In this book, Tim Jenkins examines the factory worker poisonings and suspect government procurement procedures that resulted in Allied success in the air during First World War. The early development of aircraft during World War I was an important yet dangerous part of the war effort seen in the First World War and although many descriptions of daring aerial combat have been written, the risk to those involved in the manufacture of such machines remains less well known. Tetrachlorethane, a poisonous solvent contained in aircraft dope, was responsible for a number of civilian deaths in aircraft factories and although the British knew the substance to be lethal, they were much slower than their American and German counterparts in sourcing alternatives. In this groundbreaking book, Tim Jenkins explores the use of Tetrachlorethan and brings to light the concerns and warnings voiced by the international medical profession. His examination considers the government's reasons for its use of the poisonous solvent to create a compelling yet scholarly account which takes in corruption, negligence and wartime manufacture. This book will be vital to scholars studying military production during the First World War.

In this jaw-dropping classic of prison escape literature (originally poublished in 1987 and now a major movie starring Daniel Radcliffe), Tim Jenkin tells of how he, Stephen Lee and Alexander Moumbaris, using a series of hand-made wooden keys, got through nine locked doors inside Pretoria Central, taking them to Mozambique and finally to London.

This fast-paced thriller begins with Jenkin’s Cape Town childhood and the growth of his political awareness, his university days and his friendship with Stephen Lee. Both men left South Africa after university for London to join the African National Congress. Jenkin and Lee, after training in London, became expert pamphlet bombers in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and it was after several successful years of raising awareness about apartheid and the ANC that they were caught and eventually sentenced to 12 years in jail. It is after Lee’s father visits his son in prison, bringing him a copy of another escape classic, Papillon, that Jenkin begins to seriously form an escape plan. Months and months of planning, testing, failing, testing again and lucky breaks meant that, finally, the escape was on.

The recently late Denis Goldberg was a friend and supporter of the men, and kept a warder busy as they began their escape. Apart from locking the doors behind them, they never looked back…

Fortress Salopia is the culmination of contributions from heritage and historic professionals, practising archaeologists and academic historians that explores the unique military past of the county of Shropshire from the prehistoric period to the twentieth century. Shropshire is one of the most characteristic counties of the Welsh Marches and occupied a strategic position between England and Wales. Consequently, the county boasts the highest numbers of Iron Age hillforts in England and the greatest density of Motte & Bailey castles. The archaeological remains that adorn the landscape are a prescient reminder that Shropshire was once a frontier battleground, although such reminders are often lost amongst the picturesque rural landscape that prevails today. However, Shropshire's military significance is not just confined to the prehistoric and medieval periods. Throughout the last 400 years the county has maintained military associations and became a major centre of training and supply during both World Wars. Comprising seven chapters Fortress Salopia explores a range of phenomenon throughout the past two thousand years. Andy Wigley contextualises the origins of hillforts and their social context within the evolution of the wider landscapes around them. Roger White focuses on the inter-relationship between the Roman Army and the native peoples in Shropshire and on the legacy of urbanisation and Romanisation in Wroxeter. Paul Belford examines the significance of Offa's Dyke, the western boundary of the Kingdom of Mercia, large parts of which survive in Shropshire. Rachael Abbiss considers the changing military landscape during the Georgian period including preparations for war, socio-economic developments and the creation of new military structures. Tim Jenkins reflects on the contribution of the county to the training and supply demands imposed during the two world wars and later twentieth century conflict. This includes the development of military installations and their significance as archaeological remains in the twenty-first century. Ruth R. Brown and Kay Smith highlight the significance of the arms and armour collections in Shropshire museums focusing on two rare shields known as Wrexham bucklers. James Pardoe deliberates upon the interpretation of our military heritage through the medium of regimental museums and considers their sustainability in an increasingly changing socio-economic climate. In conclusion, Fortress Salopia is a unique miscellany of Shropshire's military heritage and a fascinating insight into the antiquity of one of England's most rural shires.

The evolution of British airborne warfare cannot be fully appreciated without reference to the technological development required to convert the detail contained in the doctrine and concept into operational reality. Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment is a detailed investigation of the British technological investment in an airborne capability and analyses whether the new technology was justifiable, or indeed, entirely achievable. The book combines the detail contained in the original policy documentation for airborne warfare and the subsequent technological investigations to determine whether sufficient strategic requirement had been demonstrated and how policy impacted upon the research programme. Without clear research parameters technological investment could not achieve maximum efficiency and consequent military effectiveness. The allocation of resources was a crucial factor in the technological development and the fact that aircraft suitability and availability remained unresolved throughout the duration of the war would suggest that the development of airborne forces was much less of a strategic priority for the British than has previously been suggested. Ultimately, despite the creation of a dedicated research institution in 1942 (Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment), and the development of specialist hardware such as the assault glider, the British did not possess the material resources required for the large-scale deployment of airborne troops. Analysis of the technology has revealed that the development of airborne warfare was as much for the purpose of psychological warfare and British morale as it was for offensive operations.

"The Computakids," Modemkid, Disckid and Mousekid are brothers who live inside a computer and find themselves going on a great adventure when they explore a hole in the computer wires. Computakids find themselves in Africa where they get seperated and lost, meeting new animal friends who help them to re-unite and return home safely.