HMS/M Unbeaten blog

Breaking News: An original HMS Unbeaten Jolly Roger has been discovered at Brighton Museum

4/9/2018

On Friday 31 August 2018 Dan Robertson, curator of Local History and Archaeology at Brighton Museum, discovered a Jolly Roger from a World War Two submarine. It transpired that the success flag was from the U-Class submarine HMS Unbeaten. The skull and crossed boned emblazoned black flag was found in the bottom of a box at Brighton museum.

Fortunately, the Jolly Roger was accompanied by contemporary labels detailing its provenance.

“It is my belief that the Jolly Roger in Brighton museum is a success flag from Unbeaten - but not her actual patrol Jolly Rodger” David J.B. Smith

To many, this may not be a big deal. However, this indicator of the submarines successes during World War Two has laid undiscovered for seventy-six years. Among historians and researchers it was considered that this flag was lost during the Blitz. This webpage will detail the story of Unbeaten's Jolly Roger and the many replicas spawned by its supposed disappearance. The symbology used on Unbeaten's Jolly Roger will also be explained followed by a short history of the Royal Navy submarine Jolly Roger.

All that remains for me is to re-write a chapter in my book about HMS Unbeaten - Being Silent They Speak

See the Jolly Roger page for more info.

David J.B. Smith
01/09/2018

Check out the fantastic new cover art for 'Being Silent They Speak' former AmazonUK No1 in #WW2

18/5/2016

The compelling WW2 submarine book 'Being Silent They Speak' has a brand new cover courtesy of the fantastic Battlefield Design www.battlefield-design.co.uk

It is hoped that this more commercially appealing book cover will attract readers who may not have noticed this great true story book before.

The eBook edition, published by Stand-Easy Military Books, is on sale at Amazon UK for the very reasonable price of only £2.08.

The paperback editions have sold out, but we have more coming soon.

If you have not read this great 5 star book - please give it a go!

Former No1 book in AmazonUK #WW2 genre continues to receive 5 stars

2/8/2014

It’s now over two years since 'Being Silent They Speak’ was first published. My former No1 book in the AmazonUK World War Two genre continues to receive 5 star reviews. I am very grateful to everyone who has left such positive feedback.

I have nearly completed my second book which will be out next year and published by Stand-Easy Publishing. www.stand-easy.weebly.com Much the same as my last book, this next military offering will see another compelling World War Two nautical mystery blown clean out of the water for all to see.

This fantastic feedback for ‘Being Silent They Speak’ was left on Amazon very recently by Doug Salter.

"What a great read, a very informative and sensitively written book. I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the rigours of life within the silent service."

Thank you Doug Salter, I really appreciate it.

Yours Aye

David J.B.Smith

A great 5 star review for #WW2 #Kindle eBook 'Being Silent They Speak' Only £1.75

27/3/2014

Over a year on and the true World War Two submarine book 'Being Silent They Speak' continues to receive fantastic five star ratings. Below is a review for the book left on AmazonUK this week.

SPOT ON 5 Stars
"Another true story about the sometimes 'hidden' war played out under the waves. Must have been quite terrifying for much of the time and a very lonely way to die. A lot of research has obviously gone into writing this book - and it shows".

Many Thanks

Yours Aye

David J.B. Smith

Bestselling book 'Being Silent They Speak' Debuts at the International Shipwreck Conference 2014

9/2/2014

First Blog Post of 2014

This year has started fantastically well. I recently attended the International Shipwreck Conference 2014 at Plymouth University. It was a well organised event and a great networking opportunity. I set up a promotional stand for ‘Being Silent They Speak’ and I am glad to say the book was very well received. I also took great delight in being asked to sign several copies.

My stand at the International Shipwreck Conference

Owing to the nature of the conference there were several guest speakers talking about their chosen maritime subjects of interest. One speaker, whose work in the field of WW1 and WWII U-boats I am very aware off, was Dr Innes McCartney. It was great to meet Innes and get time to talk to him. Some people may recognise Innes from the Discovery Channel / Military History programmes he has appeared in over the years.

Most recently Innes contributed to the interesting Channel 4 programme 'How the Bismarck Sank HMS Hood'. Innes is a nautical archaeologist, historian, author, and TV contributor and also an accomplished wreck diver. Innes can be followed on Twitter or Facebook and often posts some great wreck diving galleries.

David J.B Smith, Pete Holt & Innes McCartney

I also met another well known nautical archaeologist and TV Personality, Neil Cunningham Dobson. Some of you may have watched ‘Treasure Quest’ on the Discovery Channel. This is a great TV series which documents the work of Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. This company is engaged in deep-ocean exploration and regularly locates shipwrecks and artefacts once thought lost forever.

I also had the privilege to talk with Odyssey Marine’s 'Director of International Relations', Aladar Nesser, who was attending the conference with Neil. I hope to converse, via email, with Neil in the future regarding a possible wreck location for HMS/M Unbeaten.

David J.B. Smith & Neil Cunningham Dobson

Finally my thanks must go to Pete Holt for inviting me to the conference. Pete is the Project Manager for ProMare UK and is a visiting research fellow at the University of Plymouth School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences. Pete also manages the fantastic 'SHIPS Project' which aims to record, document and publish the remains of shipwrecks, aircraft, hulks, lost anchors and any other objects on the seabed around the Plymouth areas.

Yours Aye

David J.B. Smith

What Can I Say! a BIG thank you to everyone who purchased my #WW2 book in 2013.

20/12/2013

A year ago this month I self-published my first book 'Being Silent They Speak' a World War Two true story book about a little know submarine, HMS/M Unbeaten. The book reached No1 on AmazonUK in the WW2 genre. A year later and many thousands of people now know of the brave actions of the crew of Unbeaten. Of that I am very proud.

Thank you to everyone who purchased my book in paperback and eBook formats. I have a new book out later in 2014, which I promise you will not disappoint. It is a collection of never told World War Two stories that need to be put out there before they are forgotten.

May I wish everyone who follows me on Twitter and who visits this website a very happy Christmas and a great New Year!

I received a hand written letter from a reader recently, and I have transcribed it below. This is one of many nice things people have said about my book. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to leave feedback, good or bad. It all helps. Cheers

"Dear David,

I have just finished reading 'Being Silent They Speak' which I have received as a birthday present from my daughter, kindly signed by yourself.

It is a very impressive work which has involved huge amounts of research travelling through barely accessible military records, and yet from dull records gives a living picture of the highs and lows of WWII Submarine life. We noticed the reference to HMS Courageous. My wife's uncle was in the Fleet Air Arm and was lost in the sinking of that vessel.

May we wish you every success in your future endeavours.

Yours Sincerely
Noel

Yours Aye
David J.B. Smith

5 Star feedback left on Amazon reaches 25 for #WW2 book 'Being Silent They Speak'

3/12/2013

It is positively encouraging every time ‘Being Silent They Speak’ is given more five star feedback. The fact that people take the time to read my first book is enough of an accolade, but to be given so much 4 & 5 star feedback is absolutely fantastic. I hope my next book lives up to people’s expectations.

I am juggling writing my next WW2 book between work and family life. I am also reviewing a number of military books for Pen & Sword. Just to add a little bit more pressure, I am also finishing building an on-line ‘Militaria & Book’ shop which will be up and running very soon.

This feedback for 'Being Silent They Speak' was left recently on Amazon:

A truly wonderful read: 5 Stars
How on earth the men in these Boats survived beggars belief. A tribute to Jack Casemore and all other Submariners who endured years of hardship so that we may be free.

Thank you for your kind feedback Mr Clifford Butler

Yours Aye
David J.B. Smith

"This is a well-written, well-researched book…" a #WW2 True story. Read the feedback here:

25/11/2013

As most followers of my blog will know I am not one to blow my own trumpet or overly self-promote… OK I am, but I had to share these to great pieces of feedback for 'Being Silent They Speak'. These encouraging words from people who have read my book really spur me on to finish researching my next book and get on with writing it.

Read the most recent great feedback below left on Amazon.com

David Bober said:
"This is a well-written, well-researched book that will be of great
interest to anyone with a love of naval history. It tells the story of HMS Unbeaten, a Royal Navy submarine operating from the besieged island of Malta during the Second World War". 5 Stars

R.Doolittle said:
"A very good read!!! Tragic how it ends, but that was the life of
Submarines. I've read a lot about WWII. This book is a must read to anyone trying to understand and learn about WWII". 4 Stars

This great book can be yours as an eBook for only £1.75 or a paperback at £8.99.

Thank you so much!

Yours Aye
David J.B. Smith

"A stunning debut from an amateur researcher" @familytreemaguk Read the review: #WW2

12/11/2013

11/11/1942 HMS/M Unbeaten
We Will Remember Them

Seventy one years ago HMS/M Unbeaten was transiting the Bay of Biscay en route to a rendezvous with another British submarine in the area of Bishop's Rock lighthouse. Unbeaten had just successfully completed a secret mission to land an SOE agent in Spain. She never made the rendezvous.

Early in the morning of Armistice Day 1942 Unbeaten and her entire crew inexplicably disappeared, with no know location to this day. As a tribute, and so the crew of HMS/M Unbeaten were not forgotten, I researched and documented their story.

'Being Silent They Speak' means a lot to me. The original book concept was only going to be about the life of a member of my family who was lost on Unbeaten. However, when researching and writing the book it was clear there was more to the story and that I was writing something special. The book soon snow balled into becoming the definitive history of Unbeaten and her crew and eventually reached No1 on AmazonUK in their WW2 genre.

A year after 'Being Silent They Speak' was published the book continues to chart around the AmazonUK Top 100 bestselling books in the World War Two genre. Many positive reviews have been posted about the book and several media outlets have also reviewed it.

Below is a very recent review, of which I am very proud of, written by the fantastic people at 'Family Tree Magazine'.

Many Thanks

Yours Aye

David J.B. Smith

Author Visits French Village to Lay a Wreath & Research New Book #WW2

5/11/2013

My visit to Ploudaniel in Brittany 02/11/13

After two months in the planning and many emails written with the shambolic help of Google Translate, I finally made my way across the Channel to visit the beautiful French village of Ploudaniel. My destination was ultimately the resting place of four men, whose brave actions during World War Two form part of the research for my next book.

Their story has been documented briefly by another author some years ago but the event is still not widely known about. A more detailed account of their fateful mission written by me will feature as a short story in my next military book which will be published by Stand-Easy Publishing in May 2015.

The day I visited Ploudaniel coincided with 'All Souls Day' in France. I had arranged to meet with the Mayor of the region by corresponding with a fantastic member of the Royal British Legion, Mike (Jonesy) Jones. Mike escaped the rat race of the UK several years ago and now lives in Finistère, the western most region of France. The reason for my visit was twofold, firstly I wanted to lay a poppy wreath on the graves of the servicemen I have been researching for the past year, secondly I had information I wanted to exchange with interested parties in France.

The Mayor was present along with local representatives of the Préfet and Anciens Combattants the French equivalent of the British Legion. As you can see by their medals, worn with great pride in the photographs, several of these veterans had fought in World War Two. The villagers of Ploudaniel take very seriously the sacrifices made by the four Allied servicemen buried in their churchyard. The Allied servicemen are always included in the areas November 11th ceremonies. Everyone present was very friendly and amazingly hospitable. I cannot thank them enough for the kind reception they afforded me.

After the wreath laying we all convened in the Marie (Town Hall) along with members of the local press from the region. The Mayor passed me several never seen documents relating to the subject I am researching for my next book. Also present was Glidas Saouzanet who is an authority on all the crashed military aircraft in the Northern Brittany area and a veritable mine of information. He was very knowledgeable and new a lot about the story I am researching. Glidas is a great contact and very kindly acted as a translator throughout my visit.

I so look forward to writing this story and I hope to definitively tell what happened by piecing together eyewitness accounts, combined with official written material, some of which has only recently been released from the National Archives and other sources in the past few years.

I have deliberately not explained the essence of the story in this blog post. You will have to buy the book! It's a great story.

Yours Aye

David J.B. Smith