Derek Law Bibliography

Full entry text:

ASHMORE, Sir Edward. The Battle and the Breeze: The Naval Reminiscences of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Edward Ashmore. [vi], 282p., illus., index. Stroud: Sutton, 1997. ISBN: 0750912529.

From a naval family, he joined Dartmouth in 1933 and was on his sublieutenant's courses when war began. In January 1940 he joined Jupiter based at Hull. After convoy duties she took part in the Norwegian campaign before being based at Plymouth. In mid-1941 he stood by Middleton which completed at the end of 1941. After six months with the Home Fleet she went to the Mediterranean. After hard action it was back to Scapa and the fringes of PQ17. A spell on the staff at King Alfred was followed by a Signals Long Course, then appointment as Fleet Wireless Officer on Duke of York with the Home Fleet. In November 1944 he joined Swiftsure as flag lieutenant to Admiral Brind, commanding the cruisers of the BPF. He was in Tokyo Bay at war's end. A distinguished career continued after the war when he rose to become Chief of the Defence Staff. A well-told tale. The memoirs were edited by Eric Grove.