They Built Ships of the Line [The Royal Corps of Naval Constructors]

by Arthur Nicholls

no publication details, 1946.

large format softback [33x21cm] 118 pages.

good clean condition.

a mimeograph copy of an original typescript of an apparently unpublished work.

A personal account of a career in the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors, covering the years from the first decade of the 20th century through to 1946.

Nicholls was sent to Pembroke Dock in Milford Haven as an Assistant Constructor, where he worked on the building of armoured cruisers, including conducting sea trials on HMS Warrior.

With the outbreak of world war one, Nicholls' work included the conversion of ocean liners to armoured merchant cruisers, repairs to the damaged 'Aquitania', and sea trials with newly commissioned battleships.

In the 1920's he was sent to Germany to oversee the scrapping of German warships, and then served in the Far East, with a detailed account of his work in China and Japan.

The final section covers the role of the Naval Constructors during world war two.