The Royal Navy Day By Day

984 pages

Mike Beardall

General Colin Powell famously said “you are either part of the problem or part of the solution!” One day in most Naval careers, one realises that one is part of the solution. As such it is also probably time to acquire a copy of The Royal Navy Day By Day, a tome which has graced many a coffee table and sideboard throughout the service and beyond. Its contents have formed the entree to many an officer’s speech, address or missive.

Every entry has a story, many have books written about them, indeed some have generated libraries. However, the inserts and vignettes that the author has cleverly woven into the fabric are well chosen and elevate the book above beyond just the events of history. The RN’s role in countering West African slavery, the exploits of Simon the ship’s Cat in HMS Amethyst and the Submarine Command Course are three of many fascinating examples.

Now in its sixth edition, there must be over 7,500 entries covering 500 years of the good, the bad and the ugly of the factual history of one of the finest national institutions in the world. I would liken it to a box of chocolates, choose any page and dive in and you will find something to learn, surprise, ponder, smile at and, of course, talk about. This addition has taken a more contemporary view to remain relevant to the modern reader, wisely, it is not a good reference to research a Trafalgar Night speech.

For Lt Cdr Lawrie Philips, this has become his life’s work and his love for the service shines throughout. Wisely, he starts at the top and then through an astonishing amount of tenacity and substantial hard work he has kept abreast of a busy Navy which is hampered by government process, security, resources and many other reasons from telling its story.  However, he has woven our history into a tapestry as fine as any to be found in the British Museum and as Admiral Terry Lewin observed in the forward to the first edition in 1979… “It deserves a place on the bookshelves of anyone who has the sea in their blood.” After all is said and done, it is a fitting tribute to the hundreds of thousands of men and women who were involved in the events it records.