The Fortification of the Firth of Forth 1880–1977: ‘The most powerful naval fortress in the British Empire’

Authors

Gordon J Barclay (Author)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6408-2602
Ron Morris (Author)
Keyword(s):

Military history; Military; Naval; Coast Defence; Submarine Mining; Anti-Submarine Defence; Fortification

Location(s):

Firth of Forth, East Lothian, City of Edinburgh, West Lothian, Stirlingshire, Fife, Scotland, UK

Period(s):

19th century; 20th century; Modern; First World War; Second World War

Synopsis

The Fortification of the Firth of Forth describes the story of the great Forth Fortress from 1880 to 1977, when the final traditional defensive capabilities were abandoned. The authors combine archival sources with new fieldwork and oral histories to not only describe what was built, but when and why.

This meticulously researched, richly illustrated volume relates the defences in the Forth to the wider political and military context and also describes the human side of the defences: the men and women who manned the fortress. This is a fascinating resource for those interested in Scottish military and naval history, and conflict and battlefield archaeology.

***

A seamless study of an area long significant in naval history. […] The authors address a clearly defined but multi-faceted subject with perception, authority, and panache. Anyone with interests connected in any way with the subject will learn much by reading this volume.’

– Robert J C Mowat, International Journal of Nautical Archaeology (volume 48)

‘[The authors] have to be congratulated on putting together a massive amount of research with informative text and numerous plans, charts and photographs. This book is a ‘must have’ for those interested in the recent archaeology, military or local history of this area.’

– Douglas Gray, Kinghorn Chronicle

Chapters

  • Front matter
    Gordon J Barclay, Ron Morris
    PDF
    File Size: 2MB

  • 1 | The Forth
    Gordon J Barclay, Ron Morris
    PDF
    File Size: 4MB

  • 2 | The naming of parts
    Gordon J Barclay, Ron Morris
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    File Size: 801KB

  • 3 | France and Russia
    Gordon J Barclay, Ron Morris
    PDF
    File Size: 2MB

  • 4 | The German threat, 1903–14
    Gordon J Barclay, Ron Morris
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    File Size: 414KB

  • 5 | The First World War, 1914–19
    Gordon J Barclay, Ron Morris
    PDF
    File Size: 2MB

  • 6 | Much ado about nothing, 1919–38
    Gordon J Barclay, Ron Morris
    PDF
    File Size: 456KB

  • 7 | The Second World War, 1938–45
    Gordon J Barclay, Ron Morris
    PDF
    File Size: 1MB

  • 8 | Growing irrelevance, 1945–77
    Gordon J Barclay, Ron Morris
    PDF
    File Size: 231KB

  • 9 | The inner defences
    (Carlingnose Fire Command; Fire Command (Inner); 21 (Forth) Fire Command)
    Gordon J Barclay, Ron Morris
    PDF
    File Size: 3MB

  • 10 | The middle defences
    (Inchcolm Fire Command/ 20 (Forth) Fire Command)
    Gordon J Barclay, Ron Morris
    PDF
    File Size: 3MB

  • 11 | The outer defences
    (Inchkeith Fire Command/19 (Forth) Fire Command)
    Gordon J Barclay, Ron Morris
    PDF
    File Size: 7MB

  • 12 | The outermost defences
    Gordon J Barclay, Ron Morris
    PDF
    File Size: 2MB

  • 13 | Conclusion
    Gordon J Barclay, Ron Morris
    PDF
    File Size: 200KB

  • Annex | List of Canmore numbers
    Gordon J Barclay, Ron Morris
    PDF
    File Size: 280KB

  • References
    Gordon J Barclay, Ron Morris
    PDF
    File Size: 304KB

  • Index
    Gordon J Barclay, Ron Morris
    PDF
    File Size: 281KB

Cover for The Fortification of the Firth of Forth 1880–1977: ‘The most powerful naval fortress in the British Empire’
PDF
File Size: 26MB

Published
January 14, 2022
Categories

Details about this monograph

ISBN-13 (15)
9781908332264
Date of first publication (11)
2019

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