). These include the campaigns undertaken in Palestine, Malaya, Kenya, Cyprus, Brunei/Borneo, Aden and Northern Ireland; which highlight the many similar aspects of these examples shared with the Dhofar War, but also that its unique status in the British COIN historiography should be acknowledged.

The big railway companies had famous locomotive works such as Crewe and Swindon, but this is the story of the very many other companies, who not only built locomotives for the British railways but supplied them to railways all round the world. Many of these companies were highly innovative, developing engines of many different types from narrow gauge to articulated locomotives and specialist engines for tramways. The list is inclusive, covering the famous names such as Robert Stephensons & Co and Beyer Peacock as well as companies that produced just a few locomotives. The time spam covers over two centuries from Fenton, Murray & Wood who built the locomotives for the world’s first successful commercial railway, the Middleton Colliery of 1812 to the present day and the world of electric and diesel taction. In telling this story, the reader will come to appreciate how important these companies were in the whole story of locomotion development. In countries across the globe, from America to Australia, they were often the very first to supply engines to start up their new rail networks. With over a hundred illustrations in both black and white in colour, this is a book that will appeal to all who have an interest in the wide world of railways.

From the Arab conquest to ‘la Movida Madrileña’, the culture of Madrid is shaped by a history of religious and class schisms, imperial and national political conflict and dictatorial government — before an economic and cultural triumph in modern times. Madrid has around thirty museums, is home to the ‘Golden Triangle’ of art galleries, numerous theatres and thousands of bars and restaurants. With neighbourhoods catering for its wealthy, fashion-conscious and diverse communities and the late opening of shops, bars and restaurants, Madrileños have a varied and at times frenetic lifestyle — aided by the fiercely protected afternoon siesta. No other capital city integrates the Royal Court, Government, cultural institutions, business districts and bars into such an intense footprint. This book selects some key moments from the history of Madrid that have shaped its unique culture, the main sights associated with it and nearby places to eat — encouraging the visitor to soak up the culture with a drink and tapa in hand! The Culture Lover’s Guide to Madrid explains the driving forces behind the most significant moments in the history of Madrid and the best sights, bars and restaurants that combine to form the culture of Madrid.

The Ordnungspolizei or Order Police was one of the main apparatus for the security of Nazi Germany. During the 1930s, Heinrich Himmler, Head of the SS, along with the Commander-in-Chief of the Order Police, Kurt Daluege, totally reconstructed the police force of the Weimar Republic into a number of strong militarized formations. Those that served in this new police force were more than ready to carry out any order that the Nazi's required of them including persecution of Jews and anyone deemed inferior to the regime. In fact, in 1938, police units participated in the annexation of Austria and the occupation of Czechoslovakia. A year later when Germany invaded Poland, the role of the police changed forever. Police units were deployed alongside the German military including the special murder squads of the Einsatzgruppen. In Poland, Order Police were transformed into militarized police battalions and participated in combat operations which included carrying out security duties behind enemy lines. These duties were often sinister and alongside some Wehrmacht, Waffen-SS and Einsatzgruppen, the police battalions engaged in the systematic murder and annihilation of Poles and Jews.Following the conquest of Poland the Nazi leadership created a massive recruitment drive conscripting more than 95,000 men in their thirties. Another 26,000 younger men were also recruited and indoctrinated into Nazi ideology and trained for combat. These new recruits would now take part not only in military operations but would be an integral part of the Holocaust, responsible for mass murders and guarding some of the Jewish ghettos. They would also assist in the destruction of the ghettos and helping in the transport of Jews to concentration camps. During the summer of 1941 these Police units were involved in mass killings of Babi Yar, Rumbula and Stanislaviv. Yet after the war, many of the Order Policemen claimed never to have been involved in Nazi crimes.

After the Second World War, Britain’s railways were rundown and worn out, requiring massive investment and modernisation. The ‘Big Four’ railway companies were nationalised from 1948 and the newly formed British Railways embarked on a programme of building new ‘Standard’ steam locomotives to replace older types. These started to come on stream from 1951.This programme was superseded by the 1955 scheme to dieselise and electrify many lines and so the last loco of the ‘Standard’ types was built in 1960 — and the steam locomotives had been swept entirely from the BR network by 1968.This series of books, ‘The Geoff Plumb Collection’, is a photographic account of those last few years of the steam locomotives, their decline and replacement during the transition years. Each book covers one of the former ‘Big Four’, in the form of the BR Regions they became: the Southern Railway, London Midland & Scottish Railway, Great Western Railway and London & North Eastern Railway, including some pictures of the Scottish lines of the LMS and LNER.The books are not intended to convey a complete history of the railways but to illustrate how things were, to a certain extent, in the relatively recent past and impart some information through comprehensive captions, which give a sense of occasion — often a ‘last run’ of a locomotive type or over a stretch of line about to be closed down.The photos cover large parts of the country, though it was impossible to get everywhere given the overall timetable of just a few years — mainly when the author was still a schoolboy with limited time and disposable income to get around.Pictures are of the highest quality that could be produced with the equipment then available, but they do reflect real life and real times.In simple terms, a look at a period not so long ago but now gone forever.

Few who hear the shipping forecast, with its familiar sequence of numbers denoting the expected force of the wind, know what lies behind the man who gave the world the Beaufort Scale, a system that has never been bettered or replaced, but Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort’s enduring contribution to maritime science is just one part of his remarkable legacy.In this richly detailed biography, bestselling author Nicholas Courtney brings to life the adventurous and accomplished career of Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort (1774–1857). From a self-taught midshipman to Hydrographer to the Navy, Beaufort's life reads like a blend of Hornblower and Longitude, filled with pirates, wars, and royalty. His impact extended far beyond his famous scale, influencing polar exploration, meteorology, and even the voyages of the HMS Beagle that brought Charles Darwin to fame.Drawing on Beaufort’s personal letters, journals, and naval records, Nicholas Courtney uncovers both the public and private life of a nineteenth-century hero whose contributions to science and exploration remain crucial to this day.

Andy Singleton, in association with the Kent Battle of Britain Museum has produced an excellent guide to building and painting scale models of the iconic fighters involved in that critical struggle. Aimed at beginner and intermediate modellers, the step-by-step instructions will help the reader build a Supermarine Spitfire, Bolton-Paul Defiant, Messerschmitt Bf109 and Messerschmitt Bf110. Each build represents either an aircraft type, or colour scheme used during the Battle of Britain and Blitz periods. Archive photographs from the Kent Battle of Britain Museum support each build along with historical information on the part played by that particular plane and its crew in the battle.Each stage of the instructions is accompanied by a colour photograph and they guide the user through the process from the tools and materials required, preparation and construction of the model, painting using both brush and airbrush, and applying decals. There is even advice on displaying the finished models and incorporating them into dioramas, and on painting pilots and aircrew. It is packed full of professional hints and tricks of the trade, allowing the reader to create worthy scale tributes to these legendary aircraft.

In a compelling exploration of nationalism's darker facets, this book delves into the aggressive, expansionist strain that has fueled conflict and suffering throughout human history. While nationalism is often linked to modernity, the author traces its roots back to humanity's earliest recorded eras, revealing how elements such as racialism, ethnicity, language, religion, and culture have historically ignited aggressive nationalism.Drawing from a sweeping analysis of over 33 European countries, the book examines the common experiences of nations from their tribal beginnings to the current age of superpowers. While acknowledging that some forms of nationalism—like secessionism and irredentism—may serve as legitimate expressions of self-defense, the primary focus remains on the destructive impulse to invade and dominate neighbouring lands.This work is not just a historical study; it serves as a cautionary tale for the present day. With 2024 as its backdrop, the author connects historical patterns to contemporary issues, warning of the resurgence of extreme right-wing ideologies across the globe. This thought-provoking examination urges readers to confront the past's lessons, emphasizing that history is not merely a record of what has been, but a vital lens through which to understand our present and shape a more peaceful future.

The ‘ShipCraft’ series provides in-depth information about building and modifying model kits of famous warships. In general these cover plastic and resin models of 20th century subjects but, like the previous volumes on Nelson’s Victory and Captain Bligh’s Bounty, this is a radical departure — not only a period sailing ship but one for which kits are available in many different materials and scales. This requires some changes to the standard approach, but the main features of the series remain constant.Now preserved in Boston harbour, USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship still afloat. One of the original building programme of 1794 for the newly established US Navy, the ship would enjoy a stellar career beginning with the Quasi-War with France and the campaigns against the Barbary states of north Africa. However, it was the War of 1812 that established the fame of the ship that became known as ‘Old Ironsides’ following her victories over two British frigates and a number of smaller warships, a potent symbol of national pride that kept the ship in commission until the 1880s.In the course of this long service, the ship’s appearance was altered significantly, and many of the features of the ship as commonly modelled are actually the product of later, and not historically consistent, reconstructions. A major achievement of this volume is to detail these changes as accurately as evidence allows, and to reconstruct the probable colour schemes carried at the most significant stages of her career. The modelling section reviews the strengths and weaknesses of available kits, lists commercial accessory sets for super-detailing, and provides hints on modifying and improving the basic kit, including the complexities of rigging. This is followed by an extensive photographic gallery of selected high-quality models in a variety of scales, and coverage concludes with a section on research references — books, monographs, large-scale plans and relevant websites.Following the pattern of the series, this book provides an unparalleled level of visual information — paint schemes, models, line drawings and photographs — and is simply the best reference for anyone setting out to model this famous frigate.

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.