Very good local history. 10/10

The Great War magazine, July 2017 - reviewed by Mark Marsay

The author reminds us that a Royal Dockyard was initially built in the reign of Elizabeth I in 1568 and that during the working lifetime of the shipyard hundreds of vessels were built and launched from here. Because of the perceived threat of invasion or war the seventeen and eighteenth centuries saw the construction of many forts in the Chatham area including Fort Luton, Fort Borstal and Fort Bridgewood. As Wynne says fortunately with Kitchener Barracks, the Royal Marine Barracks, Brompton Artillery Barracks and Melville Barracks there were plenty of places to house the soldiers that were needed to man all the forts.
The Royal Navy Barracks at Chatham were known as HMS Pembroke, the name taken from one of the naval ships moored at Chatham Dockyards, the other HMS Collingwood. It is interesting to note that the barracks were built on land which had previously been home to an old convict prison and a torpedo factory. There follows accounts of Fort Amherst and Fort Pitt Military Hospital. The author then recounts the sinking of HMS Aboukir, HMS Cressy, HMS Hogue, HMS Bulwark with the numerous loss of life.
There is a very poignant account of the bombing of the Royal Naval Barracks, HMS Pembroke, on the 3 September 1917. Many of the men were sleeping in the drill hall due to an outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis with a view to preventing the virus spreading. “At 9.30 the same evening five German Gotha G. V. bomber aircraft left their base at Gontrode in Belgium on what was to be their first night flight…As such night raids had not been expected by the British authorities, there was no defensive strategy in place, even anti-aircraft guns not been manned.” Their journey was made easier by all the lights in the towns around Chatham. A direct hit on the drill hall not only sent large shards of glass down on to the sleeping sailors but exploded on impact when it hit the floor. 107 sailors were killed and 86 injured of which 38 subsequently died. The author has found accounts of the aftermath and also the names and resting places of the dead, a truly harrowing account.
On a much lighter note there is a good detailed account of how Sub-Lieutenant Desmond B. Kinahan came to be tarred and feathered by Lieutenant Francis Thomas Wright after ‘he stole’ Wright’s wife whilst Wright was away in Salonika.
Whilst this review has only dipped into this fascinating account by Stephen Wynne I hope that it has inspired you to search out other treasures in the book and purchase a copy.

Duncan Harrington, History Research

As featured in

Sittingbourne Messenger

'...what makes the book different, are the many individual stories that Stephen, a former police officer, has managed to quarry – a masterpiece of old-fashioned detective work.'

Medway Messenger

I particularly enjoyed this book!

Read the full review here.

Julian Stockwin action-adventure historical fiction

In 1914 the Royal Navy had three 'Manning Ports, Portsmouth, Plymouth and Chatham, complete with docks, repairs facilities and home port to hundreds of Royal Navy ships. Stephen Wynn's book provides and interesting snapshot of its development and the part it played in the Great War. Chatham was a magnet for German submarines which loitered in the Channel, mine-laying or torpedoing RN vessels and it suffered air attacks which incurred heavy casualties amongst the RN personnel. The book is well indexed and supported by photographs.

Richard Gough - Military Author and historian