NIGHT ACTION

Inscribed & signed on the title page by

Captain Peter Dickens DSO DSC MBE

‘Mike …….. and 6 Troop
With profound admiration and gratitude
Peter Dickens 1979′

Peter Davies First Edition, first printing 1974.  242 pages and well illustrated with photographs and with maps on the endpapers.

Fine condition hardback book in navy blue covers with gilt titles.  Clean, bright and tight. It has a Fine condition unclipped dustjacket and is a very pleasing copy of this scarce book.

Captain Peter Dickens was a decorated WWII Royal Navy officer and great-grandson of Charles Dickens. His book ‘Night Action’ vividly recounts the daring exploits of motor torpedo boats in nocturnal combat.

‘Night Action’ is Dickens’ gripping memoir of of his experiences as the young commander of the 21st MTB Flotilla during 1942-43, mainly in the North Sea and the Channel. The book captures the raw intensity of night raids against German convoys, where speed, stealth, and split-second decisions were vital.

In all the annals of the war at sea, comparatively little has been written about the role of the torpedo boat, and yet these small and vulnerable boats, travelling at high speed amid storms and gunfire, and usually under the cover of darkness, managed to closely engage enemy convoys and escorts in high-speed attacks and wreak havoc among the German supply lines. Like the sailors who fought against the U-boats in the battle of the Atlantic, Dickens and his comrades were experiencing a new kind of warfare and had to develop the techniques and tactics as they went along; their kind of action called for great courage, spilt-second timing and complete understanding between captain and crew.  ‘Night Action‘ is both thrilling and reflective, shedding light on a lesser-known but crucial aspect of naval warfare.

Captain Peter Gerald Charles Dickens was born in 1917 into a distinguished naval lineage—his father was Admiral Sir Gerald Charles Dickens, and he was the great-grandson of novelist Charles Dickens. He joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1934 and served aboard HMS Nelson and the Royal Yacht before WWII.

From June 1942, Dickens was the commanding officer of HM MTB 234 and the senior officer of 21st MTB Flotilla when, in August 1942, he was awarded the MBE for saving his mined ship through damage control, and the Distinguished Service Cross in December 1942 for attacks on enemy shipping. In July 1943 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for skilful and daring attacks “in enemy coastal waters”. His post-war career included senior naval appointments before retiring as a captain. He died in Tunbridge Wells in 1987.

A signed copy of this scarce book is a great addition to any WWII library.