Alarm Starboard!: A Remarkable True Story of the War at Sea

by Geoffrey Brooke

The author's naval experiences make the most exciting reading. After being mined on the battleship Nelson in 1939, he served on Prince of Wales, during the Bismarck action, witnessing the destruction of Hood and Churchill and Roosevelt's historic meeting. He survived the disastrous sinking by Japanese aircraft in December 1941 but within two days of reaching Singapore, the island fell. Evacuated in a coastal steamer, only to be sunk the next morning, he was stranded on a deserted island for a week before setting out for Ceylon in a native boat. His epic journey covered 1660 miles and took 37 days. Thereafter his adventures continued, with the North African landings, Russian convoys and, returning to the Far East, he was aboard the carrier Formidable when she was hit twice by Japanese Kamikazes before VJ Day.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Military Fiction

459 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[JD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent memoir of the fighting life of a young junior officer in the Royal Navy in World War 2. The author spent most of his times on big ships and the actions are greatly described and very detailed and the author really involves the reader as he shares all his thoughts throughout. His escape from Singapore is also amazing and could be a book on it's own. He really spares no detail and the book is also about youth lost, not only his own during the war-time, but also of the many friends he lost during the war and this book really keeps their memory alive. Well written with lots of colorful detail throughout which makes the book excellent. A must read!!

[Daniel Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alarm Starboard!, by Geoffrey Brooke, tells us of his experiences as a member of the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Brooke’s story reads like a history of the war itself as his first posting aboard HMS Nelson was followed by service aboard HMS Prince of Wales during her brief but intense battle with the German battleship Bismarck, and later, when she was sunk by Japanese aircraft in the Pacific.

After an amazing fight for survival after the sinking – that could have been a book in itself – Brooke finds himself assigned to the aircraft carrier HMS Formidable, where he tells us of the final battles at sea during the war.

As others have said, this book is a must have for the naval historian. Brooke goes into incredible detail of his adventures, and misadventures, during the period. I took my time reading is as I wanted to delve into a few of the topics outside of the book, and the author is dead on regarding the history and events.

Sadly, Geoffrey left us on January 6th, 2009. I would have liked to thank him for leaving us with this rich history.

Review by Daniel L Little, November 30, 2017 – www.daniellittle.com

[Uncle Dave Avis · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a most unusual read! I had a great time turning each page, intrigued at this first person account of some of the greatest naval battles of World War 2.
The author recounts the battle with the Bismark and the blowing up of the Hood. His own ship Prince of Wales is sunk and he is one of the last rescued.
He then is in the Pacific theater and has another ship sunk, making his way to Singapore. Then he is one of the last to escape on a 1600 mile odyssey to safety.
He then finds himself on an aircraft carrier in the pacific in constant action until the end of the war.
This is a really good NON Fiction read and I highly recommend it.

[John McNair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another hidden gem that was for months in my Kindle library waiting to be read. I really didn't know what to expect. I've read some great fiction and non-fiction concerning the Royal Navy in the Second World War, but one never knows. This was a remarkable biography and a real pleasure to read. There was, now and then, some passages more difficult than others as Geoffrey Brooke was writing as if the reader was "in" on the mannerisms and ways of the times, but these were few. The book takes the reader from the pre-war days when the Royal Navy was still king, Brooke being a new midshipman out of Dartmouth. The Navy had a certain way about it (such as the difference between upper and lower decks, which I get the sense Brooke never quite breached despite all his adventures), well described in many passages. Brooke writes in that British style of humour and self-deprecation that is so very readable. He was witness to some remarkable and historical events such as the sinking of HMS Hood by the Bismark, the meeting between Churchill and Roosevelt at Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, arctic convoys, the assault on North Africa, the fall of Singapore, his incredible escape from the Japanese to Celon and then the kamikaze attacks and the end of the war in the Pacific. Reading between the lines, however, one can't but think that here was an officer that never quite measured up, for whatever reason. The book was written 40 years after the end of the war when Brooke was about 65 (he lived to 88 and died in 2009), so the accounts were perhaps tempered and altered by time. He retired a Lieutenant-Commander in 1958, having put in 20 years, the minimum I suspect for a pension. He was awarded a DSC (UK, of course) for his efforts in fire fighting to save HMS Formidable in 1945, but maybe because of his pedigree (his father a decorated First War RN officer, a Captain), his grand-father a baronet, and all the connections his family had, I sense some disappointment (no mention is made of his representing the UK in the modern pentathlon at the 1948 Olympic Games). But none of life's disappointments are in this book, except for his understandable remorse over so many friends and fellow officers killed or lost in action. The book is above all a tremendous read, and an easy one, well worth "five stars".

[Michael Remington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buy this book

Try and read Last flight from Singapore before reading this book.
Knowing the British situation in Asia and prior to Pearl Harbor made this much more interesting.

[David L. Deakin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Exceptional Authentic Junior Officer's WW2 Diary.

This is a historically correct account of an RN Midshipman's progression throughout the length of the Second World War. Centred on his remarkable experiences in the Far East, it covers in detail the fall of Singapore and subsequent action in carriers of the British Pacific Fleet. This personal diary is particularly recommended to all those who served in the Far East during the post war years. Historically this period marks the hey day of British global sea power and as such should have wide appeal to all possessing an interest in national maritime affairs.

[Newell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alarm Starboard by Geoffrey Brooke is one of the best non-fiction war stories I have ever read. The writing was superb and the content was compelling. No fiction could match this. The author must have had a whole squad of guardian angels, to have survived everything that is described in this book. The detail was appropriate in depth and the humor which was found in the midst of war was realistic. I highly recommend this.

[Rob Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

An amazing story of life at sea during the second world war.
This book is a treasure. It is well written, thoroughly entertaining, and has great historic significance. Very few personal stories cover so many theatres, not to mention significant events, of the war.
Geoffrey Brooke has an entertaining writing style that keeps the reader captivated throughout the book.
I can't recommend this one enough. Absolute top marks. 👍

[Robert M. Roth MD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well Done

An interesting tale of a young man's naval career from a British perspective. The book traces his pre war years as a midshipman and includes his experiences fighting the Bismarck, time spent in the Mediterranean, North Atlantic convoys and the end of the war in the Pacific. Particularly interesting is his experience during the fall of Singapore and his escape.

[Mrs E Wetherall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise history told first hand

A very personal account of three major events of WW2. Bismark, Singapore and the war in the Pacific. Shines a light on a very different world from the perspective of a generation and class brought up on empire, alcohol, chasing gals and shooting pheasants.

[Robert Hepple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 1982, 'Alarm Starboard!' is the autobiography of Geoffrey Brooke and covers his time as an officer with the Royal Navy prior to and during WW2, including service on HMS Nelson, Prince of Wales and the carrier Formidable. He was certainly in the thick of things, including a perilous escape from the capture of Singapore in 1942. Stirring stuff!

[Becky Brashears · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine naval war account

I enjoyed this book, as a student of warfare. Some references were a bit obscure, but overall if you enjoy non-fiction naval warfare stories, you will enjoy this book.

[Stuart Austwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Reading

This b one of the best books I have read, dealing with a set of astonishing episodes that occurred to the author prior to, during and after WW2 in the Royal Navy.
A truly wonderful story.

[Kim Hollands · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

Generally pretty good and well written from a young officer's point of view. Not too much mention 'other ranks' but nevertheless a true take of life at sea vividly painted

[Michael McGrath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Authentic and very interesting war time memoir.

A remarkable account of one man's war experiences. Having read historical accounts of these times - it was very interesting to get the personal viewpoint from somebody who actually lived through these actions.

[Tom Knorring · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story but too much jargon

The author was thoroughly involved in WWII and covers it all. But too many names and too much Naval jargon.

[Justin Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing biography with stunning experiences and well written.

[Mr J W Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable.Feeling a bit seasick now

[Bruce Heideman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding read, author served aboard many vessels and was present at the sinking of the Bismark.

[Rich Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting account of the war at sea, good coverage of Bismark and a nice account of the Pacific carrier war - less well covered for the RN than others.