Neil R. Storey – författare

Despite – or perhaps because of – the privations of war, the 1940s was one of the greatest decades for fashion in Britain. The designs and fashions of the 1930s would linger on through the early years of the Second World War but with shortages and rationing firmly in place, the Utility clothing available in the shops had to overcome these restrictions and still look new and vivid. Because so much of the war effort depended on Britain’s women, fashion was considered important for morale.Fashion in the 1940s ranged from military uniforms (for men and women) to siren suits to be worn to keep warm in air raid shelters at night and the demob suits issued to those leaving the services at the end of the war. The mantra of ‘make-do and mend’ would spawn a decade of creativity, and a generation who would not let austerity prevent them from looking good. Transatlantic and military influences were everywhere, and after the war was over Dior’s ‘New Look’ set the scene for the fashions of the prosperous 1950s.This book is part of the Britain’s Heritage series, which provides definitive introductions to the riches of Britain’s past, and is the perfect way to get acquainted with 1940s fashion in all its variety.

In spring 1940 Hitler unleashed his blitzkrieg, and as the British Expeditionary Force fell back to Dunkirk Britain was in imminent danger. In response to the threat of enemy paratroopers, Anthony Eden, Secretary of State for War made a radio appeal on 14 May 1940 for men 'who were for one reason or another not at present engaged in military service, and who wish to do something for the defence of their country' to join a new force named The Local Defence Volunteers. The men of Britain answered the call, not in hundreds as anticipated, but in thousands. Over 250,000 signed up in the first 24 hours and thousands more followed. Badly equipped and with no more uniform than an armband, the organisation was taken under the wing of Winston Churchill in July 1940 and re-christened The Home Guard. This book tells the Home Guard's story, using original training manuals, photographs, and memoirs, and covers all aspects of their history.

As the world became embroiled in the second global conflagration in just over two decades, the women of Britain once more answered the call of duty. Many of the first volunteers had served in the Great War and now they offered their services again – this time bringing their daughters with them. During World War II women proved themselves indispensable to the war effort, serving in both military units abroad and in home-front organisations through the darkest hours of the Blitz. Illustrated with contemporary black-and-white and some rare colour photographs, documents and ephemera, this poignant and moving book tells the stories of these women.

From gaslit city streets to dark wooded estates, crime was rife in Victorian Britain; through a wide array of historical court records, newspaper accounts and prison books, The Victorian Criminal gives a fascinating overview of those involved in it. Within these pages may be found accounts of petty criminals and poachers, baby farmers and notorious murderers, along with stories of the development of detective forces and forensic techniques. Countless novels, plays and films are testament to an enduring fascination with the dark aspects of the time and place that gave us Sherlock Holmes, Wilkie Collins and the great works of Charles Dickens.

In the skies above south-east England in 1940, battle was waged between the men and machines of the Royal Air Force and Hitler's Luftwaffe. At stake was air superiority, and the Germans intended this to be a first step in the invasion of Britain. Squadrons of Hurricanes and Spitfires – then among the best and most modern fighter aircraft in the world – took on the threat and, over a period of months, defeated the Luftwaffe, which ultimately withdrew. This fully illustrated history looks at the origins and events of the battle, but focuses especially on the men and women of the RAF and on the ordinary people of the nation, above whose heads the great battle for freedom was waged.

A colourfully illustrated history of the Women's Suffrage movement, which eventually gained the vote for all British women in 1918.The popular image of a women's suffrage activist is a stoical woman chained to railings or committing criminal acts to attract publicity for the cause. While such women as Emmeline Pankhurst and Emily Wilding Davison embody this image, these militant 'Suffragettes' of the Women's Social and Political Union were in fact a small part of a wider movement that operated mainly through peaceful means. Molly Housego and Neil Storey here trace the evolution of the women's suffrage movement from its emergence in the nineteenth century, through the various divisions that emerged over how to conduct the campaign, to its apogee before the First World War – an event that highlighted the abilities of British women and helped to gain them the vote in 1918.

This book is an overview of the struggle for women to gain the vote in Great Britain and explores who the women were that formed and led or became members of the women''s suffrage movement. Early campaigners and pressure groups in the nineteenth century led to the formation of National Union of Women''s Suffrage Societies in 1897; many women within this group became increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress in their campaign to win the vote and, led by Emmeline Pankhurst, they broke away and formed the Women''s Social and Political Union in 1903 . In 1914 the WSPU suspended militant action so as to ''do their bit'' during the First World War and by 1918 women were taking the place of working men at home and were serving in uniform and as a result the first women were granted the vote in 1918. Based on contemporary accounts, documents, ephemera and photographs this is a very useful condensed history suitable for family historians, students and anyone interested in social history.

A history of the women who worked the Land and the organisation of the Women's Land Army in the Second World War.When war broke out in 1939, the Women's Land Army (WLA) was already organised and ready for action. Women who had served in the WLA in the First World War returned to service with their daughters, ready to fill in for the male labourers sent abroad to fight: livestock was tended, fields were ploughed, harvests were reaped and everything possible was done to keep Britain self-sufficient. Neil R. Storey and Molly Housego here tell the story of the Women's Land Army – how it was organised, what its members did, what training was provided, and the work of the Timber Corps of the WLA, also known as the 'Lumber Jills'. Colourful illustrations of women at work, their uniforms and insignia bring to life the experiences of the ladies who helped keep Britain fed during the Second World War.

The burden of the Great War was not shouldered by soldiers alone: the tasks, the camaraderie, the day-to-day life and the devastation were all shared with the animals that accompanied the forces abroad.The horses that took part in the last cavalry charges or hauled heavy guns are the most famous examples, but were far from alone: pigeons carried vital messages, dogs sniffed out wounded soldiers, camels were used as beasts of burden in the desert, and even ships’ cats and baby orang-utans had their parts to play.From noted historian Neil R. Storey, this book looks at all the practical ways in which animals were essential to the war effort, but is equally interested in their roles as companions, mascots and morale boosters – on land, in the air and at sea.

The burden of the Great War was not shouldered by soldiers alone: the tasks, the camaraderie, the day-to-day life and the devastation were all shared with the animals that accompanied the forces abroad. The horses that took part in the last cavalry charges or hauled heavy guns are the most famous examples, but were far from alone: pigeons carried vital messages, dogs sniffed out wounded soldiers, camels were used as beasts of burden in the desert, and even ships'' cats and baby orang-utans had their parts to play. From noted historian Neil R. Storey, this book looks at all the practical ways in which animals were essential to the war effort, but is equally interested in their roles as companions, mascots and morale boosters – on land, in the air and at sea. Neil R. Storey is a social and military historian specialising in the impact of war on society. He has written over twenty-five books, countless articles and has given lectures across the UK, including at the Imperial War Museum. He has acted as a consultant on a number of television documentaries and dramas.

In 1907, H.G. Wells published a science fiction novel called The War in the Air. It proved to be portentous. In the early years of the First World War, German lighter-than-air flying machines, Zeppelins, undertook a series of attacks on the British mainland. German military strategy was to subdue Britain, both by the damage these raids caused and by the terrifying nature of the craft that carried them out. This strategy proved successful. The early raids caused significant damage, many civilian casualties and provoked terror and anger in equal measure. But the British rapidly learnt how to deal with these futuristic monsters. A variety of defence mechanisms were developed: searchlights, guns and fighter aircraft were deployed, the British learnt to pick up the airships’ radio messages and a central communications headquarters was set up. Within months aerial strategy and its impact on the lives of civilians and the course of conflict became part of human warfare. As the Chief of the Imperial German Naval Airship Division, Peter Strasser, crisply put it: ‘There is no such thing as a non-combatant any more. Modern war is total war.’ Zeppelin Blitz is the first full, raid-by-raid, year-by-year account of the Zeppelin air raids on Britain during the First World War, based on contemporary official reports and documents.

The Little Book of Suffolk is a repository of intriguing, fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts and trivia about one of England's most colourful counties. It is an essential to the born and bred Suffolk folk or anyone who knows and loves the county. Armed with this fascinating tome the reader will have such knowledge of the county, its landscape, people, places, pleasures and pursuits they will be entertained and enthralled and never short of some frivolous fact to enhance conversation or quiz! A reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped in to time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage, the secrets and the enduring fascination of the county. A remarkably engaging little book, this is essential reading for visitors and locals alike.

Norwich in the Second World War is the story of the city and its people, both civilian and military, from the construction of the first air raid shelters in 1938 through to VE Day in 1945 and the return of Far Eastern prisoners of war in 1946.Featuring first-hand accounts of what happened when enemy bombers raided the city, notably during the notorious Baedeker Blitz of 1942, rare photographs and documents make this book a must for anyone who knows and loves the city of Norwich.

Around Norwich is not just another book on this fine city. Combining many previously unpublished photographs of outstanding quality and interest with well-researched captions, including many new facts and stories, one of the county's foremost local historians has created a fascinating narrative of the city, suburbs, people, shops and events of the past. Some images will be reassuringly familiar, some have changed or are lost beyond recollection. In one of its most turbulent centuries, the city has lived through the coming of the trains and the tram system, the Baedeker Blitz of 1942 and the construction of the inner link roads in the 1960s. It also takes a look at some of the sports and entertainment; from Norwich City FC playing at 'The Nest' to The Hippodrome Theatre. This book will be an enduring and nostalgic record, of interest to anyone who knows and loves the City of Norwich.

A Grim Almanac of Lincolnshire is a day-by-day catalogue of 365 ghastly tales from around the county dating from the twelfth to the twentieth centuries. Full of dreadful deeds, macabre deaths, strange occurrences and heinous homicides, this almanac explores the darker side of Lincolnshire’s past. This compilation contains such diverse tales of highwaymen, smugglers, giants, hangmen, poachers, witches, rioters and rebels, as well as accounts of old lock-ups, prisons, bridewells and punishments. All these, plus tales of murder, suicide, mysterious deaths, accidents by land, sea and air, and much more, are here. If you have ever wondered about what nasty goings-on occurred in the Lincolnshire of yesteryear, then look no further — it’s all here, and if you have the stomach for it, then read on... if you dare!

This is the story of those who ended up on the end of the hangman’s rope at Norwich Castle Prison, Norwich City Prison on Earlham Road and the later Victorian Norwich Prison on Knox Road. The executions included in this book range from some of the earliest recorded in the county during the thirteenth century, then down the years including two gallows survivors and the execution of Kett and many of his rebels in 1549, to the last execution conducted in the county in 1951, when two young men went to the gallows for separate incidents but having committed the same crime — they both murdered their pregnant sweethearts. Recorded here are executions for a host of forgotten cases and a cornucopia of crimes as diverse as highway robbery, housebreaking, riot, arson and theft of livestock. Norwich was the location for the hangings of such notorious criminals as Frances Billing and Catherine Frary ‘The Burnham Poisoners’ — the last public double execution and last women to hang in the county; James Blomfield Rush, the Stanfield Hall Murderer; William Sheward, the murderer who confessed almost eighteen years after the murder and dismemberment of his wife; and Herbert Bennett, the Yarmouth Bootlace Murderer who may, or may not, have been guilty of his crime. Norwich Castle Prison was also the scene of one of the most infamous incidents in the history of British hangings and recalled with trepidation by all executioners who came after as ‘The Goodale Mess’.

Discover the darker side of Norfolk with this remarkable collection of true-life crimes from across the county. Featuring tales of some of the most notorious, nefarious and murderous characters from the county’s past, including pirates, smugglers, highwaymen, poachers, thieves, murderers and bodysnatchers, all factions of the criminal underworld are included in this macabre selection of tales. Drawing on a wide variety of historical sources and containing many cases which have never before been published, Norfolk Villains will fascinate everyone interested in true crime and the history of Norfolk.

The Little Book of Norfolk is a repository of intriguing, fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts and trivia about one of England’s most colourful counties. It is an essential to the born and bred Norfolk folk or anyone who knows and loves the county. Armed with this fascinating tome the reader will have such knowledge of the county, its landscape, people, places, pleasures and pursuits they will be entertained and enthralled and never short of some frivolous fact to enhance conversation or quiz! A reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped in to time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage, the secrets and the enduring fascination of the county. A remarkably engaging little book, this is essential reading for visitors and locals alike.

Many of us have at least one ancestor who served in the British Army during the Second World War. We probably know where they served and what regiment they served with but we are not aware of exactly how they became soldiers.The British Soldier: Training for War focuses on those who became infantry soldiers, commandos and paratroopers and the training they received in the British Isles to fight 'at the sharp end' of combat all over the world during the years 1939 to 1945.Drawing on contemporary training manuals, battalion histories, magazines and newspaper articles, personal memoirs, regimental museum archives, declassified military files and interviews with those who experienced wartime military training first-hand, a vivid and authentic account is presented of training from 'square bashing' and skill at arms to the evolution of battle schools, assault courses, battle drill and significant training exercises.All infantrymen were trained hard but it gave them the skills, fighting spirit, endurance and confidence they needed in themselves, their comrades and their unit when in battle. By the end of the Second World War, nearly three million men had served in the British Army. Every one of them had to be trained to become soldiers. This is their story.

PC George William Gutteridge was a well-liked and respected village policeman for Stapleford Abbotts in rural Essex, where he lived with his wife and two young children. While on his beat out on a lonely country road in the early hours of the morning of 27 September 1927, he was gunned down in one of the most horrific and callous killings of a police officer in the history of British law enforcement.It had been PC Gutteridge's misfortune to stop a stolen car containing hardened career criminals, Frederick Guy Browne and William Kennedy. Neither had any respect for the police, and neither was afraid to use extreme violence to evade capture. What ensued was one of the biggest manhunts Britain had ever seen.The murderers were brought to justice by a masterpiece of detective work by Scotland Yard, and their arrest required the skill and bravery of officers from a number of police forces. Drawing on Home Office and police files along with a host of contemporary newspaper reports and long-forgotten memoirs, Neil R. Storey provides a vivid account of the case and, in doing so, presents a darkly fascinating insight into Britain's underworld during the roaring 1920s.

The naked and frozen body of Norah Fornario (33) was discovered lying on a roughly hewn cross on the ground, far from her London home, in the wilds of the remote Hebridean island of Iona in November 1929. The doctor declared she had simply died of exposure, officially, no regard was paid to the strange circumstances under which she had been found, no post-mortem was carried out, no inquest was ordered and there was no major police investigation.Award-winning historian Neil Storey investigates the case and throws new light on the life and mysterious death of Norah Fornario in a gripping story akin to the plot of an Agatha Christie murder mystery novel blended with one of the darkest stories of the occult by Dennis Wheatley. A story that involves the notorious occultist Aleister Crowley, 'The Wickedest Man in the World,' elite secret societies in London, an 'occult college' in the Home Counties, mystical Glastonbury, vampires, demons, fairy folk, and curses set against the backdrop of the roaring 1920s. A story that culminates on a remote Scottish island where folklore and superstition were still believed and feared, and an apparent case of murder by black magic … or was it?

On 19 July 1951, Dennis Moore and Alfred Reynolds were hanged at Norwich Prison by Britain's senior executioner, Albert Pierrepoint. They would be the last to hang in Norfolk. Moore was a Norwich city lad, and Reynolds, a Norfolk country boy from Dereham; both were in their twenties, both came from crowded homes, and both had been in trouble with the law for petty crimes. Neither was considered vicious or malicious, but tragically, in unconnected incidents only days apart, they both murdered their pregnant sweethearts.The question of whether both these young men were truly culpable for their actions was raised by medical experts at their trial, but they were overruled by the evidence of the Senior Medical Officer, the same man who declared Timothy John Evans fit to hang and would do the same for Derek Bentley.These crimes cast long shadows over all the families involved and their communities for decades afterwards. For the first time, the case files are examined in detail by renowned crime historian Neil R. Storey, and readers can decide whether Dennis Moore and Alfred Reynolds were hanged for their crimes or more as an example to others.

The Royal Norfolk Regiment had a fighting record second to none. Five members of the Regiment were awarded the Victoria Cross, the greatest number to any Line Infantry Regiment during the Second World War.1st Battalion landed on Sword Beach on D-Day and fought with distinction through France, Holland and Germany2nd Battalion was the first complete infantry battalion of the British Expeditionary Force to land in France in 1939. Members of this battalion earned the first gallantry decorations of the war. Tragically, 97 men of this battalion were massacred at Le Paradis during the retreat to Dunkirk in 1940. The battalion was rebuilt and fought in Burma and the hellish Battle of Kohima.4th, 5th and 6th Battalions fought doggedly at Singapore but after the surrender of the island in 1942, spent the rest of the war as Japanese Prisoners of War on the infamous 'Death Railway' and forced labour camps.7th Battalion fought in France in 1940. Only fifty men made it back, but the battalion was rebuilt and returned again to fight in Normandy in 1944.Drawing on the diaries, memoirs and memories of those who were there, this book is a fitting tribute to the brave men of The Royal Norfolk Regiment.

Castles and fortresses have been strongholds dotted across the English countryside for centuries. From defences along our coast and borders to symbols of power, governance and status across the land, castles have been the scene of some of our country's most violent and darkest history.Join renowned historian and ghost hunter Neil R. Storey on a journey around England's ancient bastions as this master of the macabre regales the stories of legend, murder, torture, bloody sieges, fatal betrayals, lovers' tragedies, executions and horrible deaths that have left their ghostly legacies within the walls of the haunted castles of England.Come and join me if you dare!

The first reported UFO sightings in Britain during modern times date back to the early years of the twentieth century and have continued through two World Wars up to the present day. Cases include mystery airships of 1909 at Peterborough and the eastern counties, the Burton Dassett ghost lights of 1923, RAF gremlins in the Second World War, the Newbiggin abduction in 1942, Dorothy Kilgallen and the UK saucer crash of 1945, the Ranton encounter of 1954, the Hythe Mothman in 1963 which predates the infamous American sightings of a similar creature by four years, the RAF UFO Cosford landing in 1963, the Rendlesham Forest incident in 1980, and many others.Drawing on unpublished archives of British UFO material assembled by long-defunct UFO research groups, former RAF and ROC officers and other archive accounts, rare articles and cuttings of UFO sightings and incidents in the UK during of the twentieth century, including the Second World War and up to recent times, author and military historian Neil R. Storey presents a history of UFOs in the British Isles from over 110 years. A selection of illustrations are also included, showing some of the unidentified flying objects witnessed and the locations where the events took place.This book will appeal to all those interested in UFO phenomena as well as those interested in the social history of Britain.

The first reported UFO sightings in Britain during modern times date back to the early years of the twentieth century and have continued through two World Wars up to the present day. Cases include mystery airships of 1909 at Peterborough and the eastern counties, the Burton Dassett ghost lights of 1923, RAF gremlins in the Second World War, the Newbiggin abduction in 1942, Dorothy Kilgallen and the UK saucer crash of 1945, the Ranton encounter of 1954, the Hythe Mothman in 1963 which predates the infamous American sightings of a similar creature by four years, the RAF UFO Cosford landing in 1963, the Rendlesham Forest incident in 1980, and many others.Drawing on unpublished archives of British UFO material assembled by long-defunct UFO research groups, former RAF and ROC officers and other archive accounts, rare articles and cuttings of UFO sightings and incidents in the UK during of the twentieth century, including the Second World War and up to recent times, author and military historian Neil R. Storey presents a history of UFOs in the British Isles from over 110 years. A selection of illustrations are also included, showing some of the unidentified flying objects witnessed and the locations where the events took place.This book will appeal to all those interested in UFO phenomena as well as those interested in the social history of Britain.

The historic city of Norwich was once one of the largest cities in England outside London. The city was transformed by industrialisation less than other cities in the country but the city has seen massive changes in the last century. Many old buildings were demolished when the tram system installed in the 1900s, areas were cleared for new housing in the 1920s, a new city hall was build in the 1930s and aerial bombardment in the Second World War brought significant destruction to parts of the city. New shopping centres and the ring road were built in the 1960s, and change continues up to recent decades. with the new civic centre replacing the fire-destroyed central library.Lost Norwich presents a portrait of this corner of the east of England showing how it has changed through the decades from 1900 to recent years. Much has radically changed or disappeared today, not only industries and buildings have gone but also people and street scenes, many popular places of entertainment and much more. This fascinating photographic history of lost Norwich will appeal to all those who live in the area or know it well, as well as those who remember it from previous decades.

The whole of Britain’s coastline was involved in the struggle against the Nazis. In the early days invasion was the main threat. Dover and the South East suffered grievously from aerial attacks and were also shelled by German artillery from across the Channel, the area was dubbed ‘Hell Fire Corner.’ Cities and towns all around the coast such as Plymouth, Portsmouth, Hull and Great Yarmouth were the targets of devastating air raids. The coast and lochs of Scotland became a key training area for commandos and assault troops for D-Day and its ports saw the return of crews of sunk vessels of both sides.The East Coast was pivotal to North Sea operations against enemy mining and E-boat operations. The Western ports, particularly Liverpool, were crucial to the vital Atlantic convoys and the defeat of the U-boat threat.The final months of training and preparation for D-Day centred on the South Coast when disaster struck during Exercise Tiger off Slapton Sands.Britain’s coastal ports continued to attract ‘Tip and Run’ raids and the attention of V rockets that changed the character of many these towns and cities forever. Neil Storey’s superbly researched work brilliantly describes all this and more in words and images.

Faces of the Home Front presents a fascinating insight into the people, wartime organisations, events, life and work on the British Home Front during the Second World War. This is the story of ordinary people in extraordinary times told through an array of previously unpublished rare photographs, illustrations and ephemera. If you have wondered how Air Raid Wardens, Ambulance crews, Home Guard, Firemen, Special Constables, Women''s Voluntary Service and the Women''s Land Army were recruited and trained, how they were uniformed and what their duties entailed in wartime were, this is the book for you. Drawing on the authors’ own extensive archives of original photographs, training manuals, documents, decades of research and interviews with those who were there, there are stories of well-known events such as the Blitz on London and many other often lesser known events and incidents around the country, some deeply moving, some harrowing and some that show how the kindness and selfless bravery of people that helped get Britain through its darkest hours. The combination of images and stories vividly bring to life the experiences of people in cities, towns and countryside in wartime as they experienced evacuation, rationing, the black-out and air raids touched the lives of everyone. This volume is a valuable addition to the bookshelf of any family historian, collector, re-enactor.