Commanding Canadians
Subtitle: The Second World War Diaries of A.F.C. Layard (Studies in Canadian Military History)
Contributors: Michael Whitby (Editor)
Publisher: University of British Columbia Press
Published: November 30, 2005
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 383
ISBN-13: 9780774811934
Subjects: American history: Second World War; Biography: general; Second World War, 1939-1945; History; Biography / Autobiography; Naval operations, Canadian; Military; The Americas; General; Anti-submarine warfare; World War, 1939-1945; Military - World War II; 20th century; Canada; Naval operations; Submarine
Description: "Commander A.F.C. Layard, RN, wrote almost daily in his diary, in bold, neat script, from the time he entered the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1913 until his retirement in 1947. The pivotal 1943-45 years of this edited volume offer a full and honest chronicle, revealing Layard's preoccupations, both with the daily details and with the strain and responsibility of wartime command at sea." "Enhanced by Michael Whitby's explanatory essays, the diary sheds light on the inshore anti-submarine campaign in British waters; discusses pivotal events such as the invasions of North Africa and Normandy and convoys to Russia; describes encounters with important personalities; and records the final surrender of German U-boats. It is a highly personal piece of history that greatly enhances our understanding of the Canadian naval experience and the Atlantic war as a whole."--Jacket.