David J.B. Smith - Author
Interviewed by Ross Corbett from WW2 Nation
When did you first become interested in WWII?
As a young boy in the 1970’s I can remember hiding under my bed sheets with a torch avidly reading ‘Commando War Story’ comics until the small hours. My grandfathers had both fought in WWII and I also had a great uncle who had survived the horrors of WWI. These three men were all still living during my formative years. It was a forgone conclusion that I would have more than a passing interest in all things war and eventually join the military. I started to collect WWI & WWII artefacts at the age of 11. As you can see in the photograph of my small bedroom, I had soon acquired several WWII items. Much of my collection was given to me by elderly family members and their friends who had actually liberated these very items. I proudly displayed my collection in a mini museum on a shelf above my bed. The original Iron Maiden poster dates this photograph as 1984.
As a young boy in the 1970’s I can remember hiding under my bed sheets with a torch avidly reading ‘Commando War Story’ comics until the small hours. My grandfathers had both fought in WWII and I also had a great uncle who had survived the horrors of WWI. These three men were all still living during my formative years. It was a forgone conclusion that I would have more than a passing interest in all things war and eventually join the military. I started to collect WWI & WWII artefacts at the age of 11. As you can see in the photograph of my small bedroom, I had soon acquired several WWII items. Much of my collection was given to me by elderly family members and their friends who had actually liberated these very items. I proudly displayed my collection in a mini museum on a shelf above my bed. The original Iron Maiden poster dates this photograph as 1984.
What area of World War II history interests you the most?
My main area of WWII interest is the Royal Navy, both surface and sub-surface. This interest probably derives from the fact I served in the navy and have an acute understanding of all things naval. I love vintage Royal Navy books and have a massive collection. I am really passionate about the navy and have great respect for anyone who serves or has served their country on the sea or under it. As the old saying goes ‘The Navy Knows No Seasons’, being at sea is hard work. Great Britain was built on the back of the Royal Navy, so many of the day to day terms we use today can be attributed to the Senior Service in which I served. Sorry, I get a bit carried away!
My main area of WWII interest is the Royal Navy, both surface and sub-surface. This interest probably derives from the fact I served in the navy and have an acute understanding of all things naval. I love vintage Royal Navy books and have a massive collection. I am really passionate about the navy and have great respect for anyone who serves or has served their country on the sea or under it. As the old saying goes ‘The Navy Knows No Seasons’, being at sea is hard work. Great Britain was built on the back of the Royal Navy, so many of the day to day terms we use today can be attributed to the Senior Service in which I served. Sorry, I get a bit carried away!
Do you have a personal connection to WWII?
Many of the men in my family fought in WWII. My wife’s family have a long connection with the Royal Navy going back many generations. My father-in laws uncle was the catalyst for me writing the book ‘Being Silent They Speak’. Albert Piper, along with the rest of the crew of HMS/M Unbeaten went missing on Armistice Day 1942. Strangely, over the years I have researched so many other peoples WWII family history but have not attempted to research my own. I am sure there is another book in there somewhere.
Many of the men in my family fought in WWII. My wife’s family have a long connection with the Royal Navy going back many generations. My father-in laws uncle was the catalyst for me writing the book ‘Being Silent They Speak’. Albert Piper, along with the rest of the crew of HMS/M Unbeaten went missing on Armistice Day 1942. Strangely, over the years I have researched so many other peoples WWII family history but have not attempted to research my own. I am sure there is another book in there somewhere.
Where is the most interesting place you have visited?
Early in 1987, as a young RN sailor, a group of us went on exchange with several members of the 14/20th Hussars. The Hussars at that time occupied Smuts Barracks in Wilhelmstrasse, a street in the Spandau district of Berlin. This barrack was located directly next door to Spandau prison. From certain vantage points you could see over the wall into the bleak red brick prison, which at that time was home to Rudolph Hess, although he died later that year.
The highlight of our stay was a trip over to East Germany. We were driven through ‘Check Point Charlie’ by coach into East Germany. The whole time I was there I had a feeling we were being watched. Coming back over the boarder one could see the multiple layers of barbed wire fences, roaming dog patrols and imposing watch towers which a person had to get past before even attempting to climb over the now infamous, graffiti covered reinforced concrete ‘Berlin Wall’. I had taken many photos inside East Germany. Strangely, not one photograph came out; it was as if the 38 mm film had been totally erased as we passed through the check point on our transit back to the West.
Early in 1987, as a young RN sailor, a group of us went on exchange with several members of the 14/20th Hussars. The Hussars at that time occupied Smuts Barracks in Wilhelmstrasse, a street in the Spandau district of Berlin. This barrack was located directly next door to Spandau prison. From certain vantage points you could see over the wall into the bleak red brick prison, which at that time was home to Rudolph Hess, although he died later that year.
The highlight of our stay was a trip over to East Germany. We were driven through ‘Check Point Charlie’ by coach into East Germany. The whole time I was there I had a feeling we were being watched. Coming back over the boarder one could see the multiple layers of barbed wire fences, roaming dog patrols and imposing watch towers which a person had to get past before even attempting to climb over the now infamous, graffiti covered reinforced concrete ‘Berlin Wall’. I had taken many photos inside East Germany. Strangely, not one photograph came out; it was as if the 38 mm film had been totally erased as we passed through the check point on our transit back to the West.
Is there a fact or area of study that should be more generally well known
but isn’t?
There is an area of our WWII history which is still being discovered and its hidden existence is closer to home than many think. During a War Cabinet meeting in early July 1940, Winston Churchill said:
“The regular defences require supplementing with guerrilla type troops, who will allow themselves to be overrun and who thereafter will be responsible for hitting the enemy in the comparatively soft spots behind zones of concentrated attack”
On the back of this statement the little known ‘Auxiliary Units & Special Duties Section’s’ were developed. These specialist units were mainly made up of members of the British Home Guard who had secretly been sent away for specialist training in guerrilla warfare including assassination, unarmed combat, demolition and sabotage. The existence of these specially trained units remained secret until well after the war. Even today there is still a lot we do not know about these clandestine units. Hundreds of these units existed all over the country.
They were usually designated a 15 mile radius operating area and within this area they would have an underground ‘Operational Base’ usually built in a concealed location like a small hidden valley in the middle of nowhere or buried in woodland. The Operational Base’s were often built by the Royal Engineers and were very well camouflaged. It has been said that between 400 and 500 of these concealed bases were built. The locations of many remain un-discovered to this day. I am lucky to have discovered the Auxiliary Unit training area of my local unit on a friend’s farmland near Plymouth. The hidden valley near the coast, overlooking Plymouth sound, is littered with .303 shells and fragments of exploded No.36M Mills grenades. However, the exact location of their Operational Base still eludes me. The Auxiliary Units & Special Duties Section’s where eventually stood down in November 1944. Many of the secretive Unit members never spoke of their involvement in the country’s very last line of defence.
Can you give us a flavour of your bookshelf?
Because of a passion for writing and my need to meticulously research any given WWII subject, my book shelves are full of WWII and WWI books. Some of the books are very old but provide essential reference information. I do however get time for general reading. At present I am reading ‘Of Those We Loved’ by I.L. Read. This is a WWI diary type book and has just been re-published by Pen & Sword, it is very moving. I actually work with the late authors grandson and it’s been great getting the inside story of the book. I have just finished reading ‘Midget Submarine Commander’ by Paul Watkins. This book covers the life story of Godfrey Place VC. The subject of this book was an officer on-board HMS/M Unbeaten and features in my book ‘Being Silent They Speak’. If you like WWII submarine books then ‘Midget Submarine Commander’ is for you.
but isn’t?
There is an area of our WWII history which is still being discovered and its hidden existence is closer to home than many think. During a War Cabinet meeting in early July 1940, Winston Churchill said:
“The regular defences require supplementing with guerrilla type troops, who will allow themselves to be overrun and who thereafter will be responsible for hitting the enemy in the comparatively soft spots behind zones of concentrated attack”
On the back of this statement the little known ‘Auxiliary Units & Special Duties Section’s’ were developed. These specialist units were mainly made up of members of the British Home Guard who had secretly been sent away for specialist training in guerrilla warfare including assassination, unarmed combat, demolition and sabotage. The existence of these specially trained units remained secret until well after the war. Even today there is still a lot we do not know about these clandestine units. Hundreds of these units existed all over the country.
They were usually designated a 15 mile radius operating area and within this area they would have an underground ‘Operational Base’ usually built in a concealed location like a small hidden valley in the middle of nowhere or buried in woodland. The Operational Base’s were often built by the Royal Engineers and were very well camouflaged. It has been said that between 400 and 500 of these concealed bases were built. The locations of many remain un-discovered to this day. I am lucky to have discovered the Auxiliary Unit training area of my local unit on a friend’s farmland near Plymouth. The hidden valley near the coast, overlooking Plymouth sound, is littered with .303 shells and fragments of exploded No.36M Mills grenades. However, the exact location of their Operational Base still eludes me. The Auxiliary Units & Special Duties Section’s where eventually stood down in November 1944. Many of the secretive Unit members never spoke of their involvement in the country’s very last line of defence.
Can you give us a flavour of your bookshelf?
Because of a passion for writing and my need to meticulously research any given WWII subject, my book shelves are full of WWII and WWI books. Some of the books are very old but provide essential reference information. I do however get time for general reading. At present I am reading ‘Of Those We Loved’ by I.L. Read. This is a WWI diary type book and has just been re-published by Pen & Sword, it is very moving. I actually work with the late authors grandson and it’s been great getting the inside story of the book. I have just finished reading ‘Midget Submarine Commander’ by Paul Watkins. This book covers the life story of Godfrey Place VC. The subject of this book was an officer on-board HMS/M Unbeaten and features in my book ‘Being Silent They Speak’. If you like WWII submarine books then ‘Midget Submarine Commander’ is for you.
Is there a particular figure from WWII that you admire or find inspiration
from?
There are so many inspirational WWII figures; it’s like trying choosing the best man at your wedding, because you don’t want to leave anyone out. However, there is one man who came up time and time again in the research for my last book. His name is George W. G. Simpson. Shrimp as he was known to his friends was the Senior Officer Submarines, Malta and Captain of the fighting Tenth Submarine Flotilla. Shrimp was said to have had a strong sense of justice and humour and also to possess an innate knowledge of human nature. Other people referred to him as having a caustic exterior and also being slightly eccentric, although this is often confused with Britishness.
The massive responsibility on the shoulders of George Simpson was often tested, especially when a boat was overdue, or at worst lost. This emotional roller coaster must have been a constant weight on his conscience. Shrimp spent many a day pacing his office waiting for absent boats he had deployed to return. Several of Commander Simpson’s submarines sailed from Malta and did not return; many vanished forever with no known location to this day. Had it not been for Simpson and his valiant submarine crews the Allied North African Campaign would have been longer and deadlier. It was the Malta Submarines, under the command of Simpson, that sent many tons of Axis ammunition, personnel, and machinery destined for North Africa, to the bottom of the Mediterranean.
What is your most precious WWII possession?
Of course my grandfather’s medals hold the greatest personnel value, but I do have other items I could not part with. My prized WWII possession is surprisingly of German origin, with a British twist. Several years ago I acquired two full size plans of a WWII German U-Boat. After a bit of detective work it transpired that these technical drawings were the main plans and the salvage plans of the U-Boat U570. The Type VIIC U-Boat was caught on the surface and attacked in 1941 by RAF Coastal Command. The crew surrendered and the U-Boat was taken under tow and docked at Vickers Ship yard in Barrow. The Vickers staff in 1941 hurriedly made exact copies of the original German plans and pencilled words in English over the German. It is these plans I own. The plans enabled the U-Boat to be repaired and modified to the requirements of the Royal Navy. U570 eventually went back to sea but re-commissioned as the British submarine HMS/M Graph. During the writing of my first self-published book I very nearly sold these rare plans to fund the cost of the book research material and printing. I am glad I didn’t.
Can we still learn anything from WWII?
I believe we can, as historians, still learn a lot from WWII. There is a vast amount we do not know about. However, more information comes out on a daily basis, from released documents and good old research. I do believe there is a very fine line between being seen to glorify war and actually being interested in war from an historical perspective. After all, only those who were there in WWII actually know what it was like.
As authors and historians, it should be our duty to accurately pass on the knowledge of these historical events for future generations to learn from. As with the veterans of WWI we only have limited time to learn about WWII from those veterans who survive today before their memories are also lost forever.
Follow David on Twitter @NavalAuthor
from?
There are so many inspirational WWII figures; it’s like trying choosing the best man at your wedding, because you don’t want to leave anyone out. However, there is one man who came up time and time again in the research for my last book. His name is George W. G. Simpson. Shrimp as he was known to his friends was the Senior Officer Submarines, Malta and Captain of the fighting Tenth Submarine Flotilla. Shrimp was said to have had a strong sense of justice and humour and also to possess an innate knowledge of human nature. Other people referred to him as having a caustic exterior and also being slightly eccentric, although this is often confused with Britishness.
The massive responsibility on the shoulders of George Simpson was often tested, especially when a boat was overdue, or at worst lost. This emotional roller coaster must have been a constant weight on his conscience. Shrimp spent many a day pacing his office waiting for absent boats he had deployed to return. Several of Commander Simpson’s submarines sailed from Malta and did not return; many vanished forever with no known location to this day. Had it not been for Simpson and his valiant submarine crews the Allied North African Campaign would have been longer and deadlier. It was the Malta Submarines, under the command of Simpson, that sent many tons of Axis ammunition, personnel, and machinery destined for North Africa, to the bottom of the Mediterranean.
What is your most precious WWII possession?
Of course my grandfather’s medals hold the greatest personnel value, but I do have other items I could not part with. My prized WWII possession is surprisingly of German origin, with a British twist. Several years ago I acquired two full size plans of a WWII German U-Boat. After a bit of detective work it transpired that these technical drawings were the main plans and the salvage plans of the U-Boat U570. The Type VIIC U-Boat was caught on the surface and attacked in 1941 by RAF Coastal Command. The crew surrendered and the U-Boat was taken under tow and docked at Vickers Ship yard in Barrow. The Vickers staff in 1941 hurriedly made exact copies of the original German plans and pencilled words in English over the German. It is these plans I own. The plans enabled the U-Boat to be repaired and modified to the requirements of the Royal Navy. U570 eventually went back to sea but re-commissioned as the British submarine HMS/M Graph. During the writing of my first self-published book I very nearly sold these rare plans to fund the cost of the book research material and printing. I am glad I didn’t.
Can we still learn anything from WWII?
I believe we can, as historians, still learn a lot from WWII. There is a vast amount we do not know about. However, more information comes out on a daily basis, from released documents and good old research. I do believe there is a very fine line between being seen to glorify war and actually being interested in war from an historical perspective. After all, only those who were there in WWII actually know what it was like.
As authors and historians, it should be our duty to accurately pass on the knowledge of these historical events for future generations to learn from. As with the veterans of WWI we only have limited time to learn about WWII from those veterans who survive today before their memories are also lost forever.
Follow David on Twitter @NavalAuthor