Focusing on the so-called 'Phoney War' at the start of World War II, this well-researched account concentrates on incidents when Britain stood alone during those tense and dark early days of hostilities.

The book contains graphic accounts of enemy action including two major attacks on elements of the Home Fleet, the downing of the first German aircraft on British soil, the sinking of the liner Athenia and the pursuit of the raider Graf Spee.

The controversial attack on the aircraft carrier Ark Royal is vividly described when Goering's flyers harassed fishing boats along the coastal waters. The fates of captured Luftwaffe crews are also presented with the aid of authentic eye-witness descriptions.

There are also accounts of the time spent by enemy crews in prisoner-of-war camps in Britain and Canada tracking the conduct of would-be escapees. Descriptions of the north Atlantic convoys are vividly related and in particular the dramatic and harrowing account of two Merchant Navy seamen who rowed their way to freedom after their ship had been ruthlessly attacked by a notorious Nazi captain.

With painstaking research the author has provided fascinating stories complemented with previously unpublished photographs and documents - an unmissable read for the modern historian.

Sure to be of widespread appeal to everyone with an interest in modern military and maritime history and also to the casual reader.

‘…documents the ‘harassment’ of east coast shipping in 1940, moving onto the sinking of the Athenia and the first attacks on the Atlantic convoys. Particularly strong is the story of Tapscott and Widdecombe, seafarers who survived for 70 days in an open lifeboat after sinking of the cargoship Anglo Saxon… Photos of some of the personnel and vessels involved are a welcome addition… …the book is a good, pacey read, succeeding in its efforts to interest readers in one of the lesser-known aspects of the war.’ Nautilusint Telegraph

‘Particularly interesting were the personal accounts of the Sinking of the 13,5000-ton liner Athena, crippled by two deadly torpedoes, fired from U-30 and the Sinking of the 5,596-ton tramp freighter, the Anglo Saxon, as told by two survivors who relate, in vivid detail, what it was like being caught alone in mid Atlantic by a German surface raider. The crews struggle to survive is quite riveting. …is certainly one of those books that you’ll find hard to put down and I would easily recommend it for those of you interested in early war incidents of the so called ‘Phoney War’.’ Wargames Illustrated

‘Combining fascinating stories with previously unpublished photographs, this book chronicles the tense early days of WWII when Britain stood alone against the German threat.’ Military History

‘…contains graphic accounts of enemy action, including two major attacks on elements of the Home Fleet, the downing of the first German aircraft on British soil, the sinking of the liner Athenia and the pursuit of the raider Graf Spee.’ The Northern Scot

‘Pictures of the first German bomber to be brought down on British soil have been published for the first time…’ The Times

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