Royal Navy Monitors of the First World War: Actions off the Belgian and East African Rivers & Coasts

"Severn's" Saga & The Royal Marines in the East African Campaign

The adventures of the flat- bottomed river boats of the Great War

At the outset of the First World War in 1914, recenty completed at Vickers' quay, lay three recently completed monitor vessels. They had been built on instructions by the Brazilian Government for duty in the River Amazon's upper reaches, but instead the British Government promptly took them over. Designed for river work, having not more than 31⁄4 feet of freeboard for'ard and aft, they seemed useless for action on the treacherous waters surrounding the British Isles. Nevertheless, a ship of war of any stripe was considered to be a valuable asset and they were appropriately re-christened, Mersey, Severn and Humber. Whilst floating gun platforms had been employed for over 50 years- there remained a matter as to where and when, they could be put to effective use in this conflict. That time came quickly as advancing, overwhelming German forces swept through the Low Countries, where the proximity of the battlefield to the coast- line enabled bombardment at comparatively close quarters inshore from the sea. Next the menace to merchant shipping from far roving German cruisers created another opportunity as the Kriegsmarine light cruiser, Konigsberg turned at bay in the mangrove creeks of the Rufiji Delta on the East African coast. So began a naval adventure of thrilling proportions which is described in detail in these pages. The sailors of the monitor Severn together with other Royal Navy ship and their marines went on to engage colonial German forces until the end of hostilities. A detailed account of Royal Marines in engagements ashore in East Africa is also included in this highly recommended special edition.

Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.