Description

Immediate dispatch from Somerset. Nice book in great condition. Pages in excellent condition. No notes or highlighting. See images. Fantastic book.

About the book >.>.> In the hundred years between 1856 and 1956 something like fifty million pounds were spent on providing the shores of England and Wales with defences against attack from foreign fleets. The result can be seen today in dozens of derelict forts and defences dotted all round the coast. Frequently anathematised as Palmerston’s Follies these works are a prominent part of the scenery but have never been examined in print before. In this book the story of why these de- fences were built how they were built the difficulties and delays the armament and the development of the works is traced in some detail. After introductory chapters on the planning construction and the dissolu- tion of coast fortifications the author exam- ines the principal coast fortresses-the Thames and Medway defences Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight; Plymouth; Milford Haven-listing all the forts built and with brief details of their history in effect pro- viding readers with a gazetteer of sites. A further chapter is devoted to the minor fortresses-Dover Harwich Portland- while appendices give details of the ordnance used in coast defence and a complete list of every defensive work around the shores of England and Wales. A bibliography and an index together with 20 photographs 19 line drawings and 7 maps make this a work of substantial value to the military historian or anyone with an interest in artillery. lan Hogg who retired from the Royal Artillery in 1972 was most recently on the staff of the Royal Military College of Science at Shrivenham. He is the author of several books on artillery and small arms and much of this book is based on his visits to coast artillery sites interviews with retired coast gunners and original research in various military archives. (SP)