Red Ensign by Owen Rutter

Red Ensign

A History of Convoy

by Owen Rutter

Robert Hale, 1943, black and white photographic plates, black and white photographic frontispiece, hardcover, dustjacket

Very Good Condition, a little edge and shelf wear, a little rubbing and bumping to edges and corners, previous owners’ inscription on front endpaper, minor foxing on some pages, clipped dustjacket in pieces, missing part of spine, shows wear and tear with discoloration, chipping, tears and creasing (see photographs)

“Hitler, as Hess has admitted, relied on starvation rather than invasion to bring us to our knees.  We have to thank our Merchant Navy – and indeed the Royal Navy which protects our seaborne commerce – for the fact that this plan has so far been frustrated.
The history of the convoy system has never previously been written, but, as Major Rutter shows, it dates back to the 14^th century, when the wine fleets from the ports of France and Spain were given protection against the attacks of pirates and the King’s enemies.
IN this fascinating and important book, the history of convoy is traced from its beginnings, through  the Tudor and Stuart periods to the Napoleonic wars, when the King’s ships escorted great fleets of merchantmen and fought famous battles in their defense, toe the Great War when, in 1917, Great Britain was facing defeat until the convoy system was re-introduced and the U-boat menace averted.  Never, however, has the Merchant Navy’s effort been so great as it is to-day.”