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Dodgy moments in submarines ... and the changing density of sea water

Apr 1, 2019
4 min

Dodgy moments in submarines ... and the changing density of sea water

During my days in submarines, I and several others spent far too much time down near the Falkland Islands for our liking. This was in the early 1980s, when we were conducting ‘back to back’ patrols of thirteen weeks or more down there. The tedium was broken up by many moments of excitement, most of which are too highly classified to be shared in an open forum. However, one moment of excitement I can share, and which is described in my novel, The Custom of the Trade, was th

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My Third Novel - The Wings of the Wind

Feb 27, 2019
1 min

My Third Novel - The Wings of the Wind

I am delighted to announce that I have just submitted my third novel to my publisher. Part of my For Those in Peril series, this story tells the story of the early days of naval aviation, the early actions of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and the activities of the RNAS Armoured Car Squadron and Royal Naval Division. Paul Miller is the third son of William Miller VC, a director of the navy's Intelligence Department who features in both the previous novels. An irresponsi

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A pioneer of naval aviation

Dec 18, 2018
4 min

A pioneer of naval aviation

I am very excited to have received in today’s post, a first-edition copy of Charles Rumney Samson’s autobiography, Fights and Flights, published in 1930, just a year before his sudden death. Samson was one of the first four Royal Navy pilots and a pioneer of naval aviation. He will feature frequently as a character in my current novel about the Royal Naval Air Service, much as Roger Keyes dipped in and out of my first novel (and will come back in a later novel). Samson was

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German spies in Britain before WW1

Nov 5, 2018
2 min

German spies in Britain before WW1

In all my writing, I have three aims; to entertain, to inform and to inspire. To achieve the latter two objectives, I carry out meticulous research to convey real events that I believe will be of interest to my readers and, I hope, get them to learn more about the real history after reading my books. The early part of my second novel, Now the Darkness Gathers (due for publication on 17 December 2018), centres on the early formation of the two security services known today as

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My Next Book - Now the Darkness Gathers

Oct 23, 2018
2 min

My Next Book - Now the Darkness Gathers

I have just sent the final proofs back to my publisher for the next novel in my series about the Miller family in WW1. It was odd to read it again in such a short time and so long after I finished the book. However, I am very pleased with it and even I was moved to tears a few times with a couple of emotionally charged scenes. The new plot is set in the early days of the formation of what became to be known as MI5 and MI6 (more accurately, the SIS) and later, the forerunner o

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Publication of The Custom of the Trade

Sep 29, 2017
1 min

Publication of The Custom of the Trade

Richard Miller is the second-in-command of the submarine D2. His captain, Lieutenant Johnson, has previously withheld a recommendation for command – Richard is too ill at ease with his men and too fond of his Bible. Just as Johnson changes his opinion, the submarine is involved in a tragic accident and sinks, leaving Johnson dead and the survivors trapped on the seabed with a diminishing air supply. It’s a race against time to save the men and Richard must play his part. I

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