W.J. Bassett-Lowke

This is one of many similar books published in the first half or so of the Twentieth Century, when the White Ensign of the Royal Navy and the Red Ensign of the Merchant Navy were familiar around the globe - Great Britain was undoubtedly top dog when it came to matters maritime and ships. This volume is, however, a tad different, insofar as it has a campaigning purpose too. Author Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke (1877-1953) was founder of the Northampton firm of his name that famously made waterline model ships for shipping companies and the Admiralty in the first half of the Twentieth Century and some of the models are used for illustrations in this book. The notes about the author on the dust jacket make clear that "Mr Bassett-Lowke is a Fabian" and the campaigning purpose of the book is clear - improved working conditions for seamen and a new Merchant Shipping Act. Few maritime history books have a chapter entitled "Political Aspects and Reform" and fewer still have mention of the Fabian Society, Beatrice and Sidney Webb or George Bernard Shaw in the index! Royal Navy appears only once in the index of this book and that's all the more surprising when one looks at the date of publication; the late war - the Second World War - is certainly mentioned but one would be hard-pressed to know of the outstanding contribution to victory made by both the Royal Navy and United States Navy. Nevertheless, this well illustrated book (models, drawing, photographs) has its place in any good maritime library.… (meer)