'Supposed Killed or Drowned': The Lost Women of the Merchant Navy in WW1 and WW2

'Supposed Killed or Drowned': The Lost Women of the Merchant Navy in WW1 and WW2

In this episode we explore a part of maritime history that has too often drifted beneath the surface: women who served at sea in the First and Second World Wars, and who died for their service. To find out more, Dr Sam Willis [https://sam-willis.com/] spoke with Nina Baker, author of a fabulous new book exploring the lives of those women. Nina has created the first complete list of all of these women and has written detailed profiles for those who were Scottish, bringing their stories to light for the first time. These are women who travelled and worked to survive, but disappeared doing so. By tracing those lives, Nina's work says a great deal about what their absences reveal about all sorts of things: danger, memory, class, migration, and of course, the human cost of maritime life. We hear about the research behind the book, the voices history chose to preserve, and of course, the ones it allowed to sink beneath the waves. We also explore why those stories matter now, and how recovering them changes the way we understand both the sea and the societies built around it. And just to make this episode even more interesting, if it's in any way possible, Nina herself has a great story: She became one of the first women navigation officers in the British Merchant Navy, a pioneer in opening up access to seafaring careers for women. She rose through the ranks of an industry that for centuries had been male dominated. She also shares some of her early maritime experiences. Her book is called “Supposed Killed or Drowned by Enemy Action at Sea” Scottish Merchant Navy women who died as a result of enemy action in the First and Second World Wars. [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Supposed-Killed-Drowned-Enemy-Action/dp/B0GHPL1935] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Naval Fiction Interviews: Chris Durbin, Edward Carlisle and George Holbrooke

In this episode of The Mariner’s Mirror Podcast, we continue our naval fiction series with Chris Durbin, author of the excellent Carlisle & Holbrooke Naval Adventures. Set during the global conflict of the Seven Years’ War, the series follows two Royal Navy captains—one a colonial Virginian, the other from Hampshire—as they navigate war, politics, and shifting loyalties in a world on the brink of revolution. Drawing on a 24-year career as a Royal Navy warfare officer, Durbin brings an authentic edge to his storytelling, capturing the realities of life at sea—from fleet actions and convoy duty to the personal pressures of command. In this conversation, we explore how he blends history with fiction, the challenges of writing naval warfare, and the wider historical forces shaping his characters’ lives. With seventeen novels in the series and the story moving toward the American Revolution, Durbin’s work offers a vivid and immersive take on a defining period of maritime history. If you’re new to the series, you can catch up on previous conversations with authors spanning the centuries—from the 17th century with David Davies, to the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars with Julian Stockwin, Katie Daysh, and Philip K. Allen. We’ve even delved into the life behind Patrick O’Brian’s work with his biographer for a broader perspective. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Naval Fiction Interviews: Philip K. Allan and Alexander Clay

In this episode, we continue our deep dive into naval fiction with the prolific and insightful Philip K. Allan. Since 2018, Philip has built an impressive body of work, most notably his Alexander Clay series set during the Age of Sail. Following a Royal Navy officer through the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, the series brings to life a global naval career—from home waters to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, and South America. Along the way, readers experience everything from commerce raiding and blockades to dramatic ship-to-ship combat and fleet battles, all while gaining a vivid sense of life at sea and the shifting alliances of the era. More recently, Philip has turned his attention to the Second World War with his Wolves series, exploring the deadly struggle between Allied convoys and German U-boats. If you enjoy this conversation, be sure to check out our other episodes in the naval fiction series, featuring contemporary authors writing naval fiction across the centuries and a fascinating look into the life behind Patrick O’Brian’s iconic work. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Spies in the Shipyard: Espionage and the Rise of Spain’s 18th-Century Navy

This episode explores the shipyards, political intrigue, and naval ambitions of 18th-century Spain at a pivotal moment in its emergence as a modern maritime power. Once dominant in the wake of its vast American empire, Spain by the mid-1700s faced a rapidly changing world, as Britain and France competed fiercely for control of the seas. At the centre of this transformation lay the Marquess de la Ensenada, an ambitious and influential minister determined to rebuild Spain’s naval strength. His reforms reshaped the navy from the ground up: new bases rose at Ferrol, Cartagena, and La Carraca; naval administration was overhauled; officers were professionalised; and shipbuilding became a central priority of the state. Looking beyond Spain’s borders, Ensenada’s programme embraced foreign expertise. British shipbuilding methods were adopted, officers were sent abroad to gather knowledge, and skilled shipwrights were discreetly recruited from London—efforts that sometimes edged into espionage. The result was a bold and complex naval experiment that brought both friction, and lasting impact. Dr Sam Willis spoke with Dr Catherine Scheybeler to explore the ambitions, achievements, and limitations of Ensenada’s naval revolution, and its enduring significance in the history of European sea power. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Founding an Empire: Maritime Glasgow and the Clan Line

This episode continues our mini series on the history of the Clan Line, one of the most prominent and enduring British shipping companies of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Founded in Glasgow in 1878 by Sir Charles Cayzer, the line began with a small fleet of steamships and quickly grew into a major force in maritime commerce. Its ships, all bearing the 'Clan' prefix in their names, became a familiar sight across the world’s oceans, linking Britain with India, South Africa, and the Far East. This episode takes us to the heart of the maritime world from which the Clan Line emerged. Every great story has a turning point and for the Clan Line, one of those moments came in a hotel in Glasgow — when the young Charles Cayzer, who had come to Glasgow to follow his maritime dream, met with alexander Stephen, a shipbuilder with a yard on the Clyde, in the very centre of the city.   To find out more Dr Sam Willis met up with Ian Johnston, a well-known and deeply knowledgable Clydeside historian, for a tour of maritime Glasgow, to help us understand the world into which the Clan Line was born. They visit key sites like St. Vincent Place, the Anchor Line building, and George Square. They also explore the historical significance of the River Clyde and the shipbuilding industry, including the decline and redevelopment of Govan and the legacy of the Fairfield shipyard. This is the fourth in our series on the Clan Line – we have heard previously an overview of the company from Jamie Cayzer-Colvin, a descendant of Charles Cayzer and Director of Caledonia Investments which was born from the Cayzer family’s shipping business. We have also travelled all over the country to find sailors who served on the Clan Line ships to hear their brilliantly entertaining tories of their time afloat. We’ve also looked at the Clan Line ships – exploring some magnificent models of their fleet and then travelling to Inverclyde to see where so many were built. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.