Join the Navy... See the World: The Life and Times of a Royal Naval Officer 1949-1977

Synopsis

In 216 pages and using over 100 photographs, Lt.Cdr. David Allen (rtd.) tells the story of his life in the Royal Navy from 1949 to 1977. David Allen joined the Navy as a Cadet aged 13 and left as a Lieutenant-Commander aged 42. During this 28-year naval career, the author served on 12 different ships and travelled most of the world. 12 of these 28 years in the Navy were spent east of Suez and the narrative and photographs describe places which, at that time, were part of the British Empire but today are visited by cruise liners rather than naval ships. During his time in the Navy the author not only visited, and lived in, interesting places around the world, he also had the opportunity to meet a variety of people, including a fair smattering of both British and foreign royalty. Being a keen sportsman added to his encounters and experiences. The book covers a time when the Royal Navy was transforming from a post-World War II navy of half a million men to the beginnings of a highly technical, missile-armed service of fewer than ninety thousand.