Military Superintendents of the Royal Gunpowder Mills

Product Description These are personal histories of some of the men who had charge of the Royal Gunpowder Mills. They saw the Mills through many changes as steam replaced water power and cordite replaced gunpowder. Apart from making gunpowder they had fought in wars in Europe, Asia and North America, one returned with a Victoria Cross. They also knew disaster; sons were killed in battle, one died in exile from the law, and some had their lives cut short. They and their families were part of the backbone of the British Empire. About the Author Peter Blake spent his working life as a Chartered Accountant, latterly in the Charity sector, but had a long term interest in naval and military history. While still working he attended the summer school of the Greenwich Maritime Institute in 2005, the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar; this triggered a desire to take a hands-on involvement with historical research. After retiring he took a Masters degree in Maritime History at the Greenwich Maritime Institute. His dissertation was on the siege of Flushing in 1809 where the second Sir William Congreve, who features in this booklet, brought his rockets to bear. The Archive section of the Royal Gunpowder Mills gave Peter Blake the opportunity to take on this project, for which he is very grateful.