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HMS Sheffield: The Life and Times of ‘Old Shiny’
HMS Sheffield was one of the most distinguished warships to serve throughout the Second World War.
Launched in 1936 by Princess Marina, the Duchess of Kent, HMS Sheffield was the third of the Royal Navy’s ten Town -class cruisers. She marked a number of the first ship to be named for Sheffield, the first to have stainless steel fixtures instead of brass, and the first to carry operational RDF (Radio Direction Finding) equipment. Old Shiny, as she became affectionately known, was manufactured to the high standards of peacetime.
Even hitting a mine was unable to render her inactive for long. Her crew simply manufactured a wooden patch, and saw her safely home. Achieving twelve honours over thirty years’ service, Old Shiny notably exchanged salvoes with the Bismarck , engaged Admiral Hipper and Lützow , and helped sink Scharnhorst.
A more unusual deployment came in 1956, as HMS Sheffield was one of the ships loaned by the Admiralty for the Technicolor epic The Battle of the River Plate!
Drawn from the experiences of the men who lived, fought and served on board, in HMS Sheffield Ronald Bassett paints an evocative and highly personal portrait of Old Shiny, and shows how she was more than just a warship.
‘One of the most impressive things I found about the book was that you got a real feel for the time and place. Scenes set in India or England felt different and I think that's a great achievement.’ – Library Thing
‘vividly described … the voyage as seen through the sleep-robbed eyes of matelots and officers alike’ – Daily Telegraph
‘A catalogue of horror’ – Eastern Daily Press
‘There is a degree of authenticity that makes the blood run cold’ – Cambridge News
‘Fast, vigorous action’ – Sheffield Morning Telegraph
‘Graphic tale of slave and convict ships… not for tender stomachs’ – Books and Bookmen
Ronald Bassett (1924-1996) was born in Chelsea. During the Munich crisis, at age fourteen, he falsified enlistment papers to become a Rifleman of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps (60th Rifles). Following active service, he was exposed and discharged. In his records, his colonel noted, ‘A good soldier. I am sorry to lose him.’ Undismayed, he immediately entered the Royal Navy, in which he remained for fourteen years, serving in the Arctic, North Atlantic, Mediterranean, the Far East and, later, Korea. He died in Surrey.
Launched in 1936 by Princess Marina, the Duchess of Kent, HMS Sheffield was the third of the Royal Navy’s ten Town -class cruisers. She marked a number of the first ship to be named for Sheffield, the first to have stainless steel fixtures instead of brass, and the first to carry operational RDF (Radio Direction Finding) equipment. Old Shiny, as she became affectionately known, was manufactured to the high standards of peacetime.
Even hitting a mine was unable to render her inactive for long. Her crew simply manufactured a wooden patch, and saw her safely home. Achieving twelve honours over thirty years’ service, Old Shiny notably exchanged salvoes with the Bismarck , engaged Admiral Hipper and Lützow , and helped sink Scharnhorst.
A more unusual deployment came in 1956, as HMS Sheffield was one of the ships loaned by the Admiralty for the Technicolor epic The Battle of the River Plate!
Drawn from the experiences of the men who lived, fought and served on board, in HMS Sheffield Ronald Bassett paints an evocative and highly personal portrait of Old Shiny, and shows how she was more than just a warship.
‘One of the most impressive things I found about the book was that you got a real feel for the time and place. Scenes set in India or England felt different and I think that's a great achievement.’ – Library Thing
‘vividly described … the voyage as seen through the sleep-robbed eyes of matelots and officers alike’ – Daily Telegraph
‘A catalogue of horror’ – Eastern Daily Press
‘There is a degree of authenticity that makes the blood run cold’ – Cambridge News
‘Fast, vigorous action’ – Sheffield Morning Telegraph
‘Graphic tale of slave and convict ships… not for tender stomachs’ – Books and Bookmen
Ronald Bassett (1924-1996) was born in Chelsea. During the Munich crisis, at age fourteen, he falsified enlistment papers to become a Rifleman of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps (60th Rifles). Following active service, he was exposed and discharged. In his records, his colonel noted, ‘A good soldier. I am sorry to lose him.’ Undismayed, he immediately entered the Royal Navy, in which he remained for fourteen years, serving in the Arctic, North Atlantic, Mediterranean, the Far East and, later, Korea. He died in Surrey.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
393 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1988
63 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Ronald Bassett
24 books7 followersRonald Leslie Bassett is a British writer and novelist. He wrote numerous works of historical fiction, sometimes under the pseudonym of "William Clive". He received many awards for his medical and pharmaceutical writing.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 9, 2019
Entertaining story
It is a very good author that can tell a story of a ship which becomes animated in the readers mind. The ship takes on a life of its own. Ronald Bassett has achieved this with his factual, yet witty, and at times very humorous account of the history of the Town class cruiser Sheffield.
I highly recommend this book. It is an excellent read.
It is a very good author that can tell a story of a ship which becomes animated in the readers mind. The ship takes on a life of its own. Ronald Bassett has achieved this with his factual, yet witty, and at times very humorous account of the history of the Town class cruiser Sheffield.
I highly recommend this book. It is an excellent read.
November 8, 2018
Truthfully, one of the best books I've ever read, and I've read a lot in just about 60 years. Immensely enjoyable and written in an easy style that I found a pleasure to follow. Ron Bassett had a way with words and a humorous turn of phrase that is delightful to read. As for the topic, I thought at first I would find it factually a tad dry as it is a biography in a way, but the narrative he stitched together was anything but. I think what sold me especially was how he was able to turn, in the latter part of the book, and inevitable sad tale of Shielfield's demise into something very positive. I was grateful for that, as I admire the ship her her many crew.
February 28, 2023
I just read The Tinfish Run which I didn't like a lot. So I felt that I ought to give Ronald Basset credit where it's due, and that is for this book. This was a super book, it's easy to-read style, with lots of tales form the lower decks. I think he's invented some of the characters, but it works very well in this one. One of the best books I've read about a warship.
May 20, 2017
A complete and engrossing read on one of the Royal Navies most illustrious ships during WWII. I've been wanting to read about the Sheffield for a few years now as my grandfather was Chief Stoker on her before the outbreak of war.
June 20, 2019
Superb account of life in a cruiser during WWII. Engrossing. I knew conditions in smaller ships was dire but it seems even the Cruisers got bashed around. The time in the Mediterranean was particularly eye opening.
April 18, 2018
A great book
A great book about a truly great warship named after a great city. It was a pity the Sheffield councillors and city elders did not appreciate the seamen and ship more.
A great book about a truly great warship named after a great city. It was a pity the Sheffield councillors and city elders did not appreciate the seamen and ship more.
June 26, 2018
Excellent telling of HIS Shiny
Well written account of naval warfare in WW2 in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Had no idea this cruiser participated in so many crucial battles.
Well written account of naval warfare in WW2 in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Had no idea this cruiser participated in so many crucial battles.
December 17, 2022
Interesting perspective
Very interesting to read the history of one particular ship at war as opposed to the history of famous and unknown sailors.
Very interesting to read the history of one particular ship at war as opposed to the history of famous and unknown sailors.
April 27, 2023
Well researched book spoilt by political bias.
Writer has a clear. Left wing political agenda which spoils the literary experiance.
Will avoid other works of his in future.
Writer has a clear. Left wing political agenda which spoils the literary experiance.
Will avoid other works of his in future.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews