News, Articles and Comment

Ed. The author reflects on the eternal question of the NR’s membership demographics, and its future as a platform for cultivating thought and discourse in the Royal Navy. Perhaps ironically, despite the immense technological transformations that have ensued, the fundamentals today seem to reflect the situation at the NR’s foundation, over a century ago. A 10 minute read.

After a relatively short battle with cancer, James Goldrick ‘crossed the bar’ yesterday, the first of several obituaries can be […]

Ed. The first of a two-part series, as a diversity and inclusion resource for Black History Month, the author examines the role of black labour in the Atlantic maritime system, from which the Royal Navy’s black sailors were drawn during the 18th century. This instalment focuses on the tragedy of black slavery as a component of the Atlantic system, and the remarkable achievements of those slaves who nevertheless became Royal Navy sailors. A 30 minute read.

Ed. The author’s response to Lt. Zoe Jones’ article (The Armed Forces), published in the NR 111/1: https://www.naval-review.com/journal-articles/the-armed-forces-the-civil-military-gap-and-civilian-support-the-impact-of-21st-century-cultural-flux-and-criminal-behaviour-by-armed-forces-personnel/

Ed. Not too unlike the Hellenstic inventor Archimedes and his patron Hiero II of Syracuse, or 20th century technologists such as Bob Noyce and William Shockley, brothers Samuel and Jeremy Bentham were a pair of functionalist Georgian characters. While Jeremy is well known for his contributions to the Reform Movement and utilitarian philosophy, the younger brother Samuel, a prototypical early steam-era inventor and Royal Navy engineer, in the mold of predecessors such as Thomas Slade and Charles Middleton, or successors like Sir Robert Seppings and Sir Nathaniel Barnaby, is less well known. The authors herein examine Samuel Bentham’s life and work. A 30 minute read.

Ed. By the Editor – Charles Lightoller’s story demonstrates the difference an individual can make during a crisis, given courage, versatility, commitment to duty – and a peculiar degree of luck. A 15 minute read.

Ed. As part of the Naval Review website refresh we have been exploring how AI might be of use…

‘ChatGPT’ is all the rage, it is an Artificial Intelligence tool which can do your homework…as its St Valentine’s Day we asked it to write a couple of poems for all you budding romantics…

Ed. This essay argues that the Maritime Reserves (MR), despite a well understood requirement and being ideally situated to do so, are currently struggling to provide niche technical enablement to the RN. The author argues that reform of the current branch structure is necessary to allow the MR to make full use
of its nascent Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)
expertise and excel in the provision of this much needed capability. A 10 minute read.

This article was update for the Volume 111, Winter 2023, Number 1 edition of The Naval Review. Click here to […]