We’re excited to announce the launch of Niche Travel Deals — a new UK travel platform dedicated to unusual, meaningful, and story‑rich travel experiences.
For all your travel needs, from flights to holidays and
cruises any travel requirements can be found at the new travel agents of
nichetraveldeals.co.uk
Highly recommended with my next trip already booked with
them to Sicily.
A happy new year to one and all as we begin another year, lets hope that 2026 is a good one.
With this being the first day of 2026, how about another first, this one is from Leith.
Remember that Leith steamed across the Atlantic first, with the fine old ship Sirius.
Volume 5 of the series on ships built at Leith, Scotland will continue with the release of the Magnificent Steam Yachts built at Leith.
Magnificent Steam Yachts of Leith, 1870–1928 (Volume
5) sails into the golden age of luxury at sea. From Scotland’s famed shipyards
came opulent steam yachts—floating palaces that embodied wealth, innovation,
and adventure. None more so than the shipyards at Leith. This book uncovers
their stories, blending rare archives with vivid narrative to bring back the
glamour of a forgotten maritime world.
Yes I know, where the heck does the time go, almost through September now and before we know it we will have Xmas 2025.
May I suggest a nice package of books for you, or just one at a time, they are with most good book shops or on Amazon, if overseas you may wish to go through the publishers at Whittles Publishing - Home
However you get them, make sure you don't miss out.
Look out for Steam Yachts built at Leith, to be published in February 2026.
Pleased to be able to say that the fourth book in my series
on the rich shipbuilding and maritime heritage of the Port of Leith, Edinburgh,
Scotland is now available from all good bookstores and the usual book outlets.
You can also get all the others in the series to stock up on
maritime books for Xmas.
The following was originally an
article on my old Blog, to acknowledge the passing of 70 years since this
eventful day. Now we are on at 80 years after this historic event in human
history. I often wonder if we learn anything from the past when we see war in
Europe once more.
June 6th, 1944 – The
D-Day Landings
Operation Neptune
Was the code
name given to the naval group’s task on this momentous day in 1944.
The
protection of NEPTUNE from enemy counter action was essential to the success of
the operation. Allied forces were most vulnerable to enemy counter action when
they were embarked and at sea. Some 6,900 allied vessels, carrying
approximately nine army divisions with full combat equipment, were at sea at
one time. These ships were formed into around 75 convoys and groups, passing
along narrow coastal lanes, moving across the channel through the narrow
mine-swept channels of the allotted areas for the convoys or crowded into the
congested confines of the assault area.
Had the
enemy not been deterred by a comprehensive program of defence capability in the
form of escort ships and of course command of the air, this enormous armada
would have presented to enemy air and naval forces a very profitable target.
The largest
assembly of Ships and amphibious forces ever seen were to retake Europe from
the clutches of the Nazi.
Of course,
along with the many ships involved, it was inevitable that some of them had
been built at Leith in the Shipyards of Henry Robb Ltd.
You can read
about the part played by the Bustler Class Rescue Tugs in my book
by the same name available at all good book shops or on Amazon.
They then had to storm the beaches, let’s not
forget the many thousands of airborne forces in action on this day and onwards.
