Pen Pictures of British Battles

By Good Press

Pen Pictures of British Battles is a collection of historical fictional accounts of eleven battles that Britain has played a crucial role in. Each battle is captured in a chapter of the book preceded by a pictorial illustration of it. The Editor's aim is to "enlighten readers in other lands as to the character of British fighting men". The book features the writings of famous authors such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sir Phillip Gibbs and Rudyard Kipling.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Good Press
• Release date: Nov 19, 2019
• ISBN: 4057664145321

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Various

Pen Pictures of British Battles

Published by Good Press, 2022

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EAN 4057664145321

Table of Contents

I. THE VICTORY OF THE FLKLND ISLNDS.

II. THE ATTLE OF THE MARNE.

III. A GLIMPSE OF ANADA IN FLANDERS.

IV. THE SECON BATTLE OF YPRES.

V. THE BATTLE OF JUTLAND BANK.

VI. THE CHARGE AT LOOS OF THE LONDON IRISH (18th London) .

VII. TH LANDING AT V BACH, NAR SDD-L-BAHR.

VIII. THE COLDSTREAM GUARDS AT THE BATTLE O THE SOMME.

IX. THE MOONLIGHT BATTLE FOR BAGHDAD.

X. THE BATTLE OF ARRAS.

X. WARFARE UNDER WATER.

Four Nightmares.

The Exploit of E 11.

EDITOR’S NOTE.

Table of Contents

Though Sir Walter Besant called War correspondents the scene painters of history, it may be questioned whether any pen or brush, trained on the land, sea and air battles of the present War, can depict more than a corner of the great devastating drama.

This little book, embracing extracts from famous books, may help the reader to visualise some of the outstanding battles in which Britain has played a not inconspicuous part; and if they inspire those still fighting, and those behind them in support, with a firmer confidence and a greater endurance—if, too, these records of undaunted heroism, often against odds, enlighten readers in other lands as to the character of British fighting men—their publication in this informal style will be justified.

Full acknowledgment is here made to the authors and publishers who have kindly permitted quotation; and to the proprietors of two great illustrated weekly papers who have lent for reproduction original sketches appearing in their pages.

April, 1917.

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THE BRITISH VICTORY OFF THE FALKLANDS: FIRST STAGE OF THE ACTION BETWEEN BRITISH BATTLE-CRUISERS AND THE GERMAN ARMOURED CRUISERS.

Reproduced by permission of The Illustrated London News.

I.

THE VICTORY OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS.A

Table of Contents

By Richard Wilson, Litt.D.

AFrom The First Year of the Great War. By Richard Wilson, Litt.D. (W. & R. Chambers.)

The affair off Coronel put the heads of the British navy upon their mettle, and within forty days it was followed by a counter-stroke, complete and effective. Silently and with steady determination, preparations were made to deal with the Scharnhorst and her companions; and the man who was entrusted with the work was Vice-Admiral Sir F.C. Doveton Sturdee.

To the east of the southern portion of South America lies the British group known as the Falkland Islands. Due east of the large island called East Falkland, Sturdee’s squadron came within sight of Von Spee’s cruisers, the British admiral having been helped in finding the quarry by the clever wireless signalling of a lady and her servants who lived on the islands, and who were afterwards presented with valuable gifts by the British Admiralty as some slight acknowledgment of their timely help.

After the battle off Coronel, the Glasgow, along with the battleship Canopus, had put into the harbour of Port Stanley, in East Falkland. The former vessel had been damaged, but she was quickly repaired; and when Admiral Sturdee arrived from home, she took her place in his squadron, her officers and men being eager to set things right with the Germans. It was reported that Von Spee’s squadron was going to make a raid on the Falklands; but when he came round Cape Horn he found awaiting him eight British ships of war, and, so far as we know, this was a complete surprise to him.

At about half-past nine in the morning the Gneisenau and the Nürnberg drew near to Port Stanley Harbour with their guns trained on the wireless station. Between them and the harbour was a long low stretch of land running eastward, behind which lay the Canopus. The surprise of the Germans must have been great when they were met by a smart fire across this low-lying land at a range of about six miles! The two ships stopped, considered, and turned away, hoisting their colours, however, as they did so. About the same time the Invincible sighted other hostile ships between nine and ten miles distant; and in a short time the British squadron was moving from the harbour towards the enemy’s five ships, which could be plainly seen to the south-east. The day was fine, with a calm sea, a bright sun, a clear sky, and a light breeze from the north-west.

The British vessels at once