Scapa Flow : The Reminiscences of Men and Women Who Served in Scapa Flow in the two World Wars

This title covers the memories of the men and women who served at or around the Royal Navy's famous anchorage in the Orkney Islands in both world wars, first published in 1968. Ships sailed from Scapa Flow to the Battle of Jutland in the First World War and in Russian convoys in the Second. This book looks at the home of the British Grand Fleet in the First World War, and watery grave of German Fleet.It includes the voices from two world wars, of the men who served on big and small ships who manned lonely batteries, and of the Wrens and other servicewomen who were stationed there: the miseries of the journey north, the sea-sickness on the Pentland Firth crossing, the bleak isolation of Scapa, its implacable winds and glorious sunsets, the camaraderie and good humour.Also described is the loss of the Hampshire, with Kitchener aboard, in 1916, and the explosion that destroyed the Vanguard and over 700 men with her. In 1939 a German submarine slipped into Scapa Flow and destroyed the Royal Oak at anchor. But the main action of the war was seen on Russian convoys.