Whitehaven in the Great War
Review of new book by Ruth Mansergh
The
fascination with the sadly mis-named 'War to end all Wars' of 1914-18
continues. A new paperback on Whitehaven in the Great War has just been
released by Pen and Sword Books (www.pen-and-sword.co.uk)
It revives many vivid aspects of that terrible conflict. As well as highlighting
the many heroic individual acts by young men who had volunteered to fight
in France it also uncovers other less documented aspects of the war. For
instance the mini food riots in Maryport and Carlisle in 1917 as food
price inflation led to farmer's carts being overturned as angry Cumbrian
housewives refused to pay escalating prices for their potatoes.
Another example of less well know aspects of the war is the fact that
Millom was temporary home for over 1,000 Belgians displaced by the fighting.
The book also chronicles where German prisoners of war (POWs) were house
at both Lamplugh and in remote Wasdale.
The book, authored by Ruth Mansergh, gives much detail of the famous
U boat bombardment of the Lowca factory producing toluene for explosives
production. U24 gave local fishermen the fright of their lives as it surfaced
and blasted fifty-five shells at the Lowca factory. The book also delves
into whether the German supporting wife of a local MP had been signalling
to the U boat to guide them to their target.
When one considers the flimsy canvas and string biplanes of that era
one can only be amazed at the pluck of former St Bees schoolboy and VC
recipient, William Robinson. Night flying William was able to shoot down
one of 16 giant gas filled Zepellins that had been on a bombing raid over
London.
The new paperback is by Barnsley based; Pen and Sword Books (www.pen-and-sword.co.uk)
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