Maritime Michael Ian
27-12-2008, 23:45
Hello all!
I've recently purchased a hardback copy of a book entitled "Gunboat Command". It is the biography of Lt. Cmmdr Robert Hitchens, DSO and Bar, DSC and Two Bars, Mentioned in Despatches (three times) RNVR, written by his son Antony Hitchens. Robert Hitchens, within Coastal Forces, was universally known as "Hitch".
I have known of him for some time because he featured in a book bought by my late Father in 1944 which was called " The Little Ships", written by Gordon Holman in 1943, with photos of gunboats and MTBs "doctored" by the censor with regard to the boats distinguishing numbers. My interest is further deepened by the fact that Hitch's gunboat flotilla were all British Power Boats, built at the BPB yard at Hythe on Southampton Water. As some members may be aware my late Father was the chief storekeeper (or chandler in todays language) at the Poole yard of BPB.
Antony Hitchens has relied considerably on his late Father's own unpublished account of his activities up until his death in action in April 1943, as well as being able to obtain information over the years from those who knew his father as well as others who were ex-Coastal Forces. For anyone interested in Coastal Forces and the great part that was played by the little ships and men, all volunteers and - in the case of the officers - RNVR, the book is, in my opinion, a good read and is worthy of being placed alongside such other Coastal Forces authors( and ex Commanders themselves) as Peter Scott, Peter Dickins and Len Reynolds.
For what it's worth I commend the book to all.
Ian
I've recently purchased a hardback copy of a book entitled "Gunboat Command". It is the biography of Lt. Cmmdr Robert Hitchens, DSO and Bar, DSC and Two Bars, Mentioned in Despatches (three times) RNVR, written by his son Antony Hitchens. Robert Hitchens, within Coastal Forces, was universally known as "Hitch".
I have known of him for some time because he featured in a book bought by my late Father in 1944 which was called " The Little Ships", written by Gordon Holman in 1943, with photos of gunboats and MTBs "doctored" by the censor with regard to the boats distinguishing numbers. My interest is further deepened by the fact that Hitch's gunboat flotilla were all British Power Boats, built at the BPB yard at Hythe on Southampton Water. As some members may be aware my late Father was the chief storekeeper (or chandler in todays language) at the Poole yard of BPB.
Antony Hitchens has relied considerably on his late Father's own unpublished account of his activities up until his death in action in April 1943, as well as being able to obtain information over the years from those who knew his father as well as others who were ex-Coastal Forces. For anyone interested in Coastal Forces and the great part that was played by the little ships and men, all volunteers and - in the case of the officers - RNVR, the book is, in my opinion, a good read and is worthy of being placed alongside such other Coastal Forces authors( and ex Commanders themselves) as Peter Scott, Peter Dickins and Len Reynolds.
For what it's worth I commend the book to all.
Ian