The Naval Brigades in Belgium, France & The Dardanelles, 1914-15

Naval Guns in Flanders 1914-1915 & At Antwerp and the DardanellesTwo outstanding eye-witness accounts of the sailors of the Royal Navy in action ashoreThis book firstly describes a particularly unusual and interesting aspect of the opening engagements of the First World War in Europe, recounted by an officer who was present. Three heavily armoured trains, built in Antwerp in late 1914, were mounted with British naval guns, and placed under the command of Commander Littlejohns, R.N.. Known thereafter as H.M. Armoured Trains, they were, Jellicoe with three 4.7-inch guns, Deguise with three 4.7-inch guns and Churchill with two 6-inch guns. These armoured trains initially fought around Antwerp, before retreating to support the advance to Ypres. Trains were operational at Ostende and Oostkerke against German batteries positioned about Dixmude. During the Spring of 1915, these trains were continuously in action, occasionally supporting an assault, but most frequently engaged in counter-battery or bombardment missions to neutralise enemy trenches and observation posts. The train mounted guns were particularly effective against German troop concentrations, though these actions also brought them within range of opposing artillery. In early March, the armoured trains supported the action at Neuve Chapell, though were withdrawn from service shortly thereafter. The second work in this special Leonaur edition is a gripping, though poignant, first- hand account of the activities of the Anson Brigade both in the early stages of the war in Europe and during its particularly hard-fought campaign against Turkish forces at Gallipoli.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.