Amberley Publishing strana 3 z 20

Starting with leaflet drops in 1940, the aerial offensive against the Nazis’ homeland grew into a huge armada that pulverised much of Germany, seriously damaging her ability to make war and killing hundreds of thousands. By day, the Flying Fortresses of the Mighty Eighth US Airforce confronted the day fighters of Luftflotte Reich, and then it was the turn of Bomber Command’s Lancasters to fight off the deadly predators of the Nachtjagd (night hunters). The tactics and technology of Allied escort fighters evolved quickly though the war years, as they did for the defending German fighters. For the Allied airmen who fought this war the price was frighteningly high, for those who opposed them – in the air and on the ground – it was even higher. As the bombing increased, Nazi high command was forced to devote more and more resources to try and defeat the Allied campaign, just when those same resources were desperately needed elsewhere, both on the Russian Front and, after D-Day on 6 June 1944, on the new Western Front. Written from the ‘other side’ and told as much as possible through the words of the veterans, this is an important book on one of the most controversial campaigns of the Second World War.

South Wales Transport, as a National Bus Company, served a large and diverse area of South West Wales, from Port Talbot in the east, throughout the industrial Swansea Valley and City, and out across rural West Wales to the remote Pembrokeshire coast. It had grown following National Bus Company’s acquisition of BET/THC bus companies in South Wales. With the resulting overlapping areas of services, NBC reorganised its operations and from January 1971 South Wales Transport took control of United Welsh Services, Thomas Brothers (Port Talbot) and Neath & Cardiff Luxury Coaches. In 1972 Western Welsh services from Neath and Haverfordwest were also transferred to South Wales Transport, leaving Western Welsh only operating to the east of South Wales Transport. The outcome of these four acquisitions was a fascinating and diverse fleet, a rich mix of BTC and BET vehicles, an early user of Minibuses, Inter-urban joint coach services and the well-known AEC Regents, including the short version for Gower services. In this book you are taken on a fascinating pictorial journey back to the 1970s and early 1980s when De Cymru Poppy Red buses could still be seen climbing steeply up to Townhill from the centre of Swansea, through the industrial Lower Swansea Valley and to the far distant rural lanes around Haverfordwest.

British Airways has an almost unique history. Spanning over a century from the first flight of Aircraft Transport and Travel Ltd from London to Paris in 1919 to the modern fuel-efficient aircraft of its current fleet, British Airways has proudly connected Britain to the World and the World to Britain. Over that journey through the rapidly evolving early years of pioneering aviation, taking days to cross continents with biplanes and seaplanes, through the post-war piston-engine luxury, the iconic jet age of the fabulous Boeing 707 and 747, the supersonic marvel of Concorde into the modern era of travel, British Airways has seen many historic events and carried literally billions of customers. Along the way that journey has generated vast amounts of treasured items, many of which are now displayed or stored at British Airways headquarters near Heathrow in its truly incredible museum, the Speedbird Centre. Much of the archive has true national importance and is kept as part of the nation’s heritage. From simple in-flight mementos to the Olympic torch, the items featured in this book represent just a flavour of that collection and bring decades of flight to life.

Mick Graham, acclaimed artist and veteran soldier of the Royal Tank Regiment, has been interested in tanks his entire life. As a young lad in the late 1960s he used to play on the obsolete Bundeswehr M47s and M48s heading down range at Hohne, Germany, where his father was stationed. He went on to fire at these same ‘hard targets’ as a Chieftain tank gunner in the early 1980s. Always cherishing these moments, he dabbled in painting during his military career but never felt his work was anything special. Having resumed painting seven years ago, today, Mick’s stunning depictions of tanks in their natural environment with incredible attention to detail are highly sought after by veterans, serving soldiers, museums and companies such as Royal Mail.Lavishly illustrated with more than a hundred original artworks, this book tells the story of an ex-tankie with a unique and self-taught talent for bringing back to life the memories of service members, young and old.

For much of its history Ealing was a rural village in Middlesex, outside London. Improved communications encouraged first its development as a market garden for the capital and later as an attractive suburb in West London, nicknamed ‘Queen of the Suburbs’. In this book, local historians Dr Jonathan Oates and Paul Howard Lang look back over the centuries to uncover the fascinating history of the district. The new public buildings, churches and chapels played an important role alongside large-scale housing developments from the nineteenth century onwards. Leisure was important in Ealing too. The inhabitants of Ealing included many famous names recorded by blue plaques today but all benefitted from the growth of shopping centres in the area. Not only was it well-known for its open spaces but is also the home of film studios. The stories of Ealing’s places and people bring the history to life, together with illustrations to show where reminders of the area’s past can still be found.Illustrated throughout, this accessible historical portrait of the transformation that Ealing has undergone through the ages will be of great interest to residents, visitors and all those with links to the district.

This book documents the surprisingly varied bus scene in Chelmsford, one of Britain’s newest cities, since 2000. Although the main operator is First, whose fleet in the city is mainly single deck due to the famous low railway bridge in Duke Street, the fleet does still have a number of double-deckers. In fact, the number of double-deckers in Chelmsford has increased in recent years as First have converted several inter urban routes to double-deck operation. The new liveries recently introduced by First are also featured in this book. In addition to First, Chelmsford continues to be served by other operators such as Arriva, Stephensons and Go Ahead Group subsidiary Hedingham. Regal Busways were also a familiar sight in Chelmsford before their demise. All are included here.Containing high-quality photographs, this book will appeal to those interested in the ever evolving and fascinating bus scene in Chelmsford.

Gosport has been associated with the Royal Navy for much of its history. Although the naval presence has been heavily reduced today, a few establishments remain but the town has many reminders of its history as a major naval base on Portsmouth Harbour. The first naval fortifications were built during the reign of King Charles II and further fortifications, training establishments, hospitals, barracks and other buildings were added in subsequent centuries. Many of the buildings have been converted to other uses and the harbour is now a marina.A-Z of Gosport reveals the history behind Gosport, its streets and buildings, businesses, and the people connected with the town. Alongside the famous historical connections, are unusual characters, tucked away places and unique events that are less well-known. Readers will discover tales about the Explosion! Museum, the ‘Gosport Tragedy’ folk song, an enclosed Victorian garden and the scientist who identified a rare genetic disorder among many other fascinating facts in this A-Z tour of Gosport’s history. It is fully illustrated with photography and will appeal to all those with an interest in this town on the Hampshire coast.

Sheffield grew rapidly during the Industrial Revolution to become one of the largest cities in the country by the nineteenth century. It was best known for its cutlery industry, producing stainless steel locally, and its steel and coal industries played a vital role in the war effort in the Second World War, leading to the city being targeted by German aerial bombardment. Despite the industrialisation, Sheffield has more green spaces than most cities in Britain and more trees per head of population than any other city in Europe. Lying on the edge of the Peak District, many streets climb into the hills with views beyond the city boundaries.Drawing on archive material as well as his own, extensive, local knowledge Robert Nicholls presents a fresh look at Sheffield - from a slightly different angle – as he delves into lesser known but fascinating tales from the city’s past. Quirky Sheffield celebrates the unusual and often strange history of Sheffield and its characters over the years. This fascinating insight into Sheffield will be of interest to all those who want to know more about the city’s quirky history.

The churches of Leicestershire and Rutland represent the history of this area of the East Midlands. Largely rural, their wealth in the Middle Ages came largely through farming and the wool trade, as well as the largest settlement in the area, Leicester. Later industrialisation also shaped Leicestershire, as Leicester and Loughborough also became known for manufacturing and coal mining although adjoining Rutland, much smaller, developed less. This book travels through a selection of the most interesting churches in these counties, from churches with Norman and sometimes Saxon and Roman fragments, through to the nineteenth and twentieth centuries were burgeoning populations in the towns needed new places to worship in many denominations. Examples include Leicester Cathedral acquisition of a long lost English king, the rescue of Normanton church from Rutland Water, and many more. This fascinating picture of an important part of the history of Leicestershire and Rutland over the centuries will be of interest to all those who live in or are visiting these attractive counties in England.

Zeppelins were the biggest aircraft ever built and Germany led the way in their use as a weapon of war. In 1915 the German Kaiser authorised air attacks against Britain and Essex found itself in the firing line. Not only were its towns targets in their own right but it also lay on one of the main air routes to London and Zeppelins who failed to reach the capital often jettisoned their bombs on its population as they returned to base. The raids were greeted with a mixture of fear and fascination. Despite official warnings and the risk of death or injury, as bombing began crowds thronged the streets to witness the unfolding drama. High above them Zeppelin crews battled lack of oxygen and intense cold. Flying without parachutes, if they were shot down they faced a terrible decision as their airship plunged to earth in flames – should they jump or burn? Many jumped. This book tells the incredible story of the World War I Zeppelin raids on Essex, illustrated with contemporary photographs and other images from the time.

The assemblage of Roman footwear from Vindolanda is one of the most extraordinary and unique groups of archaeological objects from anywhere in the Roman Empire. Nearly 5,000 shoes have been preserved in the archaeological deposits at Vindolanda, a Roman military fort located on Hadrian’s Wall in northern England. They are more than just objects to marvel at from the ancient world and help us to understand so much more about the people who inhabited this frontier region: their ideas about adornment, their approaches to manufacturing, and how they used space in this frontier Roman settlement. The shoes represent the individuals who occupied this fort for nearly three centuries from the late first until the fourth century CE.Elizabeth M. Greene introduces these unique and fascinating finds through some of the best examples of Roman shoes in the collection. This book will appeal to those who marvel at the shoes in the Vindolanda museum, as well as forming a valuable resource for researchers of Roman archaeology and the Roman army.

At the end of the 1980s a fleet of fifty Class 90 electric locomotives was to commence service for British Rail. The rail privatisation in the following decade saw the fleet divided between a number of private operators, including Virgin Trains and Rail Express Systems. Their duties were soon to extend to both passenger and freight work across most of the country’s electrified network.While some examples have been sidelined for a number of years, the majority of the fleet is still going strong as it approaches its fortieth anniversary in traffic. During that time, these locomotives have sported a variety of liveries, reflecting their diverse ownership and usage. The class spent many years at work on passenger duties along the length of the West Coast Main Line as well as Great Eastern flagship services between London and Norwich. These stalwarts even made appearances on both Anglo-Scottish sleeper services and were frequently hired in to perform East Coast Main Line passenger duties between King’s Cross and Yorkshire. Often operating in pairs, the class was used by both Freightliner and DB Cargo for their longer distance container workings, again where the power supply allowed. John Jackson highlights the diversity of the class with photographs from all electrified corners of the UK railway network across their four decades at work, proving they still have their worth on the network today.

For centuries, Suffolk’s rural and urban landscape has been shaped by conflict; from Celtic tribes and the Roman Empire, Anglo-Saxons and Viking raiders, Norman invaders to local rebellions. Suffolk’s shoreline has defended against Dutch and French invasions, and coastal defences can still be today. The county was once again on the frontline during the First and Second World Wars, enduring attacks by air while preparing again for assaults by sea. Over the centuries Suffolk also became home to numerous military units: the renowned Suffolk Regiment and is predecessors fought in campaigns all over the world, while members of the US Army Air Force served at airfields scattered across the county during the Second World War. The county has retained physical connections to its military past, from fortifications and buildings to memorials. Weaponry and munitions were designed and manufactured in Suffolk, the county and its inhabitants endured attack from the air, homes were requisitioned, and latterly bunkers built against the threat of nuclear attack.This book provides a fascinating insight into the events, people and places which represent Suffolk’s military heritage. It will be of interest to all those who would like to know more about Suffolk’s remarkable military history.

For much of its history Bradford was a small town in West Yorkshire and a local centre for the wool trade. Industrialisation in the nineteenth century transformed it. Textile mills, coal mining and iron manufacturing developed rapidly in the area and the town became known as the wool capital of the world. By the end of the century Bradford had become a county borough and city, and the rising population included many immigrants from Ireland and Germany. Large numbers of churches of all denominations were built in Victorian Bradford for these people, particularly Nonconformist chapels and churches, which particularly appealed to the urban population, and the building continued into the twentieth century, although some of the older churches became repurposed. Churches of Bradford reveals the variety of historic church buildings in the city. All the churches in this book have special architectural, historical and/or social interest. This fascinating picture of an important part of the history of Bradford over the centuries will be of interest to all those who live in or are visiting this city.

The Corps franc Pommies (CFP) was founded on 17 November 1942 by its namesake André Pommies. It operated in southwestern France, becoming one of the largest and most important Resistance units in the south. After initial work in sabotage of rail and road networks, factories and power plants, on 15 April 1944 it sabotaged the Hispano-Suiza factory in Soues in the Hautes-Pyrénées, forestalling Allied bombing of the factory and the inevitable collateral damage.This was no small covert cell: the CFP mobilized some 12,000 combatants to support the D-Day landings. Its harassment of the Gestapo, the fascist Milice, and other Occupation forces turned the area around Toulouse into a no-man’s land for the Nazis. The CFP linked up with the newly formed French 1st Army during the advance into central France and fought in the brutal campaign to liberate Alsace. It participated in the Rhine crossings, the march on Stuttgart, and the French occupation of Germany, becoming the first French regiment to occupy Berlin.

Stafford’s history can be traced back to an Anglo Saxon settlement, when it became the county town of Staffordshire. The Normans built a castle in the town and a priory was founded nearby. The two mediaeval churches in the centre of the town also survive from this period. Stafford was fought over during the Civil War and was eventually captured by Parliamentary forces. In later centuries Stafford’s wealth grew from industries such as shoemaking and later engineering, and the arrival of the canal network through the River Sow Navigation and the railway in the nineteenth century. Stafford’s history also features its military connections, the story of crime and its punishment in the town and recreation, not least the foundation of the Stafford Rangers Football Club in 1876 and the opening of Victoria Park in 1908.Illustrated throughout, this accessible historical portrait of the transformation that Stafford has undergone through the ages will be of great interest to residents, visitors and all those with links to the area.