Last year we commemorated an end – an end to the “war to end all wars” or was that celebration somewhat pre-emptory? Was it perhaps no more than cessations of more overt global conflict? As pressure was sustained on Germany to eventually sign the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919 (eight months after the Armistice), it is easy to forget operations at sea continued for the Royal Navy with a strategic naval presence role (a term that belies its kinetic nature) during a period that most would, today, mistakenly consider years of peace following the First World War. The authors bring our attenti…
