Teachers at the Front, 1914-1919

The naval story of the First World War is so often told in relation the the North Sea and the war in Europe, but in this new book the author concentrates on the Royal Navy's offensive operations further afield and argues that they were not, as often portrayed, unnecessary sideshows but absolutely critical to Britain's very survival.

These expeditions fulfilled the important strategic purpose of protecting British trade where it was most vulnerable. Trade was not a luxury for Britain; it was essential for maintaining an island nation's way of life and, indeed, for prosecuting the war in Europe. The empire's global trade was both a valuable and vulnerable target for Germany's various commerce raiders and U-boats and had to be defended not just in home waters but further afield.

This new book argues that the several combined military and naval operations against overseas territories constituted parts of an overarching strategy designed to facilitate the Royal Navy's gaining command of the seas. For instance, in Mesopotamia expeditions directed against the Ottoman Empire were launched to protect communications with India and British oil concessions in Persia; the operations against German territories exterminated the logistics and intelligence hubs that supported Germany's commerce raiders. 

A finely researched and written book for both naval enthusiasts and historians.

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