Battle of Tsushima

In 1905 Japan and Russia were at war. With the Russian Far East Fleet destroyed, the Czar decided to send his Baltic Fleet half way around the world to exact revenge. This mammoth journey took many months and was, in itself, an amazing feat of seamanship. But, at the end of this epic adventure, the Russians were totally overwhelmed and the vast majority of the fleet went to the bottom. There was no alternative for the Czar but to sue for an ignominious peace.The story of the journey and the final battle remain fascinating, the people involved acting and deporting themselves like characters from a novel. Russian Admiral Rozhestvensky was a gunnery expert but someone who had never held active command in a major sea battle. Japanese Admiral Togo had trained in Britain, enlisting as a cadet on the Training Ship Worcester, even though he was far too old and was forced to lie about his age. Inept generalship on the part of the Russians, combined with brilliant seamanship from the Japanese Admiral Togo, saw the complete destruction of the Russian fleet.The naval battle of Tsushima is one of the forgotten actions of the twentieth century, but it has a significance that is immense in world history.

Phil Carradice is a novelist, historian, poet and broadcaster from Wales. Born and brought up in Pembrokeshire, he now lives outside Cardiff, where he regularly broadcasts for the BBC. Formerly a teacher and headteacher, he was educated at Cardiff University and Cardiff College of Education but now concentrates on life as a full-time writer. He lectures and runs creative writing courses for children and adults.He has a passion for history as an interest and a learning device. 'History books,' he says, 'are meant to be enjoyed. They are not the preserve of the privileged few.' He has published well over 80 books, ranging from poetry and novels to biography and works of history. He firmly believes in making history accessible to everyone, not just academics. His most recent books are Assassinations that Shaped the Ancient World, The Greatest Spy Writers of the 20th Century and Women of the Jacobite Rebellions , all for Pen and Sword.