N.B. Links in the table below are to books or authors as listed in Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Maritime Books so their continuing validity cannot be guaranteed.
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TITLE |
AUTHOR |
PUBLISHER |
ISBN |
PRICE |
|
A
Corkhead's Chronicle - Experiences of a Royal Navy Clearance Diver 1955-76 Paperback: 304 pages |
David J. Lott BEM | Woodfield (2005) | 1 84683 001 X | £15 |
| Former FCPO(D) Dave 'Mona' Lott's career as a CD including mentions of MCDOs and CDOs Pat Dowland, Bill Filer, Frankie Franklin, Bill Grady, Steve Gobey, Mike Harwood, David Hilton, Stuart Honour, Jumbo Jervis, Ken Kempsell, Cyril Lafferty, Hamish Loudon, Chris Massie-Taylor, Gerry 'Pincher' Martin, Les Maynard, Neil Merrick, Peter Messervy, John O'Driscoll, Harry Parker, Bob Pilling, Jon Riches, Norman Taylor, Ed Thompson, Julian Thomson, Harry Wardle, Jackie Warner and Bob White plus many other CDs of all ranks and rates although some names are spelled imaginatively. | ||||
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A Diver in the Dark Paperback: 180 pages |
Sydney Knowles BEM | Woodfield (2009) | 1-84683-082-6 | £14.95 (plus £1.75 UK or £4.75 rest of world P&P) |
| Entertaining memoir of a pioneer Royal Navy Clearance Diver and diving partner of Commander Lionel 'Buster' Crabb OBE GM. Foreword written by Rob Hoole, Vice Chairman & Webmaster, Minewarfare & Clearance Diving Officers' Association (MCDOA). | ||||
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Paperback: 150 pages |
ALD Design & Print (May 2004) |
1 9015 8738-X |
£7.95 (plus £2 P&P)
|
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| MCDOA associate member Noel's vivid, entertaining and informative stories about WW II and post-war activities of EOD operators including MCDOA members Ken Kempsell, Brian Dutton, Colin Churcher, Martin Jenrick and Dave Welch. Well supported with illustrations, sketches and photos. | ||||
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Paperback: 136 pages |
ALD Design & Print (Jul 2002)
Available from: |
1 9015 8723 1 |
£7.95
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| MCDOA associate member Noel's touching, humorous and well-illustrated autobiographical account of an RNVR Bomb & Mine Disposal Officer. In 6 years, he made safe over 200 devices, 57 in a mere three days. | ||||
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Paperback: 544 pages |
Good Read Publishing Limited (May 1998) |
1 9024 8300 6 |
£9.99
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| Adventure story. MCDOA member Paul's books normally feature Nick Hunter, a retired MCDO, as the James Bond-like hero who saves the world. | ||||
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A Million Tears II - The Tears of War and Peace Paperback: 424 pages |
Good Read Publishing Limited (Oct 1999) |
1 9024 8303 0 |
£7.99
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| Adventure story. MCDOA member Paul's books normally feature Nick Hunter, a retired MCDO, as the James Bond-like hero who saves the world. | ||||
|
BANG |
ALD Design & Print (Jul 2002)
Available from: |
1 9015 8771 1 |
£8.95
|
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| A pot-pourri of significant incidents involving explosives but it also refers to the EOD exploits of many RN, Army and RAF figures. Familiar naval Bomb & Mine Disposal characters include British, Australian and Canadian operatives such as Lt Bill Bailey DSC GM* RNVR, CPO Charles Baldwin DSM, Lt John Bridge GC GM* RNVR, Cdr Lionel 'Buster' Crabb OBE GM RNVR, CPO Reginald Ellingworth GC, Lt Anthony Firminger GM DSM RNVR, Lt Percy Grant GM RNVR, Lt Cdr Geoffrey Hodges GM RNVR, Lt George Goodman MBE GC RNVR, Lt Cdr George Gosse GC RANVR, Cdr Gordon Gutteridge OBE RN, Cdr James Harries OBE GM* RCNVR, Sub Lt Donald Kirkland MBE RNVR, Cdr Edward Obbard DSC GM RN, Sub Lt Ronald Orr GM RNVR, Cdr John Ouvry DSO RN, Lt Cdr Dick Ryan GC RN, Lt Ronald Saull GM RNVR and AB Maurice Woods GM. Post-WWII naval personnel include LS(D) Peter Alderton BEM, PO (later Lt Cdr) Peter Cobby BEM, MCDOA member Lt Cdr Brian Dutton DSO QGM RN, FCPO(D) Mick Fellows MBE* DSC BEM, AB(D) Eric Harris BEM, Lt Charles Heatley MBE RN, Lt Cdr Mark Terrell MBE RN and CPO(D) Graham 'Piggy' Trotter DSM. | ||||
|
Paperback: 384 pages |
Good Read Publishing Limited (Jan 2002) |
1 902483049 |
£7.99
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|
| Adventure story. MCDOA member Paul's books normally feature Nick Hunter, a retired MCDO, as the James Bond-like hero who saves the world. | ||||
|
Paperback: 544 pages |
Good Read Publishing Limited (Jul 1999) |
1 9024 8301 4 |
£4.79
|
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| Adventure story. MCDOA member Paul's books normally feature Nick Hunter, a retired MCDO, as the James Bond-like hero who saves the world. | ||||
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Paperback: 208 pages |
|
Canadian Peacekeeping Press Pearson Peacekeeping Centre (1998) PO Box 100 Clementsport Nova Scotia Canada BOS 1EO
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1 8965 5117 3 |
$24.95 plus $5 shipping
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| MCDO Jim Hewitt transferred to the RN from the Canadian Navy in the early '70s then transferred back soon after completing a few RN appointments and LMCDO 76. This is an autobiographical account of his period with the Multinational MCM Group during the Gulf War. | ||||
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Paperback: 255 pages. |
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CPW Books 1 Harbour Road Hayling Island Hampshire PO11 0HR (2002)
Tel: 023 9346 5511 |
0 9523 1621 8 |
£10.00 including P&P
|
| Autobiography. MCDOA member Harry's book incorporates the contents of Forecastle to Quarterdeck plus Harry's ensuing naval career as a clearance diving officer at the centre of record-breaking achievements and developments from 1945 to his retirement in 1958 as the Deputy Superintendent of Diving. | ||||
| Diver | Tony Groom |
Seafarer Books 102 Redwald Road Rendlesham Suffolk IP12 2TE |
978 1 906266 066 | £9.95 |
| Autobiography. Former CD and Falklands veteran Tony Groom's entertaining account of his time in the Royal Navy, focusing particularly on his time with FCDT1 during the Falklands conflict, and his later career in commercial diving. Contains far too many familiar names to list. | ||||
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Forecastle
to Quarterdeck |
|
CPW Books 1 Harbour Road Hayling Island Hampshire PO11 0HR (1994)
Tel: 023 9346 5511 |
0 9523 1620 X |
£4.95
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| Autobiography. The first part of MCDOA Member Harry's naval career covering his colourful life on the lower deck around the globe from 1935 to 1945. | ||||
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In2Deep |
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A La Puce Publications (2010)
www.la-puce.co.uk |
978 0 9562691 1 9 |
£9.99
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| Ex-CD and Falklands veteran Tony Groom's thriller about the adventures of treasure-hunting ex-CD Nick Carter. I've only read the first three chapters so far but I'm gripped already. Buy via Tony's website (www.deep-sea-diving.com) and he'll inscribe the book for you. | ||||
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Keep Your Head Down- A Falklands Farewell Hardcover: 226 pages |
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The Book Guild Ltd (Apr
1998) |
1 8577 6262 2 |
£15
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| MCDOA member Bernie's autobiographical account of his EOD experiences in the Falklands. | ||||
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Keep Your Head Down- Falkland Notes by Pen and Fiddle Hardcover: 180 pages |
Parapress (Jan 1993)
|
1 8985 9400 7 |
TBA
|
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| MCDOA member Bernie's autobiographical account of his EOD experiences in the Falklands. | ||||
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Paperback: |
Good Read Publishing Limited (Nov 2000) |
1 90248 3022 |
£9.99
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| Adventure story. MCDOA member Paul's books normally feature Nick Hunter, a retired MCDO, as the James Bond-like hero who saves the world. | ||||
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Mines over Malta - The Wartime Exploits of Cdr Edward D Woolley GM* RNVR Paperback: 136 pages |
Frederick R Galea | Wise Owl Publications, Malta (2008). Click on book title for order form. | 978 99932 92 84 5 | £11.50 (plus £3.50 P&P) |
| The first part of this book covers Woolley's selection, training and work as a 'Render Mines Safe' Officer in Britain during the Blitz and includes many other familiar figures in naval Bomb & Mine Disposal at the time. The second part describes his work in Malta, ostensibly as 'Senior Electrical Officer Minesweepers', but actually plunged straight into handling the plethora of unexploded ordnance delivered almost daily by the Germans and Italians. Introduction written by Rob Hoole, Vice Chairman & Webmaster, RN Minewarfare & Clearance Diving Officers' Association (MCDOA). | ||||
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Paperback: 512 pages |
Good Read Publishing Limited (Sep 2002) |
1 9024 8305 7 |
£7.99
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| Adventure story. MCDOA member Paul's books normally feature Nick Hunter, a retired MCDO, as the James Bond-like hero who saves the world. | ||||
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Tears
Until Dawn Paperback: 560 pages |
Paul Henke |
Good Read Publishing Limited (Jan 2005) |
1902483073 | £10.99 |
| Adventure story. MCDOA member Paul's books normally feature Nick Hunter, a retired MCDO, as the James Bond-like hero who saves the world. | ||||
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The
Torpedomen |
Rear Admiral Nicho Poland CB CBE |
Published by the author (Jan 1993) |
0 85937 396 7 |
£35
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| HMS Vernon's story 1872-1986. A comprehensive history of the establishment from its beginnings as a group of hulks anchored in Portsmouth harbour to its closure as a 'stone frigate'. | ||||
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Ticking
Clock! Paperback: 166 pages |
ALD Design & Print (May 2006)
Available from: |
1 9015 8761-4 |
£7.95
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| MCDOA associate member Noel's latest autobiographical account of naval bomb and mine disposal with many humorous observations of life in the RN. Lots of photos and sketches. | ||||
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Paperback: 233 pages |
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Pentland Press 1 Hutton Close South Church Bishop Aukland Durham (1999) |
1 8582 1695 8 |
£12.00
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| MCDOA member Colin's autobiographical story of 40 years in the Royal Navy covering WW2 Arctic convoys to North Russia, Diving, and Bomb Disposal Operatons. It includes the famous Blackfriars Bridge German bomb in the Thames and many other EOD Operations. | ||||
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Wooden Ships and Iron Men Vol I:
The U.S. Navy’s Ocean Minesweepers,
1953–1994 Paperback: 416 pages |
Cdr. David D. Bruhn, USN (Ret.) |
Heritage Books, Inc. 100 Railroad Avenue, Suite 104 Westminster, MD 21157 Phone: 800-876-6103 • 231- 537-4021 Fax: 410-558-6574 (2007) |
978-0-7884-3260-6 | $37.50 |
| From 1953-1994, sixty-five U.S. Navy ocean minesweepers (MSOs) swept mines; searched the seafloor for downed aircraft, sunken ships, and lost munitions; showed the flag throughout the world, even sailing up the Congo and Mekong Rivers, calling at dozens of the world's seaports; and carried out patrols and special tasks off strife-torn or hostile countries. Some participated in the 1962 nuclear test program in the Pacific and in the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs. Others, as part of a U.S. armada of military and civilian research ships at Palomares, located a nuclear bomb lost on the seafloor off Spain as a result of a midair collision between two U.S. Air Force aircraft. Iron men in wooden ships were with the Fleet in hotspots around the world, including Lebanon and the Quemoy-Matsu Islands of Taiwan in 1958; the Dominican Republic in 1961 and 1965; and the Cuban Missile Crisis and Haiti in 1962. During the Vietnam War, minesweepers participated in Operation Market Time, to prevent the infiltration of North Vietnamese soldiers and munitions into South Vietnam. Leader received the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism in Operation Sea Lords; Endurance engaged in close gun action with and helped destroy an enemy armed coastal freighter in a sea battle; and MSOs cleared mines in Haiphong Harbor, which aided in the negotiations in progress for the return of U.S. prisoners of war. During the twilight of their service in the late 1980s and early 1990s, aging sweeps cleared Iranian and Iraqi laid mines in the Persian Gulf. | ||||
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Wooden Ships and Iron Men Vol II: The U.S. Navy’s Coastal & Motor
Minesweepers 1941-1953 Paperback: 368 pages |
Cdr. David D. Bruhn, USN (Ret.) |
Heritage Books, Inc. 100 Railroad Avenue, Suite 104 Westminster, MD 21157 Phone: 800-876-6103 • 231- 537-4021 Fax: 410-558-6574 (2009) |
978-0-7884-4325-1 | $32 |
| Possessing insufficient minesweepers to protect U.S. harbors and bays as the threat of war in Europe spread, in the winter of 1939-40 the Navy began purchasing fishing vessels and modifying them to combat mines. One of them, Condor (AMc-14), first sighted the Japanese Type-A midget submarine that destroyer Ward (DD-139) sank on December 7, 1941 with the first shots fired by American forces during World War II. She would be one of six coastal minesweepers to receive a battle star. From boat- and shipyards across America came the largest production run of any World War II warship, 561 scrappy little 136-foot wooden-hulled vessels characterized by Arnold Lott in Most Dangerous Sea as "belligerent-looking yachts wearing grey paint." Although their designers envisioned that they would operate primarily in the vicinity of yards or bases, the YMSs (too numerous to be given names) would see action in every theater of war, earning almost 700 battle stars, twenty-one Presidential Unit Citations, and fifteen Navy Unit Commendations. YMSs were present in the North African campaign, in Sicily, at Anzio, Salerno, and elsewhere in Italy, and swept ahead of invasion forces at Normandy and in Southern France. In the Pacific, they operated in the Marshall Islands, New Guinea, Solomons, Treasury Island, Gilbert Islands, New Britain, Admiralty Islands, Guam, Palau, Leyte, Luzon, Manila Bay, Iwo Jima, Southern Philippines, Okinawa, and Borneo. Following the war, they cleared mines from the East China Sea, Yangtze River approaches, and throughout Japanese waters, and their activities gave rise to the proud slogan of the mine force: "Where the Fleet Goes, We've Been." During the Korean War, a mere sixteen auxiliary motor minesweepers (former YMSs) performed the bulk of mine clearance, often while inside the range of enemy coastal artillery, necessary for larger naval vessels to close the coast to support operations ashore. Garnering collectively 124 battle stars, seven Presidential Unit Citations, and seven Navy Unit Commendations, the men aboard these ships were then, and remain to date, the most highly decorated crews of minesweepers in the history of the U.S. Navy. | ||||
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Wooden Ships and Iron Men Vol III: The U.S. Navy's Coastal and Inshore
Minesweepers, and the Minecraft that Served in Vietnam, 1953-1976 Paperback: 343 pages |
Cdr. David D. Bruhn, USN (Ret.) |
Heritage Books, Inc. 100 Railroad Avenue, Suite 104 Westminster, MD 21157 Phone: 800-876-6103 • 231- 537-4021 Fax: 410-558-6574 (2011) |
978-0-7884-5345-8 | $34.00 |
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From 1953 to 1976, twenty-four U.S. Navy coastal minesweepers (MSCs) swept
mines, searched the seafloor for downed aircraft, sunken ships and lost
munitions, "showed the flag" in the Caribbean and throughout the Far
East, and played a key role in the Vietnam War. Atlantic Fleet coastal
minesweepers searched for a nuclear bomb buried in the sea bed off
Savannah, Georgia, as a result of a midair collision between two U.S.
Air Force aircraft and provided support for the unsuccessful Bay of Pigs
Invasion of Cuba. MSCs based at Sasebo, Japan, conducted patrols off
Vietnam to interdict smuggling of supplies by sea to the Viet Cong in
the South. One, USS Vireo, participated in the destruction of an enemy
gun runner. Much smaller minesweeping boats (MSBs) kept the Long Tau
River, which passed through the dangerous "Forest of Assassins" and
connected the South China Sea to Saigon, open to merchant vessels
delivering military cargos to allied forces. Facing daily the
possibility of death by Viet Cong mine or riverbank ambush, the thirteen
boats of Mine Squadron Eleven Detachment Alfa comprised the first Navy
unit to be awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for heroism by President
Lyndon B. Johnson. Possessing too few minecraft to support its riverine combat operations, the U.S. Navy also pressed existing landing craft and newly built assault support patrol boats and minesweeping drones into these duties. The unheralded MSBs and steel-hulled minecraft collectively garnered four Presidential Unit Citations, three Meritorious Unit Commendations, and three Navy Unit Commendations. Significant numbers of the small enlisted crews that took the craft in harm's way received the Navy Cross, Silver Star and Bronze Star Medals for acts of heroism performed under fire. |
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