Manx National Heritage Library
Select Bibliography No. 3
The Isle of Man as an island nation has always had close links with the sea although there was no actual naval base here until the Second World War when three training stations and a radar network were established. Many Manxmen have also joined the British Army or served in the various militias which existed in the 18th and 19th centuries. During the First World War the numbers enlisting were very high relative to the size of the population with many casualties. In the Second World War the Territorial unit saw service with the ‘Desert Rats’ in Africa and Italy. The Royal Air Force also had a significant presence during World War Two.
On display in the Manx Museum, there is a selection of military uniforms, banners and equipment relating to the Manx Militias and British Army dating from the late eighteenth century to the Second World War. Smaller collections are held of Royal Naval and Royal Air Force material. Items of particular interest are the uniforms of Major Caesar Bacon, who fought at Waterloo, and the naval uniform of Captain John Quilliam, who served with Nelson at Trafalgar. There is also a Manx flag flown by one of the ranks taking part in the liberation of Kuwait in 1991.
A Royal Manx Fencibles uniform buckle.
 |
Blackburn, C.J.
How the Manx Fleet helped in the Great War: The story of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Boats on service / by C.J.Blackburn.
Douglas: Louis G Meyer Ltd, 1923.
Republished as a facsimile reprint in 1993
Library Ref B114
Blundell, William
A History of the Isle of Man / by William Blundell.
Compiled in 1648-56 reprinted in Manx Society Vol. XXV.
Douglas: Manx Society, 1876.
Chapters XI and XII pp 88-97 are about the havens, castles, fortresses and watch system. An interesting contemporary account.
Library Ref F64/61
Bounty Mutiny.
The Library has an extensive collection on this topic because of the connections of the Christian family with the I.O.M. and William Bligh's marriage here.
Library Ref G88/1
Camping in the Isle of Man at Knockaloe, Peel Battery, Ballahot and Castletown: situation, manoeuvring area, water supply, means of access etc.
Douglas: Rooth and Co, c.1910.
Illustrated 12 page brochure sent to military units using the Island for summer training camps.
Library Ref B114/5
Camping in the Isle of Man at Ramsey, Ballahot. Knockaloe, Castletown and Peel Battery: situation, manoeuvring area, water supply, means of access etc.
Douglas: Rooth and Co, c.1911.
Illustrated 18 page brochure sent to military units.
This version includes some photographs.
Library Ref B114/5
Carver, R.M.P.
A short history of the Seventh Armoured Division, Oct 1938 - May 1943.
c.1943.
The 15th Light AA Regt: Manx Territorials 41st and 42nd batteries were attached to this division and saw service in North Africa and Italy with them.
Library Ref B114/2
Chappell, Connery
Island Lifeline (Isle of Man Steam Packet 1830-1980) / by Connery Chappell.
Prescot: T.Stephenson & Sons Ltd, 1980.
ISBN 0 901314 20 X
Chapter 5 pp 80-92 The Great War
Chapter 7 pp 108-122 At War Again.
Steam Packet ships were requisitioned for both wars with several losses.
Library Ref B160/24
Christian, Roger
The Military and Associated connections on the Isle of Man as seen in Churches, Churchyards and Cemeteries/ compiled by Roger Christian 1993.
An alphabetical typescript listing giving age, death date, service and location of memorial. 23 pp Produced following the National war memorials survey.
Archive Ref MD 1256
Christian, Roger
The National Inventory of War Memorials - Isle of Man/ collected by Roger Christian.
Produced as part of a national project under the auspices of the Imperial War Museum and the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England.
It consists of survey reply sheets and photographs.
Archive Ref MD 1233
Clague, Curwen
Ack Ack: A history of the 15th (Isle of Man) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment R.A.,T.A./ by Curwen Clague.
Douglas: The Old Comrades Association 15th (IOM) L.A.A. Regt R.A., 1981.
The activities of the Regiment during WW2. The Territorial Army ceased to have a Manx unit in 1968.
Library Ref B114
Cleary, Alan
Chain Home Low Radar at Meayll Hill.
In Rimington, John, Features and History of the Meayll Peninsula pp 54-59
Rushen Parish Commissioners, 2000
Summary of WW2 military installations.
Library Ref F75/15/10
Cowin, F.
Captain John Quilliam R.N. (1771-1829) / by F.Cowin.
In Proceedings of the IOM Natural History and Antiquarian Society
Vol VII, pp 521-574 .
I.O.M.N.H.A.S. 1974.
The career of John Quilliam in the Royal Navy including his service with Nelson at Trafalgar.
Library Ref L6
Craine, David
The Horsemen and their Successors 1793-1825 / by David Craine.
In Journal of the Manx Museum Vol III, No. 50, pp 167-171.
Douglas: Manx Museum, 1937.
Each Parish provided 4-6 horsemen to ride with the Parish Captain to escort the Lord to Tynwald and assist with Watch and Ward. They subsequently became the IOM Constitutional Dragoons (1793-6), later as Manx Yeomanry Cavalry before disbandment in 1825.
Library Ref A365
Cubbon, William:
The Vigil; Watch and Ward and the Crosh Vushta (Mustering Cross).
In Island Heritage by William Cubbon,
Manchester: G.Falkner and Sons, 1952.
Chapter 14 pp 118-130.
An account from Viking times to the 17th century with an illustration of where the watch stations were in 1627.
Library Ref F64/116
Watch and Ward in A.D. 1627.
In Proceedings of the IOM Natural History and Antiquarian Society Vol. III, pp 258-265.
I.O.M.N.H.A.S. 1928.
Library Ref L6
Curphey, R.A.:
The Coastal Batteries 1. The Lord’s Defences: to the Revestment.
In Journal of the Manx Museum Vol VII, No. 83, pp 50-57.
Douglas: Manx Museum, 1967.
From the 1530’s to 1765 with location maps.
The Coastal Batteries 2. From the Revestment to the twentieth century.
In Journal of the Manx Museum Vol VII, No. 84, pp 89-92.
Douglas: Manx Museum, 1968.
Library Ref A365
Dickinson, J.R.
The Earl of Derby and the Isle of Man, 1643-1651.
In Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, Vol. 141 (1992) pp 39-76
Deals with the fortification of the Island.
Library Ref 942.72TRA
515 (Isle of Man) L.A.A. Regt., R.A. (T.A) Handbook.
In Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, Vol. 141 (1992) pp 39-76
Douglas: B & S Ltd, c.1948.
Includes a brief summary of the history of the unit.
Library Ref B114/1x (p155)
Forster, R.E.
The Press Gang in the IOM / by R.E.Forster.
In Proceedings of the IOM Natural History and Antiquarian Society Vol. VIII, pp 87-99.
I.O.M.N.H.A.S. 1979.
The press gang continued until the end of the Napoleonic Wars.
Library Ref L6
Freeman, B.F.M.
Historical Records of the Manx Yeomanry / by B.F.M. Freeman.
Reprinted from the Manx Sun 2nd & 9th December 1905.
Summary of the Yeomanry from 1793-1825 with some earlier historical notes. See also David Craine article above.
Library Ref B114/4f
Greeves, J.R.H.
Captain Thurot’s Expedition / by J.R.H.Greeves.
Off-print from Transactions of the Dumfrieshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Vol. XXXVII pp 147-156. c.1960.
Library Ref G88THU
Isle of Man Great War 1914-1918 Roll of Honour.
Douglas: Isle of Man Local War Pensions Committee, c.1934.
A list of 1,165 Manxmen who died on active service or from resulting illness, with full name, service, address, decorations, cause and date of death, but not service number. Also included are Manxmen residing in the colonies who died while serving in Colonial Forces. Decorations awarded to Manxmen are included.
Library Ref B114/8
Kennish, William (1799-1862)
A Method for concentrating the fire of a broadside of a ship of war ... / by William Kennish.
London: John Bradley, 1837.
Born in Maughold, he was an inventor, poet and naval master carpenter and engineer. This technical publication was a remarkable achievement.
Library Ref B114q
Kissack, P.D.
Home Guard Southern Company History / by P.D.Kissack.
Short typescript history of the Southern Group of 2.5 companies covering the south of the island with an enrollment of some 753 between June 1940 and December 1944.
Library Ref B114/1x (p.142)
Kniveton, Gordon N.
Manx Aviation in War and Peace / by Gordon N Kniveton.
Douglas: Manx Experience, 1985. No ISBN.
pp 34-71
RAF Jurby, Andreas and RNAS Ronaldsway (HMS Urley) all functioned during WW2: Jurby as a air observer bombing and gunnery school, Andreas as a fighter station and later training station, Ronaldsway as a training station.
Library Ref B192/3/16q
McCauley, John
A Manx Soldier’s War Diary / by John McCauley.
Articles published in the IOM Examiner between July and December 1932 which tell of his service from August 1914 to the Armistice.
Library Ref B114/10
M’Kerlie. E.Marianne H.
Two Sons of Galloway / by E.Marianne H. M’Kerlie.
Dumfries: Robert Dinwiddie, 1928.
Pages 16 to 65 are reminiscences of Robert M’Kerlie’s life in Fencible Infantry: 2nd Royal Manx Regiment 1796-1798, particularly in Ireland during the rebellion of 1798. An interesting account of military life and the brutal conditions of the time.
Library Ref B114/17
Mercurius Politicus, No. 75, 1651.
Reprinted in Manx Society vol. XXVI
Douglas: Manx Society 1877.
Pages 63-76 are an extract giving an account of the surrender of the Isle of Man to Colonel Robert Duckenfield during the English Civil War, with the terms of agreement and an account of arms, ammunition etc.
Library Ref F64/62
Military Service Local Tribunal
Report on the work of the Military Service Local Tribunal from its constitution in December 1939 until its termination in December 1960.
Douglas: Norris Modern Press, 1961.
Douglas: Norris Modern Press, 1961.
Concise account which includes numbers of service personnel (both volunteers and conscripts) for wartime and national service and details of the appropriate regulations.
Library Ref B114/16a
Moore, Arthur William. (1853-1909).
Member and subsequently Speaker of the House of Keys, prolific author and historian:
A History of the Isle of Man.
Douglas: Manx National Heritage, 1992, (reprint of 1900 edition).- 2 vols. 1026 pp.
ISBN 0 901106 33 X
The standard history of the IOM which contains military references including the civil war, fencibles, the militia, Peel Castle and Castle Rushen.
Library Ref F64/141
3 articles published in the proceedings of the IOM Natural History and Antiquarian Society:
Military Organisation of the Isle of Man.
In Yn Lioar Manninagh vol I, pt 2. pp 141-153 (1890)
The Northern Manks and the Southern Manx Volunteers.
In Yn Lioar Manninag vol. IV, pp 96-110. (1903)
Some notes on the Manx Fencibles In Proceedings vol. I, pp 162-167. (1915)
Library Ref L6
Pertwee, Jon
Moon Boots and Dinner Suits / by Jon Pertwee.
London: Elm Tree Books, 1984.
ISBN 0 241 11337 7
Pages 173-190 refer to his service on the IOM and the naval training station HMS Valkyrie.
Library Ref G88PER
Photographs:
The Library has a selection of photographs kept under the following references:
Military
Badges, Gorgets and Medals Groups 1 & 2
Naval
HMS St George & HMS Valkyrie
Prisoners of War
Douglas Camp WW1
Knockaloe Camp 1 & 2 WW1
WW2
Robson, Tom
Boy Seaman the true story 1790-1976 / compiled by Tom Robson.
Darlington: Published by the author, 1996.
ISBN 0 9527749 0 9
pp 49-74, chapter 4 HMS St George 1940-45.
During World War Two the training of boy entrants to the navy was moved to Douglas using a newly built school and part of a holiday camp.
Library Ref B158/49
Roeder, Charles
Francois Thurot (1727-1760) and his Naval Engagement off the Isle of Man / Edited by Charles Roeder.
In Manx Notes and Queries, pp I-XVI.
Douglas: S.K.Broadbent & Co, 1904.
An account of the naval career of the French captain and his subsequent death during a sea battle near Ramsey. Commemorated by the paintings and engravings of R.Wright which are in the collection.
Library Ref E244/27
Sargeaunt, Bertram Edward. (1877-1978).
This author worked for the IOM Government from 1910 until his retirement as Government Secretary in 1943:
The Isle of Man and the Great War.
Douglas: Brown and Sons, c.1920.
Includes a record of military service, the POW camps and a roll of honour.
Library Ref B114/7
A Military History of the Isle of Man.
Arbroath: T.Buncle & Co, c.1947.
This covers the fortresses, militia, fencibles, yeomanry cavalry, volunteers and the two world wars. It includes a list of personnel during the Second World War.
Library Ref B114/15
Relics of the Manx Fencibles and Volunteers.
In Journal of the Manx Museum Vol V. No. 70,
pp 129-131.
Douglas: Manx Museum, 1944.
Description of items in the museum collection with some background detail.
Library Ref A365
The Royal Manx Fencibles.
Aldershot: Gale and Polden, 1947.
Fencible Corps were first raised as three companies of infantry in 1779 (disbanded in 1783). Raised again in 1793 as First Corps (disbanded in 1802). Second Corps was raised in 1795 and saw service in Ireland and England before being disbanded at Whitehaven in 1802. Third Corps was raised in 1803 (essentially for home defence) and disbanded in 1811.
Library Ref B114/14
Skillen, Hugh
The Enigma Symposium 1998.
Pinner: Hugh Skillen, 1998
ISBN 0 9531330 0 1
Includes an account of the Special Operators Training Battalion on the IOM, with group photographs and personal memories.
Library Ref B114/24q
Sleigh, W.H.
Isle of Man Historic Radar Sites World War Two.
1998 Research notes which explain the background to the development of the chain home defence system. It includes some technical drawings and site plans for Dalby and Cregneash.
Archive Ref 10033
Smith, Robert D
Early cast-iron ordnance with particular reference to guns on the Isle of Man / by Robert D Smith.
In Journal of the Ordnance Society 1991 Vol. 3, pp 25-45.
ISSN 0957-1698
Illustrated account of ten 16th/17th century cast iron guns located at Derby Fort Langness, Peel Castle, Castle Rushen and the Manx Museum.
Library Ref B114/20
Spiers, Derek
Troopships to Calais / by Derek Spiers.
Rainham: Meresborough Books, 1988. No ISBN
The story of Calais as a military port from 1944 to 1947. pp 58-76 refers to the IOM Steam Packet vessels Lady of Mann, Ben My Chree, Victoria and Manxman.
Library Ref B160/40
Statutory Rules and Orders.
Bound volume 1914-21 which includes Defence of the Realm orders, National Registration, Military Service, control of Aliens etc. Some 125 orders covering aspects of life during World War One. Not a main resource but of background use.
Library Ref B114
Turner, Hetty
With the ATS at War 1939-45 / by Hetty Turner.
Privately published by the author, 1996.
The author served with the 10th (IOM) Company of the Auxiliary Territorial Service.
Library Ref B114/22
West, Margery
Island at War: The remarkable role played by the small Manx nation in the Great War 1914-18 / by Margery West.
Laxey: Western Books, 1986.
ISBN 0 9511512 0 7
As well as the military contribution of the Manx this also covers the economic and political effects of the loss of the tourist trade income and the POW camps. A roll of honour and list of decorations awarded is included.
Library Ref B114/18
World War One
Alphabetical list in 14 files of men serving in the Great War.
This provides brief details of regiment, rank, service and outcome, also home address and occupation after the war if known
Archive Ref 10003
Young, G.V.C. and Foster, Caroline
Captain Francois Thurot / by G.V.C. Young and Caroline Foster.
Peel: Mansk-Svenska Publishing, 1986.
ISBN 0 907715 23 0
Biography of the French naval captain which includes the battles off the Island’s coast in which he was killed.
Library Ref G88/T4/
The Manx National Heritage Library holds a wealth of various and extensive source material.
Staff at the library and throughout Manx National Heritage, are always pleased to hear from anyone with an interest in Manx history.
AF rev. ed. 6.00
| Manx National Heritage | |
|---|---|
| Address: | Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3LY |
| Telephone: | 01624 648000 |
| Fax: | 01624 648001 |
| Email Address: | library@mnh.gov.im |
| Web Site | www.gov.im/mnh |
Opening times: Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Closed Sunday and for one week in January
| Downloadable Documents | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
You will need Adobe Acrobat to download documents that are PDFs, this is available free by following this link:
| DisabledGo Information |  | Terms & Conditions | ©2008 Isle of Man Government |