My books may be purchased direct from the online store The Great British Bookshop. Follow these links:
They are are produced and distributed by Bookvault trading on Amazon.co.uk as The Great British Bookshop.
Links to the Amazon product pages for each book may be found on the webpages linked below. My books may also be ordered in independent bookshops and at larger retailers such as Waterstones.
HONOURS, DECORATIONS, AND MEDALS TO THE ROYAL CORPS OF SIGNALS
FOR GALLANTRY & DISTINGUISHED SERVICE, 1920-2020
ISBN 9781916264311
“The meticulously researched book brings to life the self-sacrifice and bravery of those who received public recognition. An absolutely fascinating publication…” Michael Lithgow CBE
The Corps of Signals was established by Royal Warrant on 28 June 1920. Six weeks later, on 5 August, the title ‘The Royal Corps of Signals’ was conferred by King George V. From its earliest days the officers and soldiers of Royal Signals have been recognised for their gallantry and valuable services on operations across the globe. Published by the Royal Signals Institution in celebration of the 2020 centennial, this book records all the honours, decorations and medals awarded since 1920. You can read more on the Royal Signals Honours and Awards page.
FOR EXEMPLARY BRAVERY—THE QUEEN’S GALLANTRY MEDAL
ISBN 9780957269514
“…a ‘must have’ for the medal enthusiast and student of the better aspects of human nature. The author is to be congratulated on a most remarkable and valuable work.” Professor Bernard de Neumann
In 1974 the Queen’s Gallantry Medal was instituted to replace awards for gallantry in the Order of the British Empire for actions not quite meriting the award of the George Medal. Between its institution and December 2013, it was awarded on 1,044 occasions, which includes 38 posthumous awards and 19 second awards. You can read more about this unique history of the Queen’s Gallantry Medal on the For Exemplary Bravery page.
BLACKER’S BOYS
ISBN 9780957269507
“I cannot praise this work enough, it must form a great example for others to follow. I suggest that everyone gets a copy, particularly those interested in Ulster in the Great War.”
Bob Wyatt – Stand To! The Journal of the Western Front Association. No. 97. May 2013.
Blacker’s Boys tells the First World War history of the 9th (Service) Battalion, Princess Victoria’s (Royal Irish Fusiliers) (County Armagh), one of thirteen infantry battalions raised in Ireland for 36th (Ulster) Division. You can see more about this comprehensive history, read reviews, and see updates, additional information and photographs that have been contributed since publication on the Blacker’s Boys page.
Other Publications & Online Projects
BLACKER’S LETTERS
While in command of 9th (Service) Battalion, Princess Victoria’s (Royal Irish Fusiliers), Lieutenant Colonel Stewart Blacker wrote to his wife almost every day. The letters were relatively uncensored and provide a fascinating insight into the life of a commanding officer in the front line and of the actions of his Battalion. Between 1921 and 1924 extracts from his letters were reproduced in the magazine of Seagoe Parish Church, Portadown in chapters titled ‘With The ‘Ninth’ In France.
In this on-line project, the letters, with added explanatory footnotes and illustrations, were re-published 100 years after they were first written. The first letter appeared on 3 October 2015 and the last on 13 March 2017. The project featured as part of the BBC’s Voices 16.
SACRIFICE
The Canadian Cross of Sacrifice at Arlington National Cemetery
This project, endorsed by the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission, studies of the lives and military service of the 365 casualties of the First World War buried in the United States and commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. In addition, a series of essays will describe themes identified as the project progresses, including: the assistance provided to the United Kingdom prior to the entry of the United states into the war in April 1917; the training of pilots; the segregated Army; German sabotage; the British Military Mission and the training of the United States Army; the flu pandemic in 1918/1919; and commemoration. The Sacrifice website is here.
COMMEMORATING ROYAL SIGNALS’ WAR DEAD
Royal Signals Roll of Honour
During the course of my research into Royals Signals’ honours & awards, it became clear that there were errors and omissions in the two Royal Signals Rolls of Honour (one covers the periods before and after the Second World War and one covers the Second World War) and in the commemorations recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the Armed Forces Memorial. I hope over time that these errors can be corrected; indeed, many have been already. Details about the project and a record of Royal Signals operational casualties may be found here. If anyone wishes to help with this process, please get in touch using my About & Contact page.
THE ANTONI PASZKIEWICZ PROJECT
Szeregowiec Antoni Paszkiewicz
The Antoni Paszkiewicz project will examine the life of a young Polish man who was born in Vilno (now Vilnius, Lithuania) in 1921 and who was imprisoned by the Russians at the beginning of the Second World War. After his release he joined the Polish Armed Forces in the East before travelling to the United Kingdom where he joined 1st (Polish) Independent Parachute Brigade. Read more here.
THE BURMA GALLANTRY MEDAL
The Burma Gallantry Medal was instituted in 1940 to reward Governor’s Commissioned Officers, non-commissioned officers and other ranks of the Burma Army, Burma Frontier Force, Burma Military Police, Burma Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Force and Burma Auxiliary Air Force for acts ‘…of conspicuous gallantry’. I hope that this will begin a series of short books that examine some of the United Kingdom’s lesser known gallantry awards. Read more here.
The Burma Gallantry Medal, 1939-1945 Star, Burma Star and War Medal 1939-1945 awarded to Sepoy Nand Singh, The Burma Regiment
(Photograph by permission Noonans.)
THE COLONIAL POLICE MEDAL FOR GALLANTRY
The Colonial Police Medal was instituted in 1938 and was superseded by the Queen’s Gallantry Medal in 1974. Read more here.
The Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry awarded to British Sergeant Dennis Baily Richards, Palestine Police
(Photograph by permission Noonans.)