The final lap...

All stories now sorted, chapters defined and intro written. Its now just down to a final edit, indexing, choosing the images (about 200 of them) and writing the captions. Not counting at present but in excess of 80,000 words.

A writer's lot is not (always) a happy one...its been a hard, but enjoyable, slog. Almost ready to send off the final draft to the publisher by 6 January 2014 for publication in October 2014.

'Swansea in the Great War'...out next year!

DORA...its not a lady!

DORA was the Defence of the Realm Act 1914 (with a few subsequent amendments).

It gave the Government a lot of powers over the lives of the citizens of Britain. Public, factory, and shop etc. lighting in some parts of the country had to be dimmed to minimise the risk of German Zeppelin airships using the lights as a guide as to where to drop their bombs. It was also forbidden to sketch in some parts of Swansea - the docks and Mumbles being examples. One chap was arrested at Mumbles when it was realised that he'd been drawing the fort...he might be a spy!

'Swansea in the Great War' - chapters decided upon...

Now up to about 60,000 words (and I've got lots of illustrations, too) on 'Swansea in the Great War' which will be published in October 2014 and the chapter topics have been decided on as well.

They are (apart from the usual acknowledgements, introduction etc.,):

Recruiting and Conscientious Objection; The Treatment of Foreign Aliens; Medical Services in Swansea; The effect of the War on Industry; The Problem of Food Supply; Women and the War; Relief Efforts for those at Home or at the Front; Tales from the Front (Swansea's two VC winners; other short stories on those who served on land, on sea or in the air); Swansea's Foreign Legion; The War According to Captain Blackadder; Remembrance.

Now in the final stages of writing and correcting.

Swansea airmen in the Great War

Just writing a short chapter on the above. Several Swansea men downed (and killed) by enemy action or air accident including one man - who had been at the front for exactly one week - who had the misfortune to run into 'The Red Baron', Germany's famous fighter ace who had already claimed over 40 'kills'. There could, sadly, be only be one outcome from that encounter...

Publication date agreed!

I am now up to about 60,000 words written on 'Swansea in the Great War' and still a little way to go. Loads of illustrations, too.

The publisher plans to publish the finished work on 1 October 2014.

So back to the writing - I have to complete the draft by early January 2014...

Swansea's foreign legion...

...not exactly. But a surprising number of lads who used to live in Swansea came back to fight for the 'old country'. They came from overseas with Canadian, Australian, South African, Canadian and American units. Not spotted any New Zealanders as yet. A number paid the ultimate price for their patriotism...

A number of them will have their stories told in 'Swansea in the Great War'.

Belgian refugees in Swansea, 1914

Writing about the above at present. Great welcome by the people of Swansea for over 700 Belgian refugees who arrived at Swansea having fled their native country due to the German invasion.