The Story of the "Birkenhead"

The object of this book is to tell the truth, the whole truth, about the Birkenhead. It is a story that has suffered much neglect in the past. Not that it is not well worth telling. Nothing in our Military or Naval annals is more interesting and valuable in its way, and therefore more deserving of preservation. Nothing in those annals will better stand the test of the searchlight of Truth being thrown upon it; and nothing in the proud history of our Arms affords a higher and nobler example or stimulates more to worthy deeds.

Why, then, has it been so long neglected? Why have the erroneous notions which exist upon the subject been allowed to continue uncorrected? Why has not the whole Story been put before the public in available permanent form? Not because it would not repay the labour of doing it. That assuredly is not the explanation. The reason probably has been that the subject is one difficult of comprehensive literary treatment. It has been dealt with once at least to our knowledge in recent years within the narrow limits of a magazine article.

That was in 1897, when the incidents of the historic ship-wreck were ably and critically reviewed, and the great moral to be derived from it was emphasised by Major-General Maurice in an Anniversary Study in the Cornhill...

Original dark red boards with Birkenhead sinking vignette in black. Gilt lettering to front board and spine. Slight sunned front edge to front board. Half title. Frontispiece Wreck. Title. Dedication. Preface. Contents.List of Illustrations-31 in total. xiv plus 164 pages.

Some wear to head and tail of spine. Offset and light spotting to prelims. All plates in very good condition.