Winston Churchill and the First World War naval disaster that shocked Harwich.
Journalist and former naval officer, Stuart Heaver has written a new book published by The History Press that reveals the role played by Winston Churchill in a First World War naval catastrophe in which Harwich played a central role. He will be giving a free talk hosted by Harwich Museum at 11am on Sunday 17 July and will be available to answer questions and sign copies of his new book.
Just six weeks into the First World War, three Chatham-based armoured cruisers, HMS Hogue, Aboukir and Cressy, patrolling in the southern North Sea, were sunk by a single German U-boat. The incident claimed the lives of 1,459 men and boys, some as young as fifteen years old. The loss of life was greater than that at the Battle of Trafalgar and it inflicted a terrible shock on families ashore—nowhere more so than in Harwich, where many survivors were landed.
It took Stuart Heaver from Whitstable, Kent, eight years to complete The Coal Black Sea after he accidently discovered that his great Uncle had been killed in this wartime disaster which at the time, he had never heard of, and decided to investigate. His research revealed evidence of a cover up.
About the author:
Stuart Heaver is a professional journalist and former naval officer who has spent much of the last 12 years working as a freelance journalist and maritime writer based in Hong Kong. Stuart can be contacted for comment on 07921 377955 or via www.stuartheaver.com.
BOOK LAUNCH
THE HARWICH MUSEUM, MAIN ROAD HARWICH, CO12 3FN
SUNDAY 17TH JULY AT 1400
30 – 40 mins talk, Q&A and then a book signing
if anyone wants to buy the book. It’s £20 for the hardback