hi windrider.
my name is quentin rees and i have just set up a google group; WW2 British Military Canoes.
i have just finished my final (i hope) edit of my manuscript. from 160,000 words down to 100,000 words. the publisher said amongst other things that for their liking it was too long.
… the publisher actual said ’ the depth of research in your work is deeply inpressive, although overwhelming might be a better description. you clearly know your subject inside out’ … followed by other constructive critisms which led to the re-write.
here is a synopsis…
Copyright Quentin Rees 2006
WAR CANOES
‘Most Secret’
British Military Canoes
of World War II
‘War Canoes’ is the complete narrative of the British Military canoe designed and manufactured during WW2. Unquestionably this is the first ever account of such craft; it is both accurate and comprehensive. The manuscript is some 100,000 words in length with many previously unpublished B&W photographs available to use.
Very rarely is there an opportunity to bring to the world something that has not been written about before; this is one such rarity.
The ‘War Canoes’ story represents the first and only definitive reference work of the entire History and Development of British Military Canoes during World War Two during 1939 to 1945; but it is indeed much more than this. It contains intricate details woven with events as well as the technology, design and the manufacture of the military canoe; it shows how the world of the canoe coloured so many areas as well as the lives of many skilled individuals.
Whilst it is a very human story about a most unusual mode of warfare it is also a celebration of those individuals who have become part of canoe history, both civilian and Military, some of great fame, many yet to become accredited through this work.
Whilst charting this fascinating evolution of the Military canoe, with the keenness to publicise the Navy’s very small ‘boats’, it is impossible not to include the activities of these craft in a tactical setting and to highlight exactly what was required of the units and therefore the men, to perform the tasks set, using these canoes.
As far as amphibious assaults and reconnaissance with canoes are concerned, a few audacious adventures of the Second World War have been written, but hardly any detailed and accurate information about the ‘accessories’ used in the various raids exist.
Much of the information in the manuscript has never been revealed before.
Few existing publications even mention canoes. Of those that do much is inaccurate and usually found in an appendix. Even the simplest dimensions are wrongly quoted. ‘Not a lot is known about this canoe’ and ‘no information exists’ are perhaps the worst of the quoted references that can be mentioned.
Yet the story of the British military canoe as written is a very interesting one.
Within the manuscript 24 canoes are identified with a full description; with a further 17 canoes dealt with on a lesser scale, this being the entire stock of canoes developed, most unknown to Military historians and therefore the general public. The manuscript is evidenced by original source material, all referenced. Every detail that exists on the British Military canoe during WW2 is reported on.
This work tries not to be too technical but has this element included as an integral of part of the overall requirement to understand the differences and the technology used in the individual canoes. It weaves the description of an intricate series of events within many different fields that have shaped the progress of development from pre-war recreational use of canoes to the needs of the military during WW2, briefly showing how some of these developments have had a direct effect and bearing on a much larger vessel of the modern day.
It tells of the epic journey of progress that canoe development took from Scotland and Cornwall, London, Cambridge, Gosport, Brentford, Warwick, Poole, Southampton, to the Island of Wight in the Solent to the tropical Island of Sri Lanka.
The work chronicles all the detailed specifications and gives a timeline during the trials and tribulations experienced within military canoe development. It explains the journey each particular ‘mark’ took and how the development stages brought about each new genus of canoe for the military. Many of these stages were pivotal moments, giving an important insight into a new organisation that required a fast moving set of operational methodologies in order to deliver what was required.
From the talents of a few the ‘War Canoe’ became a greater craft than that of recreational transport. The military used civilian held skills and technology to push the boundaries; each step was choreographed by need.
Thousands of canoes of various marks and types were sent worldwide from the U.K. as far as Australia, and used operationally. Many details for other clandestine organizations are relatively unknown until now.
The work is a product of real life testimonies within the stories of the Commanders, Inventors, Designers and the University boat race connections; together with many previously unseen photographs. The endeavour is to inform so that even from photographs it is possible to identify each Mark.
The work also describes the purpose and some operations of the units, the Admiralty departments, Combined Operations and its various facets including the various Special Forces activities; each part adding to the raison detre for the canoe, pouring out the very essence of the British spirit. The narrative goes behind the scenes to expose the internal workings; it also explains how many different companies including those in the aviation industry were used to produce the canoes and the links between certain individuals.
There are storylines which included men such as Mountbatten, Tollemarche, Hasler, Montenaro, and individuals within and connected to the C.O.H.Q. as well as the S.O.E. and describes how the S.O.E. and one of the canoe inventors had a direct influence on writings of the author Ian Fleming
Due the military association within the field of amphibious warfare it will be welcomed in the United States as the base from which their hardware evolved – proven links exist in this area are highlight within the manuscript.
The work is not a difficult read; even with the craft descriptions it is easily absorbed. It will be enlightening and yet controversial due to it being in opposition to the small amount of incorrect information published.
The work needed to be written this information has been lost to our nation for long enough – to leave it unpublished would leave a void within British Military History.
Each photograph used is accompanied with a detailed and authoritative caption.
The originality is one of the strongest selling points about the work; it is the ‘missing link’, the means by which clandestine warfare was conducted by the various Special Forces during WW2.
Quite possibly it represents the most comprehensive study ever undertaken in the field of the twentieth-century naval small ‘boats’; deserving the description ‘indispensable’.
i picked up your thread up by an alert set up on google.
Firstly the pic of the canoe … could you send me a copy.
until now i had not seen this example in turkey.
the history of this museums’ canoe…
it was bought around a couple of years ago by someone poss museum chap for the inclusion into this private museum collection. i am unsure how much was paid but it was not cheap; that does not matter as it seems to be a good example. it was bought from an antique dealer in petworth sussex who is a grumpy unco-opreative chap who wanted me to give info so he could sell to states for more money. he tried to convince himself that this was a u.s. kit. its not made in uk by an aircrar maunufacture.
i can tell you that it seems to have the original mast, yard and sail which is only the second one i know of. as to its seaworthiness etc i cannot comment.
a number of examples exist in museums in the uk but these museums have little or no correct info about them. one notable museum spent £1000’s on there display info based on unintelligent research - its all wrong; they even have the wrong manufacturer! i have tried to tell them they have got it wrong and how they got it wrong but if you have made a boo boo its not easy being told!
reference your writings… where to begin! i will tell you what you have wrong.
Grumman did not manufacture this canoe. you will not find any manufacturers plate etc on any examples; all you will find is inspectors stamps and part numbers; i have one and its restored for the water!
The rudder was NOT foot-operated via cables within the hull. this particular canor was developed for the tropics and used by various groups notably detachment 385. they were primarily launched from aircraft such as a catalina; they did usually scuttle any canoe, as they were sailed to safety even if the rv was unsucessful on the first occasion.
machine guns were mounted on this and other canoes. no motars or grenades. think about it.
i could go on but time is pressing. may i suggest you usemy discussion group as i am keen to find out the interest and understanding of the populace.
many books have the wrong info these books only have afew words about the canoes and most of it is inaccurate.
re the MSC ( sleeping Beuaty pic) … its the one that goes underwater… that has much history and its very very very interesting. i am able to briefly (19,000 words) deal with it because it was classified as a canoe!
regards to all
hope this doesnt stir uo too much of an ant’s nest.
Q
